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A hallmark of many unconventional superconductors is the presence of many-body interactions that give rise to broken-symmetry states intertwined with superconductivity. Recent resonant soft X-ray scattering experiments report commensurate 3a0 charge density wave order in infinite-layer nickelates, which has important implications regarding the universal interplay between charge order and superconductivity in both cuprates and nickelates. Here we present X-ray scattering and spectroscopy measurements on a series of NdNiO2+x samples, which reveal that the signatures of charge density wave order are absent in fully reduced, single-phase NdNiO2. The 3a0 superlattice peak instead originates from a partially reduced impurity phase where excess apical oxygens form ordered rows with three-unit-cell periodicity. The absence of any observable charge density wave order in NdNiO2 highlights a crucial difference between the phase diagrams of cuprate and nickelate superconductors.

We report the total and differential cross sections for J/ψ photoproduction with the large acceptance GlueX spectrometer for photon beam energies from the threshold at 8.2 GeV up to 11.44 GeV and over the full kinematic range of momentum transfer squared, t. Such coverage facilitates the extrapolation of the differential cross sections to the forward (t=0) point beyond the physical region. The forward cross section is used by many theoretical models and plays an important role in understanding J/ψ photoproduction and its relation to the J/ψ-proton interaction. These measurements of J/ψ photoproduction near threshold are also crucial inputs to theoretical models that are used to study important aspects of the gluon structure of the proton, such as the gluon generalized parton distribution of the proton, the mass radius of the proton, and the trace anomaly contribution to the proton mass. We observe possible structures in the total cross section energy dependence and find evidence for contributions beyond gluon exchange in the differential cross section close to threshold, both of which are consistent with contributions from open-charm intermediate states.

Since emerging in Brazil in 1985, wheat blast has spread throughout South America and recently appeared in Bangladesh and Zambia. Here we show that two wheat resistance genes, Rwt3 and Rwt4, acting as host-specificity barriers against non-Triticum blast pathotypes encode a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptor and a tandem kinase, respectively. Molecular isolation of these genes will enable study of the molecular interaction between pathogen effector and host resistance genes.

Thwaites Glacier represents 15% of the ice discharge from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and influences a wider catchment1-3. Because it is grounded below sea level4,5, Thwaites Glacier is thought to be susceptible to runaway retreat triggered at the grounding line (GL) at which the glacier reaches the ocean6,7. Recent ice-flow acceleration2,8 and retreat of the ice front8-10 and GL11,12 indicate that ice loss will continue. The relative impacts of mechanisms underlying recent retreat are however uncertain. Here we show sustained GL retreat from at least 2011 to 2020 and resolve mechanisms of ice-shelf melt at the submetre scale. Our conclusions are based on observations of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf (TEIS) from an underwater vehicle, extending from the GL to 3 km oceanward and from the ice-ocean interface to the sea floor. These observations show a rough ice base above a sea floor sloping upward towards the GL and an ocean cavity in which the warmest water exceeds 2 °C above freezing. Data closest to the ice base show that enhanced melting occurs along sloped surfaces that initiate near the GL and evolve into steep-sided terraces. This pronounced melting along steep ice faces, including in crevasses, produces stratification that suppresses melt along flat interfaces. These data imply that slope-dependent melting sculpts the ice base and acts as an important response to ocean warming.

BackgroundUnderstanding, characterizing, and quantifying human exposures to environmental chemicals is critical to protect public health. Exposure assessments are key to determining risks to the general population and for specific subpopulations given that exposures differ between groups. Exposure data are also important for understanding where interventions, including public policies, should be targeted and the extent to which interventions have been successful. In this review, we aim to show how inadequacies in exposure assessments conducted by polluting industries or regulatory agencies have led to downplaying or disregarding exposure concerns raised by communities; that underestimates of exposure can lead regulatory agencies to conclude that unacceptable risks are, instead, acceptable, allowing pollutants to go unregulated; and that researchers, risk assessors, and policy makers need to better understand the issues that have affected exposure assessments and how appropriate use of exposure data can contribute to health-protective decisions.MethodsWe describe current approaches used by regulatory agencies to estimate human exposures to environmental chemicals, including approaches to address limitations in exposure data. We then illustrate how some exposure assessments have been used to reach flawed conclusions about environmental chemicals and make recommendations for improvements.ResultsExposure data are important for communities, public health advocates, scientists, policy makers, and other groups to understand the extent of environmental exposures in diverse populations. We identify four areas where exposure assessments need to be improved due to systemic sources of error or uncertainty in exposure assessments and illustrate these areas with examples. These include: (1) an inability of regulatory agencies to keep pace with the increasing number of chemicals registered for use or assess their exposures, as well as complications added by use of 'confidential business information' which reduce available exposure data; (2) the failure to keep assessments up-to-date; (3) how inadequate assumptions about human behaviors and co-exposures contribute to underestimates of exposure; and (4) that insufficient models of toxicokinetics similarly affect exposure estimates.ConclusionWe identified key issues that impact capacity to conduct scientifically robust exposure assessments. These issues must be addressed with scientific or policy approaches to improve estimates of exposure and protect public health.

Human health risk assessment currently uses the reference dose or reference concentration (RfD, RfC) approach to describe the level of exposure to chemical hazards without appreciable risk for non-cancer health effects in people. However, this "bright line" approach assumes that there is minimal risk below the RfD/RfC with some undefined level of increased risk at exposures above the RfD/RfC and has limited utility for decision-making. Rather than this dichotomous approach, non-cancer risk assessment can benefit from incorporating probabilistic methods to estimate the amount of risk across a wide range of exposures and define a risk-specific dose. We identify and review existing approaches for conducting probabilistic non-cancer risk assessments. Using perchloroethylene (PCE), a priority chemical for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act, we calculate risk-specific doses for the effects on cognitive deficits using probabilistic risk assessment approaches. Our probabilistic risk assessment shows that chronic exposure to 0.004 ppm PCE is associated with approximately 1-in-1,000 risk for a 5% reduced performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale Visual Reproduction subtest with 95% confidence. This exposure level associated with a 1-in-1000 risk for non-cancer neurocognitive deficits is lower than the current RfC for PCE of 0.0059 ppm, which is based on standard point of departure and uncertainty factor approaches for the same neurotoxic effects in occupationally exposed adults. We found that the population-level risk of cognitive deficit (indicating central nervous system dysfunction) is estimated to be greater than the cancer risk level of 1-in-100,000 at a similar chronic exposure level. The extension of toxicological endpoints to more clinically relevant endpoints, along with consideration of magnitude and severity of effect, will help in the selection of acceptable risk targets for non-cancer effects. We find that probabilistic approaches can 1) provide greater context to existing RfDs and RfCs by describing the probability of effect across a range of exposure levels including the RfD/RfC in a diverse population for a given magnitude of effect and confidence level, 2) relate effects of chemical exposures to clinical disease risk so that the resulting risk assessments can better inform decision-makers and benefit-cost analysis, and 3) better reflect the underlying biology and uncertainties of population risks.

