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A discrete degree of freedom can be engineered to match the Hamiltonian of particles moving in a real-space lattice potential. Such synthetic dimensions are powerful tools for quantum simulation because of the control they offer and the ability to create configurations difficult to access in real space. Here, in an ultracold 84 Sr atom, we demonstrate a synthetic-dimension based on Rydberg levels coupled with millimeter waves. Tunneling amplitudes between synthetic lattice sites and on-site potentials are set by the millimeter-wave amplitudes and detunings respectively. Alternating weak and strong tunneling in a one-dimensional configuration realizes the single-particle Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) Hamiltonian, a paradigmatic model of topological matter. Band structure is probed through optical excitation from the ground state to Rydberg levels, revealing symmetry-protected topological edge states at zero energy. Edge-state energies are robust to perturbations of tunneling-rates that preserve chiral symmetry, but can be shifted by the introduction of on-site potentials. Synthetic dimensions, states of a system engineered to act as if they were a reconfigurable extra spatial dimension, have been demonstrated with different systems previously. Here the authors create a synthetic dimension using Rydberg atoms and configure it to support topological edge states.

Piezomagnetism couples strain linearly to magnetic order, implying that it can produce and control magnetization. However, unlike magnetostriction, which couples magnetization quadratically to strain, it enables bidirectional control of a net magnetic moment. If this effect becomes large at room temperature, it may be technologically relevant, similar to its electric analogue, piezoelectricity. However, current studies of the piezomagnetic effect have been primarily restricted to antiferromagnetic insulators at cryogenic temperatures. Here we report the observation of large piezomagnetism in the antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetal Mn 3 Sn at room temperature. This material is known for its nearly magnetization-free anomalous Hall effect. We find that a small uniaxial strain on the order of 0.1% can control both the sign and size of the anomalous Hall effect. Our experiment and theory show that the piezomagnetism can control the anomalous Hall effect, which will be useful for spintronics applications. Control of magnetization is important for applications in spintronics. Now, the piezomagnetic effect allows strain to control the anomalous Hall effect in a metal at room temperature by rotating its antiferromagnetic order.

Background: Plasma is an ionised gas that is typically generated in high-temperature laboratory conditions. However, recent progress in atmospheric plasmas has led to the creation of cold plasmas with ion temperature close to room temperature. Methods: Both in-vitro and in-vivo studies revealed that cold plasmas selectively kill cancer cells. Results: We show that: (a) cold plasma application selectively eradicates cancer cells in vitro without damaging normal cells; and (b) significantly reduces tumour size in vivo . It is shown that reactive oxygen species metabolism and oxidative stress responsive genes are deregulated. Conclusion: The development of cold plasma tumour ablation has the potential of shifting the current paradigm of cancer treatment and enabling the transformation of cancer treatment technologies by utilisation of another state of matter.

Coronavirus disease 2019 personal protective equipment has been reported to affect communication in healthcare settings. This study sought to identify those challenges experimentally. Bamford-Kowal-Bench speech discrimination in noise performance of healthcare workers was tested under simulated background noise conditions from a variety of hospital environments. Candidates were assessed for ability to interpret speech with and without personal protective equipment, with both normal speech and raised voice. There was a significant difference in speech discrimination scores between normal and personal protective equipment wearing subjects in operating theatre simulated background noise levels (70 dB). Wearing personal protective equipment can impact communication in healthcare environments. Efforts should be made to remind staff about this burden and to seek alternative communication paradigms, particularly in operating theatre environments.

The intestinal microbiome may have a critical roll in susceptibility or resistance to immune-mediated diseases. Alterations of the gut microflora after oral antibiotic treatment can regulate encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for human multiple sclerosis (MS). We now show that a zwitterionic capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) of Bacteroides fragilis can protect against central nervous system demyelinating disease. Oral administration with purified PSA protected mice against EAE prophylactic and therapeutically. PSA treatment enhanced CD103 expressing dendritic cells (DCs) that accumulated in the cervical lymph nodes. Exposure of naïve DCs to PSA induced the conversion of naïve CD4+ T cells into interleukin (IL)-10-producing FoxP3+Treg cells. Protection against EAE was completely abrogated in IL-10-deficient mice. Our results show an important role for a molecule from human commensal bacteria in protecting against EAE and suggest the possibility for protection in MS.