BackgroundHazard identification, risk assessment, regulatory, and policy activity are usually conducted on a chemical-by-chemical basis. Grouping chemicals into categories or classes is an underutilized approach that could make risk assessment and management of chemicals more efficient for regulators.Objective and methodsWhile there are some available methods and regulatory frameworks that include the grouping of chemicals (e.g.,same molecular mechanism or similar chemical structure) there has not been a comprehensive evaluation of these different approaches nor a recommended course of action to better consider chemical classes in decision-making. This manuscript: 1) reviews current national and international approaches to grouping; 2) describes how groups could be defined based on the decision context (e.g., hazard/risk assessment, restrictions, prioritization, product development) and scientific considerations (e.g., intrinsic physical-chemical properties); 3) discusses advantages of developing a decision tree approach for grouping; 4) uses ortho-phthalates as a case study to identify and organize frameworks that could be used across agencies; and 5) discusses opportunities to advance the class concept within various regulatory decision-making scenarios.ResultsStructural similarity was the most common grouping approach for risk assessment among regulatory agencies (national and state level) and non-regulatory organizations, albeit with some variations in its definition. Toxicity to the same target organ or to the same biological function was also used in a few cases. The phthalates case study showed that a decision tree approach for grouping should include questions about uses regulated by other agencies to encourage more efficient, coherent, and protective chemical risk management.Discussion and conclusionOur evaluation of how classes of chemicals are defined and used identified commonalities and differences based on regulatory frameworks, risk assessments, and business strategies. We also identified that using a class-based approach could result in a more efficient process to reduce exposures to multiple hazardous chemicals and, ultimately, reduce health risks. We concluded that, in the absence of a prescribed method, a decision tree approach could facilitate the selection of chemicals belonging to a pre-defined class (e.g., chemicals with endocrine-disrupting activity; organohalogen flame retardants [OFR]) based on the decision-making context (e.g., regulatory risk management).

BackgroundLong-term sequelae are frequent and often disabling after epidermal necrolysis (Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)). However, consensus on the modalities of management of these sequelae is lacking.ObjectivesWe conducted an international multicentric DELPHI exercise to establish a multidisciplinary expert consensus to standardize recommendations regarding management of SJS/TEN sequelae.MethodsParticipants were sent a survey via the online tool "Survey Monkey" consisting of 54 statements organized into 8 topics: general recommendations, professionals involved, skin, oral mucosa and teeth, eyes, genital area, mental health, and allergy workup. Participants evaluated the level of appropriateness of each statement on a scale of 1 (extremely inappropriate) to 9 (extremely appropriate). Results were analyzed according to the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method.ResultsFifty-two healthcare professionals participated. After the first round, a consensus was obtained for 100% of 54 initially proposed statements (disagreement index

IntroductionAmong all Asian American subgroups, Filipino-Americans have consistently been shown to have the highest rates of hypertension, raising risks of heart attack and stroke. Despite this alarming fact, little has been done to investigate culturally-sensitive interventions to control hypertension rates in this vulnerable population. To address the lack of culturally-relevant lifestyle options for blood pressure management currently available to the Filipino community, this exploratory pilot study used a design thinking approach informed by culinary medicine to develop a culturally-tailored, heart-healthy, and low sodium recipe cookbook for Filipino Americans with hypertension and evaluate its feasibility as a hypertension intervention.MethodsOur team developed a cookbook using participatory methods and design thinking, utilizing input from five Filipino culinary experts and a Registered Dietitian. The cookbook incorporates traditional Filipino recipes, excerpts from community members' interviews, and nutrient analyses. Twenty Filipinx-identifying individuals* who self-reported physician-diagnosed hypertension were recruited from Filipino community-based organizations, enrolled into this study, provided with the cookbook, and asked to cook at least one recipe. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted and centered around behavior change and features of the cookbook.ResultsThis study provided evidence for the cookbook's acceptability and feasibility, with participants' open-ended responses revealing that the recipes, nutrition labels, illustrations, and cultural aspects of the cookbook increased motivation to achieve dietary change, including reducing sodium in their diet to improve their blood pressure. Participant responses also indicated positive behavior change as a result of using the cookbook, with participants reporting increased likelihood of adopting recommended actions to lower their BP after utilizing the cookbook ( x¯ = 80.83%), compared to before ( x¯ = 63.75%, p < 0.008), according to Hypertension Self-Care Management scaled scores.DiscussionIn conclusion, the results of this pilot study demonstrated acceptability of this unique cookbook and provide preliminary findings consistent with increased motivation in participants to make dietary changes and improve personal health, drawing attention to the importance of considering future culturally-tailored health interventions. Next steps should include a robust, randomized controlled trial design comparing measured blood pressure outcomes of an intervention vs. control group. *Filipinx is an inclusive term representing the gender identities of all participants in our study.

The manufacture and production of industrial chemicals continues to increase, with hundreds of thousands of chemicals and chemical mixtures used worldwide, leading to widespread population exposures and resultant health impacts. Low-wealth communities and communities of color often bear disproportionate burdens of exposure and impact; all compounded by regulatory delays to the detriment of public health. Multiple authoritative bodies and scientific consensus groups have called for actions to prevent harmful exposures via improved policy approaches. We worked across multiple disciplines to develop consensus recommendations for health-protective, scientific approaches to reduce harmful chemical exposures, which can be applied to current US policies governing industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants. This consensus identifies five principles and scientific recommendations for improving how agencies like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approach and conduct hazard and risk assessment and risk management analyses: (1) the financial burden of data generation for any given chemical on (or to be introduced to) the market should be on the chemical producers that benefit from their production and use; (2) lack of data does not equate to lack of hazard, exposure, or risk; (3) populations at greater risk, including those that are more susceptible or more highly exposed, must be better identified and protected to account for their real-world risks; (4) hazard and risk assessments should not assume existence of a "safe" or "no-risk" level of chemical exposure in the diverse general population; and (5) hazard and risk assessments must evaluate and account for financial conflicts of interest in the body of evidence. While many of these recommendations focus specifically on the EPA, they are general principles for environmental health that could be adopted by any agency or entity engaged in exposure, hazard, and risk assessment. We also detail recommendations for four priority areas in companion papers (exposure assessment methods, human variability assessment, methods for quantifying non-cancer health outcomes, and a framework for defining chemical classes). These recommendations constitute key steps for improved evidence-based environmental health decision-making and public health protection.

A key element of risk assessment is accounting for the full range of variability in response to environmental exposures. Default dose-response methods typically assume a 10-fold difference in response to chemical exposures between average (healthy) and susceptible humans, despite evidence of wider variability. Experts and authoritative bodies support using advanced techniques to better account for human variability due to factors such as in utero or early life exposure and exposure to multiple environmental, social, and economic stressors.This review describes: 1) sources of human variability and susceptibility in dose-response assessment, 2) existing US frameworks for addressing response variability in risk assessment; 3) key scientific inadequacies necessitating updated methods; 4) improved approaches and opportunities for better use of science; and 5) specific and quantitative recommendations to address evidence and policy needs.Current default adjustment factors do not sufficiently capture human variability in dose-response and thus are inadequate to protect the entire population. Susceptible groups are not appropriately protected under current regulatory guidelines. Emerging tools and data sources that better account for human variability and susceptibility include probabilistic methods, genetically diverse in vivo and in vitro models, and the use of human data to capture underlying risk and/or assess combined effects from chemical and non-chemical stressors.We recommend using updated methods and data to improve consideration of human variability and susceptibility in risk assessment, including the use of increased default human variability factors and separate adjustment factors for capturing age/life stage of development and exposure to multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors. Updated methods would result in greater transparency and protection for susceptible groups, including children, infants, people who are pregnant or nursing, people with disabilities, and those burdened by additional environmental exposures and/or social factors such as poverty and racism.

If neutrinos are their own antiparticles the otherwise-forbidden nuclear reaction known as neutrinoless double beta decay can occur. The very long lifetime expected for these exceptional events makes its detection a daunting task. In order to conduct an almost background-free experiment, the NEXT collaboration is investigating novel synthetic molecular sensors that may capture the Ba dication produced in the decay of certain Xe isotopes in a high-pressure gas experiment. The use of such molecular detectors immobilized on surfaces must be explored in the ultra-dry environment of a xenon gas chamber. Here, using a combination of highly sensitive surface science techniques in ultra-high vacuum, we demonstrate the possibility of employing the so-called Fluorescent Bicolor Indicator as the molecular component of the sensor. We unravel the ion capture process for these molecular indicators immobilized on a surface and explain the origin of the emission fluorescence shift associated to the ion trapping.

Exposures to industrial chemicals are widespread and can increase the risk of adverse health effects such as cancer, developmental disorders, respiratory effects, diabetes, and reproductive problems. The amended Toxic Substances Control Act (amended TSCA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate risks of chemicals in commerce, account for risk to potentially exposed and susceptible populations, and mitigate risks for chemicals determined to pose an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. This analysis compares EPA's first 10 chemical risk evaluations under amended TSCA to best scientific practices for conducting risk assessments. We find EPA's risk evaluations underestimated human health risks of chemical exposures by excluding conditions of use and exposure pathways; not considering aggregate exposure and cumulative risk; not identifying all potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, and not quantifying differences in risk for susceptible groups; not addressing data gaps; and using flawed systematic review approaches to identify and evaluate the relevant evidence. We present specific recommendations for improving the implementation of amended TSCA using the best available science to ensure equitable, socially just safeguards to public health. Failing to remedy these shortcomings will result in continued systematic underestimation of risk for all chemicals evaluated under amended TSCA.

BackgroundWidespread environmental contamination can directly interact with human immune system functions. Environmental effects on the immune system may influence human susceptibility to respiratory infections as well as the severity of infectious diseases, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Furthermore, the efficacy of vaccines to respiratory diseases may be impacted by environmental exposures through immune perturbations. Given the quick pace of research about COVID-19 and associated risk factors, it is critical to identify and curate the streams of evidence quickly and effectively.ObjectiveWe developed this systematic evidence map protocol to identify and organize existing human and animal literature on high-priority environmental chemical classes (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pesticides, phthalates, quaternary ammonium compounds, and air pollutants) and their potential to influence three key outcomes: (1) susceptibility to respiratory infection, including SARS-CoV-2 (2) severity of the resultant disease progression, and (3) impact on vaccine efficacy. The result of this project will be an online, interactive database which will show what evidence is currently available between involuntary exposures to select environmental chemicals and immune health effects, data gaps that require further research, and data rich areas that may support further analysis.Search and study eligibilityWe will search PubMed for epidemiological or toxicological literature on select toxicants from each of the chemical classes and each of the three outcomes listed above.Study appraisal and synthesis of methodsFor each study, two independent reviewers will conduct title and abstract screening as well as full text review for data extraction of study characteristics. Study quality will not be evaluated in this evidence mapping. The main findings from the systematic evidence map will be visualized using a publicly available and interactive database hosted on Tableau Public.

Superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) are competitive, yet coexisting, orders in cuprate superconductors. To understand their microscopic interdependence, a probe capable of discerning their interaction on its natural length and time scale is necessary. We use ultrafast resonant soft x-ray scattering to track the transient evolution of CDW correlations in YBa2Cu3O6+x after the quench of superconductivity by an infrared laser pulse. We observe a nonthermal response of the CDW order characterized by a near doubling of the correlation length within ≈1 picosecond of the superconducting quench. Our results are consistent with a model in which the interaction between superconductivity and CDWs manifests inhomogeneously through disruption of spatial coherence, with superconductivity playing the dominant role in stabilizing CDW topological defects, such as discommensurations.