In the present study we have measured the excitation functions for the nuclear reactions nat Mo( α ,x) 103 Ru, nat Mo( α ,x) 97 Ru, nat Mo( α ,x) 95 Ru, nat Mo( α ,x) 96 g Tc, nat Mo( α ,x) 95 g Tc and nat Mo( α ,x) 94 g Tc in the energy range 9–32 MeV. We have used the stacked foil activation technique followed by the offline gamma-ray spectroscopy technique to measure the excitation functions. In this study we have also documented detailed uncertainty analysis for these nuclear reactions and their corresponding covariance matrix are also presented. The excitation functions are compared with the available experimental data from EXFOR data library and the theoretical prediction from TALYS nuclear reaction code.

We measured production cross sections of 56 Co, 57 Co, 58 Co, 65 Zn and 67 Cu radioisotopes from α -induced reactions of nat Ni by using a stacked-foil activation technique and offline γ -ray spectroscopy technique. The results were compared with the available experimental data as well as the theoretical calculations based on the TALYS - 1.9 code. The present results in the energy region from 19 MeV to 40 MeV are in consistent with the existing experimental data and the calculated results. The measured cross-sections are reported along with their uncertainties and covariance matrix after a thorough uncertainty propagation using covariance analysis. The present experimental results will significantly contribute to enlarging the literature database for α -induced reactions on nat Ni, leading to a variety of applications.

The reference intervals (RIs) for clinical parameters of fish are crucial to identify abnormal test results. The well-established RIs for hemato-biochemical analytes are lacking for Pangas ( Pangasianodon hypophthalmus ) reared in different culture systems. The present study aimed to analyze the condition factor and generate RIs for hemato-biochemical parameters in diverse culture systems, which are very critical to improve fish welfare and production. Briefly, the fish sampling was conducted from three different fish farms practicing extensive (no supplemented food with a relatively low stocking density of 10–15 fish/m 3 ), semi-intensive (supplementary feed provided with a stocking density of 80 fish/m 3 ), and intensive culture systems (feed-based culture with a high stocking density of 100–150 fish/m 3 ). Results showed that Fulton’s condition factor for fish reared in an intensive culture system was significantly higher (0.98 ± 0.18), followed by semi-intensive (0.85 ± 0.30) and extensive (0.72 ± 0.16) systems. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, and packed cell volume were significantly ( P  < 0.05) higher in the semi-intensive system. Total leucocyte count and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were significantly ( P <  0.05) higher in the intensive system. Serum biochemical parameters, including glucose, cortisol, protein profile, and lipid profile, were significantly ( P  < 0.05) high in the intensive and semi-intensive systems. The study indicated that the condition factor and haemato-biochemical parameters could serve as indicators of the health status of P. hypophthalmus . The intensive and semi-intensive culture systems of P. hypophthalmus demonstrated better health indicators compared to the extensive system. The established normative database can ensure the correct assessment of health and the growth of P. hypophthalmus in diverse culture systems. The reference intervals established for hemato-biochemical parameters in the current study can provide valuable benchmarks for monitoring the fish in different culture systems, enabling effective management and reducing economic losses associated with stress-related issues.

The environmental Kuznets curve posits an inverted-U relationship between pollution and economic development. Pessimistic critics of empirically estimated curves have argued that their declining portions are illusory, either because they are cross-sectional snapshots that mask a long-run “race to the bottom” in environmental standards, or because industrial societies will continually produce new pollutants as the old ones are controlled. However, recent evidence has fostered an optimistic view by suggesting that the curve is actually flattening and shifting to the left. The driving forces appear to be economic liberalization, clean technology diffusion, and new approaches to pollution regulation in developing countries.