Axionlike particles (ALPs) are predicted in many extensions of the standard model, and their masses can naturally be well below the electroweak scale. In the presence of couplings to electroweak bosons, these particles could be emitted in flavor-changing B meson decays. We report herein a search for an ALP, a, in the reaction B^{±}→K^{±}a, a→γγ using data collected by the BABAR experiment at SLAC. No significant signal is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the ALP coupling to electroweak bosons are derived as a function of ALP mass, improving current constraints by several orders of magnitude in the range 0.175  GeV

The ARIANNA neutrino detector, located at sea-level on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, consists of 200 autonomous and independent detector stations separated by 1 kilometer in a uniform triangular mesh, and serves to inform the planning of the future projects. The primary science mission of ARIANNA is to search for sources of neutrinos with energies greater than 1017 eV, complementing the reach of IceCube and other neutrino telescopes that focus on lower energies. An ARIANNA observation of a neutrino source would provide strong insight into the enigmatic sources of cosmic rays. ARIANNA observes the radio emission from high energy neutrino interactions in the Antarctic ice. Among radio based concepts under current investigation, ARIANNA would uniquely survey the vast majority of the southern sky at any instant in time, and an important region of the northern sky, by virtue of its location on the surface of the Ross Ice Shelf at Moore’s Bay. The broad sky coverage is specific to the Moore’s Bay site, providing capabilities to observe explosive sources from unknown directions. The ARIANNA architecture is designed to measure the angular direction to within 4 degrees for every neutrino candidate, which too plays an important role in the pursuit of multi-messenger observations of astrophysical sources. The sea level location reduces the impact of a potentially serious background associated with the cores of cosmic ray air showers striking the ice surface, generating radio pulses which are similar to those expected from neutrino events. Reflecting layers at the bottom or within the ice sheet (which are known to exist in thick ice sheets) might create a troublesome rate of background events, provided the reflection coefficients are large enough, that arrive at the detector from the same directions as neutrinos.

The ARIANNA detector is designed to detect neutrinos of energies above 1016 eV. Due to the similarities in generated radio signals, cosmic rays are often used as test beams for neutrino detectors. Some ARIANNA detector stations are equipped with antennas capable of detecting air showers. The radio emission properties of air showers are well understood, and the polarization of the radio signal can be predicted from arrival direction with high precision. For this reason, cosmic rays can be used as a proxy to assess the reconstruction capabilities of the ARIANNA neutrino detector. We report on dedicated efforts of reconstructing the polarization of cosmic-ray radio pulses. A total of 148 cosmic rays are identified from over 90,000 triggered events collected between Nov 21, 2018 and Mar 15, 2019. A cut was put on these events requiring them to have a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio of at least 4.5 in all upward-facing channels. This was to improve the performance of arrival direction and polarization reconstruction algorithms. Polarization of these cosmic rays were reconstructed with a resolution of 3.5 degrees (68% containment), which agrees with the expected value we obtained from simulation. Furthermore, if we subselect events with zenith angle greater than 70 deg, the contribution to polarization of Askaryan effect is reduced, which reduces the error in the predicted polarization. With limited statistics, we find the polarization uncertainty is reduced to 1.3 deg (68% containment).

High energy neutrinos (E >1017 eV) are detected cost-efficiently via the Askaryan effect in ice, where a particle cascade induced by the neutrino interaction produces coherent radio emission that can be picked up by antennas installed below the surface. A good knowledge of the near surface ice (aka firn) properties is required to reconstruct the neutrino properties. In particular, a continuous monitoring of the snow accumulation (which changes the depth of the antennas) and the index-of-refraction profile are crucial for an accurate determination of the neutrino’s direction and energy. We present an in-situ calibration system that extends the radio detector station with a radio emitter to continuously monitor the firn properties by measuring time differences of direct and reflected (off the surface) signals (D’n’R). We optimized the station layout in a simulation study and quantified the achievable precision. We present 14 months of data of the ARIANNA detector on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, where a prototype of this calibration system was successfully used to monitor the snow accumulation with unprecedented precision of 1 mm. We explore and test several algorithms to extract the D’n’R time difference from noisy data (including deep learning). This constitutes an in-situ test of the neutrino vertex distance reconstruction using the D’n’R technique which is needed to determine the neutrino energy.

The ARIANNA experiment is a proposed Askaryan detector designed to record radio signals induced by neutrino interactions in the Antarctic ice. Because of the low neutrino flux at high energies, the physics output is limited by statistics. Hence, an increase in sensitivity significantly improves the interpretation of data and offers the ability to probe new parameter spaces. The trigger thresholds are limited by the rate of triggering on unavoidable thermal noise fluctuations. The real-time thermal noise rejection algorithm enables the thresholds to be lowered substantially and increases the sensitivity by up to a factor of two compared to the current ARIANNA capabilities. A deep learning discriminator, based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), is implemented to identify and remove a high percentage of thermal events in real time while retaining most of the neutrino signals. We describe a CNN that runs on the current ARIANNA microcomputer and retains 95% of the neutrino signals at a thermal rejection factor of 105. Finally, the experimental verification from lab measurements are conducted.

A radio-frequency polarization measurement by the ARIANNA surface station was performed using a residual hole from the South Pole Ice Core (SPICEcore) Project. Radio pulses were emitted from a transmitter located down to 1.7 km below the snow surface. After deconvolving the raw signals for the detector response and attenuation from propagation through the ice, the signal pulses show no significant distortion and agree with a reference measurement of the emitter made in an anechoic chamber. The direction to transmitted radio pulse was measured with an angular resolution of 0.37 degree [statistical error]. For polarization, the statistical error of the polarization vector is depth dependent and below 1 degree. In addition, a slowly-varying systematic variation is observed as a function of depth with an rms error of 2.7 degrees. Neither the direction or polarization measurement show a significant offset as a function of depth relative to expectation. We also report on the results of a simulation study of the ARIANNA neutrino direction and energy resolution. The software tool NuRadioMC was used to reconstruct the polarization and viewing angle to determine the neutrino direction. Multiple models of Askaryan radiation and detector sites along with a range of neutrino energies were evaluated. The neutrino space angle resolution was determined to be below 3 degrees, which is comparable to the systematic polarization uncertainty. Therefore it is expected that the polarization resolution, which is the dominant contribution to the neutrino space angle resolution, will be improved in future studies by determining and eliminating systematic effects.

We report on the first search for electron-muon lepton flavor violation (LFV) in the decay of a b quark and b antiquark bound state. We look for the LFV decay ϒ(3S)→e^{±}μ^{∓} in a sample of 118 million ϒ(3S) mesons from 27  fb^{-1} of data collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e^{+}e^{-} collider operating with a 10.36 GeV center-of-mass energy. No evidence for a signal is found, and we set a limit on the branching fraction B[ϒ(3S)→e^{±}μ^{∓}]80  TeV on the energy scale Λ_{NP} divided by the coupling-squared g_{NP}^{2} of relevant new physics (NP).

The pathogenic aggregation of misfolded prion protein (PrP) in axons underlies prion disease pathologies. The molecular mechanisms driving axonal misfolded PrP aggregate formation leading to neurotoxicity are unknown. We found that the small endolysosomal guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Arl8b recruits kinesin-1 and Vps41 (HOPS) onto endosomes carrying misfolded mutant PrP to promote their axonal entry and homotypic fusion toward aggregation inside enlarged endomembranes that we call endoggresomes. This axonal rapid endosomal sorting and transport-dependent aggregation (ARESTA) mechanism forms pathologic PrP endoggresomes that impair calcium dynamics and reduce neuronal viability. Inhibiting ARESTA diminishes endoggresome formation, rescues calcium influx, and prevents neuronal death. Our results identify ARESTA as a key pathway for the regulation of endoggresome formation and a new actionable antiaggregation target to ameliorate neuronal dysfunction in the prionopathies.

Inclusive electron scattering from nuclear targets has been measured to extract the nuclear dependence of the inelastic cross section (σA) in Hall C at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator facility. Results are presented for H2, He3, He4, B9, C12, Cu63, and Au197 at an incident electron beam energy of 5.77 GeV for a range of momentum transfer from Q2 = 2 to 7 (GeV/c)2. These data improve the precision of the existing measurements of the EMC effect in the nuclear targets at large x and allow for more detailed examinations of the A dependence of the EMC effect.

We study the processes e+e-→π+π-π0π0π0π0γ and π+π-π0π0π0ηγ in which an energetic photon is radiated from the initial state. The data were collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. About 7300 and 870 events, respectively, are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 469 fb-1. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective e+e- center-of-mass energy. The center-of-mass energies range from threshold to 4.5 GeV. From the mass spectra, the first ever measurements of the e+e-→π+π-π0π0π0π0 and the e+e-→π+π-π0π0π0η cross sections are performed. The contributions from ωπ0π0π0, ηπ+π-π0, ωη, and other intermediate states are presented. We observe the J/ψ and ψ(2S) in most of these final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions, many of them for the first time.

The process e+e-→π+π-π0γ is studied at a center-of-mass energy near the D(4S) resonance using a data sample of 469 fb-1 collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. We have performed a precise measurement of the e+e-→π+π-π0 cross section in the center-of-mass energy range from 0.62 to 3.5 GeV. In the energy regions of the ω and φ resonances, the cross section is measured with a systematic uncertainty of 1.3%. The leading-order hadronic contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly calculated using the measured e+e-→π+π-π0 cross section from threshold to 2.0 GeV is (45.86±0.14±0.58)×10-10. From the fit to the measured 3π mass spectrum we have determined the resonance parameters Γ(ω→e+e-)B(ω→π+π-π0)=(0.5698±0.0031±0.0082) keV, Γ(φ→e+e-)B(φ→π+π-π0)=(0.1841±0.0021±0.0080) keV, and B(ρ→3π)=(0.88±0.23±0.30)×10-4. The significance of the ρ→3π signal is greater than 6σ. For the J/ψ resonance we have measured the product Γ(J/ψ→e+e-)B(J/ψ→3π)=(0.1248±0.0019±0.0026) keV.

BackgroundThe Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development ™ Study (ABCD Study®) is an open-science, multi-site, prospective, longitudinal study following over 11,800 9- and 10-year-old youth into early adulthood. The ABCD Study aims to prospectively examine the impact of substance use (SU) on neurocognitive and health outcomes. Although SU initiation typically occurs during teen years, relatively little is known about patterns of SU in children younger than 12.MethodsThis study aims to report the detailed ABCD Study® SU patterns at baseline (n = 11,875) in order to inform the greater scientific community about cohort's early SU. Along with a detailed description of SU, we ran mixed effects regression models to examine the association between early caffeine and alcohol sipping with demographic factors, externalizing symptoms and parental history of alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUD).Primary resultsAt baseline, the majority of youth had used caffeine (67.6 %) and 22.5 % reported sipping alcohol (22.5 %). There was little to no reported use of other drug categories (0.2 % full alcohol drink, 0.7 % used nicotine,

We study the processes , , and using a data sample of recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the (, 3, 4) resonances. This is the first observation of the decay and we measure the branching fraction . Significant interference is observed between and the nonresonant two-photon process . A Dalitz plot analysis is performed of decays to , , and . Combined with our previous analysis of , we measure the parameters and the ratio between its and couplings. The decay is dominated by the resonance, also observed in radiative decays. A new resonance is observed in the channel. We also compare decays to and final states in association with scalar mesons as they relate to the identification of the scalar glueball.

The fusion-evaporation reaction at 125-MeV beam energy was used to populate excited states in . Combining the Gammasphere spectrometer with ancillary devices including the Microball CsI(Tl) array and a shell of neutron detectors, a comprehensive level scheme could be derived. The experimental results are compared with theoretical results from shell-model calculations. Taking into account isospin-symmetry breaking terms is found to considerably improve the shell-model description for . This motivated a predictive case study of near-yrast states in the mirror nucleus .

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) achieved efficient detection of very small recoil energies in its germanium target, resulting in sensitivity to lightly ionizing particles (LIPs) in a previously unexplored region of charge, mass, and velocity parameter space. We report first direct-detection limits calculated using the optimum interval method on the vertical intensity of cosmogenically produced LIPs with an electric charge smaller than e/(3×10^{5}), as well as the strongest limits for charge ≤e/160, with a minimum vertical intensity of 1.36×10^{-7}  cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1} at charge e/160. These results apply over a wide range of LIP masses (5  MeV/c^{2} to 100  TeV/c^{2}) and cover a wide range of βγ values (0.1-10^{6}), thus excluding nonrelativistic LIPs with βγ as small as 0.1 for the first time.

We present limits on spin-independent dark matter-nucleon interactions using a 10.6 g Si athermal phonon detector with a baseline energy resolution of σ_{E}=3.86±0.04(stat)_{-0.00}^{+0.19}(syst)  eV. This exclusion analysis sets the most stringent dark matter-nucleon scattering cross-section limits achieved by a cryogenic detector for dark matter particle masses from 93 to 140  MeV/c^{2}, with a raw exposure of 9.9 g d acquired at an above-ground facility. This work illustrates the scientific potential of detectors with athermal phonon sensors with eV-scale energy resolution for future dark matter searches.

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® is a 10-year longitudinal study of children recruited at ages 9 and 10. A battery of neuroimaging tasks are administered biennially to track neurodevelopment and identify individual differences in brain function. This study reports activation patterns from functional MRI (fMRI) tasks completed at baseline, which were designed to measure cognitive impulse control with a stop signal task (SST; N = 5,547), reward anticipation and receipt with a monetary incentive delay (MID) task (N = 6,657) and working memory and emotion reactivity with an emotional N-back (EN-back) task (N = 6,009). Further, we report the spatial reproducibility of activation patterns by assessing between-group vertex/voxelwise correlations of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activation. Analyses reveal robust brain activations that are consistent with the published literature, vary across fMRI tasks/contrasts and slightly correlate with individual behavioral performance on the tasks. These results establish the preadolescent brain function baseline, guide interpretation of cross-sectional analyses and will enable the investigation of longitudinal changes during adolescent development.

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) achieved efficient detection of very small recoil energies in its germanium target, resulting in sensitivity to lightly ionizing particles (LIPs) in a previously unexplored region of charge, mass, and velocity parameter space. We report first direct-detection limits calculated using the optimum interval method on the vertical intensity of cosmogenically produced LIPs with an electric charge smaller than e/(3×10^{5}), as well as the strongest limits for charge ≤e/160, with a minimum vertical intensity of 1.36×10^{-7}  cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1} at charge e/160. These results apply over a wide range of LIP masses (5  MeV/c^{2} to 100  TeV/c^{2}) and cover a wide range of βγ values (0.1-10^{6}), thus excluding nonrelativistic LIPs with βγ as small as 0.1 for the first time.

BackgroundSynthesizing environmental health science is crucial to taking action to protect public health. Procedures for evidence evaluation and integration are transitioning from "expert-based narrative" to "systematic" review methods. However, little is known about the methodology being utilized for either type of review.ObjectivesTo appraise the methodological strengths and weaknesses of a sample of "expert-based narrative" and "systematic" reviews in environmental health.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases and identified relevant reviews using pre-specified eligibility criteria. We applied a modified version of the Literature Review Appraisal Toolkit (LRAT) to three environmental health topics that assessed the utility, validity and transparency of reviews.ResultsWe identified 29 reviews published between 2003 and 2019, of which 13 (45%) were self-identified as systematic reviews. Across every LRAT domain, systematic reviews received a higher percentage of "satisfactory" ratings compared to non-systematic reviews. In eight of these domains, there was a statistically significant difference observed between the two types of reviews and "satisfactory" ratings. Non-systematic reviews performed poorly with the majority receiving an "unsatisfactory" or "unclear" rating in 11 of the 12 domains. Systematic reviews performed poorly in six of the 12 domains; 10 (77%) did not state the reviews objectives or develop a protocol; eight (62%) did not state the roles and contribution of the authors, or evaluate the internal validity of the included evidence consistently using a valid method; and only seven (54%) stated a pre-defined definition of the evidence bar on which their conclusions were based, or had an author disclosure of interest statement.DiscussionSystematic reviews produced more useful, valid, and transparent conclusions compared to non-systematic reviews, but poorly conducted systematic reviews were prevalent. Ongoing development and implementation of empirically based systematic review methods are required in environmental health to ensure transparent and timely decision making to protect the public's health.

The questions of how the bulk of the Universe's visible mass emerges and how it is manifest in the existence and properties of hadrons are profound, and probe the heart of strongly interacting matter. Paradoxically, the lightest pseudoscalar mesons appear to be key to a further understanding of the emergent mass and structure mechanisms. These mesons, namely, the pion and kaon, are the Nambu-Goldstone boson modes of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Unravelling their partonic structure and the interplay between emergent and Higgs-boson mass mechanisms is a common goal of three interdependent approaches - continuum QCD phenomenology, lattice-regularised QCD, and the global analysis of parton distributions - linked to experimental measurements of hadron structure. Experimentally, the anticipated electron-ion collider will enable a revolution in our ability to study pion and kaon structures, accessed by scattering from the 'meson cloud' of the proton through the Sullivan process. With the goal of enabling a suite of measurements that can address these questions, we examine key reactions that identify the critical detector-system requirements needed to map tagged pion and kaon cross-sections over a wide range of kinematics. The excellent prospects for extracting pion structural, functional, and form-factor data are outlined, and similar prospects for kaon structures are discussed in the context of a worldwide programme. The successful completion of the programme outlined herein will deliver deep, far-reaching insights into the emergence of pions and kaons, their properties, and their role as QCD's Goldstone boson modes.

We combine synchrotron-based near-field infrared spectroscopy and first principles lattice dynamics calculations to explore the vibrational response of CrPS4 in bulk, few-, and single-layer form. Analysis of the mode pattern reveals a C2 polar + chiral space group, no symmetry crossover as a function of layer number, and a series of non-monotonic frequency shifts in which modes with significant intralayer character harden on approach to the ultra-thin limit whereas those containing interlayer motion or more complicated displacement patterns soften and show inflection points or steps. This is different from MnPS3 where phonons shift as 1/size2 and are sensitive to the three-fold rotation about the metal center that drives the symmetry crossover. We discuss these differences as well as implications for properties such as electric polarization in terms of presence or absence of the P-P dimer and other aspects of local structure, sheet density, and size of the van der Waals gap.

The questions of how the bulk of the Universe's visible mass emerges and how it is manifest in the existence and properties of hadrons are profound, and probe the heart of strongly interacting matter. Paradoxically, the lightest pseudoscalar mesons appear to be key to a further understanding of the emergent mass and structure mechanisms. These mesons, namely, the pion and kaon, are the Nambu-Goldstone boson modes of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Unravelling their partonic structure and the interplay between emergent and Higgs-boson mass mechanisms is a common goal of three interdependent approaches - continuum QCD phenomenology, lattice-regularised QCD, and the global analysis of parton distributions - linked to experimental measurements of hadron structure. Experimentally, the anticipated electron-ion collider will enable a revolution in our ability to study pion and kaon structures, accessed by scattering from the 'meson cloud' of the proton through the Sullivan process. With the goal of enabling a suite of measurements that can address these questions, we examine key reactions that identify the critical detector-system requirements needed to map tagged pion and kaon cross-sections over a wide range of kinematics. The excellent prospects for extracting pion structural, functional, and form-factor data are outlined, and similar prospects for kaon structures are discussed in the context of a worldwide programme. The successful completion of the programme outlined herein will deliver deep, far-reaching insights into the emergence of pions and kaons, their properties, and their role as QCD's Goldstone boson modes.

We have studied the Mg26(t,p)Mg28 reaction. The nucleus Mg28 lies between Mg24 and Mg32, the latter of which is central to the "island of inversion"characterized by low-lying neutron fp-shell configurations. The present results show that the second-excited 0+ state in Mg28 contains large fp-shell occupation for the neutrons. The experiment was performed in inverse kinematics using the HELIcal Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS) at Argonne National Laboratory. Shell-model calculations using the SDPF-MU interaction yielded level energies and two-neutron transfer amplitudes that were used in one-step distorted-wave Born approximation calculations to provide theoretical predictions of the proton angular distributions. In many, but not all cases, the data were in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

ImportanceMethylene chloride is a halogenated organic solvent widely used in paint strippers, cleaners, adhesives, and sealants. Despite label warnings and occupational standards, methylene chloride-related fatalities continue to occur in the United States.ObjectiveTo identify and analyze methylene chloride-related fatalities in the US.Design, setting, and participantsFor this case series, we conducted systematic searches of sources, including PubMed and government databases, for unintentional fatalities in the US that were associated with exposure to methylene chloride or products containing methylene chloride between 1980 and 2018. We reviewed all available information, including inspection reports, autopsy reports, and medical records; data analyses were conducted from August 2018 to August 2020. Cases were categorized as those occurring in the home (consumer deaths) or at work (occupational deaths).ExposuresMethylene chloride or products containing methylene chloride.Main outcomes and measuresTo determine characteristics of the methylene chloride-related fatalities, we recorded demographic information; the setting; circumstances, including information on safety measures used, if available; and products used. Where medical records were available, we recorded toxicology results and autopsy findings. We also obtained data about nonfatal methylene chloride cases from the American Association of Poison Control Centers.ResultsFrom 1980 to 2018, 85 methylene chloride-related fatalities were identified in the US, including 74 (87%) in occupational settings; of those who died, 75 (94%) were men, and for the 70 cases with available information, the median (interquartile range) age of the decedents was 31 (24-46) years. Paint strippers were the most common products involved in methylene chloride-related fatalities (n = 60). The proportion of occupational fatalities related to paint stripping increased from 22 (55%) before 2000 to 30 (88%) after 2000. Similarly, occupational fatalities associated with bathtub or paint stripping in bathrooms increased from 2 (5%) before 2000 to 21 (62%) after 2000. From 1985 to 2017, the American Association of Poison Control Centers documented 37 201 nonfatal methylene chloride cases, with a decrease in the annual number of cases starting in the late 1990s.Conclusions and relevanceResults of this case series demonstrated that despite regulations to address the toxic effects of methylene chloride use for consumers and workers, there are continuing fatalities in the US, particularly in occupational settings. Prevention of fatalities associated with methylene chloride exposure should emphasize the use of safer substitutes, rather than hazard warnings or reliance on personal protective equipment.

We have studied the Mg26(t,p)Mg28 reaction. The nucleus Mg28 lies between Mg24 and Mg32, the latter of which is central to the "island of inversion"characterized by low-lying neutron fp-shell configurations. The present results show that the second-excited 0+ state in Mg28 contains large fp-shell occupation for the neutrons. The experiment was performed in inverse kinematics using the HELIcal Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS) at Argonne National Laboratory. Shell-model calculations using the SDPF-MU interaction yielded level energies and two-neutron transfer amplitudes that were used in one-step distorted-wave Born approximation calculations to provide theoretical predictions of the proton angular distributions. In many, but not all cases, the data were in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Magnetostrictive materials transduce magnetic and mechanical energies and when combined with piezoelectric elements, evoke magnetoelectric transduction for high-sensitivity magnetic field sensors and energy-efficient beyond-CMOS technologies. The dearth of ductile, rare-earth-free materials with high magnetostrictive coefficients motivates the discovery of superior materials. Fe1-xGax alloys are amongst the highest performing rare-earth-free magnetostrictive materials; however, magnetostriction becomes sharply suppressed beyond x = 19% due to the formation of a parasitic ordered intermetallic phase. Here, we harness epitaxy to extend the stability of the BCC Fe1-xGax alloy to gallium compositions as high as x = 30% and in so doing dramatically boost the magnetostriction by as much as 10x relative to the bulk and 2x larger than canonical rare-earth based magnetostrictors. A Fe1-xGax - [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.7-[PbTiO3]0.3 (PMN-PT) composite magnetoelectric shows robust 90° electrical switching of magnetic anisotropy and a converse magnetoelectric coefficient of 2.0 × 10-5 s m-1. When optimally scaled, this high coefficient implies stable switching at ~80 aJ per bit.

We study the processes e+e-→2(π+π-)π0π0π0γ and 2(π+π-)π0π0ηγ in which an energetic photon is radiated from the initial state. The data were collected with the BABAR detector at SLAC. About 14 000 and 4700 events, respectively, are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 469 fb-1. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective e+e- center-of-mass energy. The center-of-mass energies range from threshold to 4.5 GeV. From the mass spectra, the first ever measurements of the e+e-→2(π+π-)π0π0π0 and the e+e-→2(π+π-)π0π0η cross sections are performed. The contributions from ωπ+π-π0π0, η2(π+π-), and other intermediate states are presented. We observe the J/ψ and ψ(2S) in most of these final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions, many of them for the first time.

We study the processes e+e-→2(π+π-)π0π0π0γ and 2(π+π-)π0π0ηγ in which an energetic photon is radiated from the initial state. The data were collected with the BABAR detector at SLAC. About 14 000 and 4700 events, respectively, are selected from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 469 fb-1. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the effective e+e- center-of-mass energy. The center-of-mass energies range from threshold to 4.5 GeV. From the mass spectra, the first ever measurements of the e+e-→2(π+π-)π0π0π0 and the e+e-→2(π+π-)π0π0η cross sections are performed. The contributions from ωπ+π-π0π0, η2(π+π-), and other intermediate states are presented. We observe the J/ψ and ψ(2S) in most of these final states and measure the corresponding branching fractions, many of them for the first time.

Exciton-polaritons are hybrid light-matter excitations arising from the nonperturbative coupling of a photonic mode and an excitonic resonance. Behaving as interacting photons, they show optical third-order nonlinearities providing effects such as optical parametric oscillation or amplification. It has been suggested that polariton-polariton interactions can be greatly enhanced by inducing aligned electric dipoles in their excitonic part. However, direct evidence of a true particle-particle interaction, such as superfluidity or parametric scattering, is still missing. In this Letter, we demonstrate that dipolar interactions can be used to enhance parametric effects such as self-phase modulation in waveguide polaritons. By quantifying these optical nonlinearities, we provide a reliable experimental measurement of the direct dipolar enhancement of polariton-polariton interactions.

Exciton-polaritons are hybrid light-matter excitations arising from the nonperturbative coupling of a photonic mode and an excitonic resonance. Behaving as interacting photons, they show optical third-order nonlinearities providing effects such as optical parametric oscillation or amplification. It has been suggested that polariton-polariton interactions can be greatly enhanced by inducing aligned electric dipoles in their excitonic part. However, direct evidence of a true particle-particle interaction, such as superfluidity or parametric scattering, is still missing. In this Letter, we demonstrate that dipolar interactions can be used to enhance parametric effects such as self-phase modulation in waveguide polaritons. By quantifying these optical nonlinearities, we provide a reliable experimental measurement of the direct dipolar enhancement of polariton-polariton interactions.

The fusion-evaporation reaction Si28+Ca40 at 122 MeV beam energy was used to populate excited states in the N=Z+1 nucleus Ga63. With the combination of the Gammasphere spectrometer and the Microball CsI(Tl) charged-particle detector array, the level scheme of Ga63 was extended by more than a factor of two in terms of number of γ-ray transitions and excited states, excitation energy (Ex>30MeV), and angular momentum (I>30ℏ). Nine regular sequences of states were newly established in the high-spin part of the level scheme. The majority of these rotational band structures could be connected to the previously known part of the level scheme by high-energy γ-ray transitions in the energy range Eγ=4-6MeV. Low-spin states were assessed by shell-model calculations. The high-spin rotational bands were interpreted and classified by means of cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations.

Background: A number of accelerator-based isotope production facilities utilize 100- to 200-MeV proton beams due to the high production rates enabled by high-intensity beam capabilities and the greater diversity of isotope production brought on by the long range of high-energy protons. However, nuclear reaction modeling at these energies can be challenging because of the interplay between different reaction modes and a lack of existing guiding cross-section data. Purpose: A Tri-lab collaboration has been formed among the Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, and Brookhaven National Laboratories to address these complexities by characterizing charged-particle nuclear reactions relevant to the production of established and novel radioisotopes. Method: In the inaugural collaboration experiments, stacked-targets of niobium foils were irradiated at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (Ep=200MeV) and the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility (Ep=100MeV) to measure Nb93(p,x) cross sections between 50 and 200 MeV. First measurements of the Nb93(p,4n)Mo90 beam monitor reaction beyond 100 MeV are reported in this work, as part of the broadest energy-spanning dataset for the reaction to date. Nb93(p,x) production cross sections are additionally reported for 22 other measured residual products. The measured cross-section results were compared with literature data as well as the default calculations of the nuclear model codes TALYS, CoH, EMPIRE, and ALICE. Results: The default code predictions largely failed to reproduce the measurements, with consistent underestimation of the preequilibrium emission. Therefore, we developed a standardized procedure that determines the reaction model parameters that best reproduce the most prominent reaction channels in a physically justifiable manner. The primary focus of the procedure was to determine the best parametrization for the preequilibrium two-component exciton model via a comparison to the energy-dependent Nb93(p,x) data, as well as previously published La139(p,x) cross sections. Conclusions: This modeling study revealed a trend toward a relative decrease for internal transition rates at intermediate proton energies (Ep=20-60 MeV) in the current exciton model as compared to the default values. The results of this work are instrumental for the planning, execution, and analysis essential to isotope production.

The fusion-evaporation reaction Si28+Ca40 at 122 MeV beam energy was used to populate excited states in the N=Z+1 nucleus Ga63. With the combination of the Gammasphere spectrometer and the Microball CsI(Tl) charged-particle detector array, the level scheme of Ga63 was extended by more than a factor of two in terms of number of γ-ray transitions and excited states, excitation energy (Ex>30MeV), and angular momentum (I>30ℏ). Nine regular sequences of states were newly established in the high-spin part of the level scheme. The majority of these rotational band structures could be connected to the previously known part of the level scheme by high-energy γ-ray transitions in the energy range Eγ=4-6MeV. Low-spin states were assessed by shell-model calculations. The high-spin rotational bands were interpreted and classified by means of cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations.

A method for detecting dc spin current propagation through an epitaxial antiferromagnetic (AFM) NiO layer is presented. Spin current is generated by spin pumping from an adjoining ferromagnetic (FM) layer and detected in a non-magnetic metallic layer by the inverse spin Hall effect. Comparison is made with a YIG/Pt bilayer, where only the Pt layer is electrically conducting, but for which spin Hall magnetoresistance makes an additional contribution to the measured signal. The signal obtained from the multilayered stack containing the AFM NiO layer is found to contain additional contributions due to anisotropic magnetoresistance. By exciting the sample with out-of-plane rf magnetic field and making measurements with a static field applied at different orientations within the plane of the sample, a signal associated with the dc spin current may be identified.