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\"In April 1943, fifteen-year-old Maria Rosa Henson was taken by Japanese soldiers occupying the Philippines and forced into prostitution as a 'comfort woman.' In this simply told yet powerfully moving autobiography, Rosa recalls her childhood as the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy landowner, her work for Huk guerrillas, her wartime ordeal, and her marriage to a rebel leader who left her to raise their children alone. Her triumph against all odds is embodied by her decision to go public with the secret she had held close for fifty years. Now in a second edition with a new introduction and foreword that bring the ongoing controversy over the comfort women to the present, this powerful memoir will be essential reading for all those concerned with violence against women\"--Back cover.

The quantum Hall effect in two-dimensional electron gases involves the flow of topologically protected dissipationless charge currents along the edges of a sample. Integer or fractional electrical conductance is associated with edge currents of electrons or quasiparticles with fractional charges, respectively. It has been predicted that quantum Hall phenomena can also be created by edge currents with a fundamentally different origin: the fractionalization of quantum spins. However, such quantization has not yet been observed. Here we report the observation of this type of quantization of the Hall effect in an insulating two-dimensional quantum magnet 1 , α-RuCl 3 , with a dominant Kitaev interaction (a bond-dependent Ising-type interaction) on a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice 2 – 7 . We find that the application of a magnetic field parallel to the sample destroys long-range magnetic order, leading to a field-induced quantum-spin-liquid ground state with substantial entanglement of local spins 8 – 12 . In the low-temperature regime of this state, the two-dimensional thermal Hall conductance reaches a quantum plateau as a function of the applied magnetic field and has a quantization value that is exactly half of the two-dimensional thermal Hall conductance of the integer quantum Hall effect. This half-integer quantization of the thermal Hall conductance in a bulk material is a signature of topologically protected chiral edge currents of charge-neutral Majorana fermions (particles that are their own antiparticles), which have half the degrees of freedom of conventional fermions 13 – 16 . These results demonstrate the fractionalization of spins into itinerant Majorana fermions and Z 2 fluxes, which is predicted to occur in Kitaev quantum spin liquids 1 , 3 . Above a critical magnetic field, the quantization disappears and the thermal Hall conductance goes to zero rapidly, indicating a topological quantum phase transition between the states with and without chiral Majorana edge modes. Emergent Majorana fermions in a quantum magnet are expected to have a great impact on strongly correlated quantum matter, opening up the possibility of topological quantum computing at relatively high temperatures. Half-integer quantization of the thermal Hall effect in a Kitaev spin liquid reveals chiral currents of charge-neutral Majorana fermions around the edges of the sample, produced by strong electronic correlations.

A key feature of quantum spin liquids is the predicted formation of fractionalized excitations. They are expected to produce changes in the physical response, providing a way to observe the quantum spin liquid state 1 . In the honeycomb magnet α-RuCl 3 , a quantum spin liquid has been proposed to explain the behaviour observed on applying an in-plane magnetic field H || . Previous work reported that the thermal Hall conductivity took on a half-integer quantized value and suggested this as a signature of a fractionalized Majorana edge mode predicted to exist in Kitaev quantum spin liquids 2 . However, the temperature and magnetic-field range of the half-quantized signal 2 – 4 and its association with Majorana edge modes are still under debate 5 , 6 . Here we present a comprehensive study of the thermal Hall conductivity in α-RuCl 3 showing that approximately half-integer quantization exists in an extended region of the phase diagram, particularly across a plateau-like parameter regime for H || exceeding 10 T and temperature below 6.5 K. At lower fields, the thermal Hall conductivity exhibits correlations with complex anomalies in the longitudinal thermal conductivity and magnetization, and is suppressed by cooling to low temperatures. Our results can be explained by the existence of a topological state in magnetic fields above 10 T. Earlier measurements of quantized heat transport in the spin liquid candidate α-RuCl 3 agreed with the predictions of Majorana edge modes. Support for this interpretation now comes from the observations of quantization across a large parameter range.

The exactly solvable Kitaev model of two-dimensional honeycomb magnets has a quantum spin liquid phase characterized by the emergence of fractionalized Majorana fermion excitations. In the paramagnetic state of α-RuCl 3 at high magnetic fields, a half-integer quantization of thermal Hall conductivity has been reported as a signature of edge currents carried by Majorana fermions, but the bulk nature of this state remains unconfirmed. Here, by measuring the heat capacity for different in-plane rotations of an applied magnetic field, we find strongly angle-dependent low-energy excitations in bulk α-RuCl 3 . The excitation gap has a sextuple node structure, and the gap amplitude increases with the field, as expected for itinerant Majorana fermions in the Kitaev model. Our thermodynamic observations of the opening and closing of the bulk gap according to the magnetic-field direction fully correspond with changes in the edge transport. Moreover, the behaviour at higher magnetic fields where the quantum thermal Hall effect vanishes is consistent with a nematic quantum spin liquid state with two-fold rotational symmetry. α-RuCl has a quantum magnetic phase that may be a spin liquid hosting Majorana fermion excitations. Heat capacity measurements show an anisotropic dependence on magnetic-field direction, consistent with predictions for the putative spin liquid.

Programmable matter is a material whose properties can be programmed to achieve specific shapes or stiffnesses upon command. This concept requires constituent elements to interact and rearrange intelligently in order to meet the goal. This paper considers achieving programmable sheets that can form themselves in different shapes autonomously by folding. Past approaches to creating transforming machines have been limited by the small feature sizes, the large number of components, and the associated complexity of communication among the units. We seek to mitigate these difficulties through the unique concept of self-folding origami with universal crease patterns. This approach exploits a single sheet composed of interconnected triangular sections. The sheet is able to fold into a set of predetermined shapes using embedded actuation. To implement this self-folding origami concept, we have developed a scalable end-to-end planning and fabrication process. Given a set of desired objects, the system computes an optimized design for a single sheet and multiple controllers to achieve each of the desired objects. The material, called programmable matter by folding, is an example of a system capable of achieving multiple shapes for multiple functions.

Using two-photon imaging of neuronal activity in mouse motor cortex during the acquisition of a self-initiated lever-pull task, Masamizu and colleagues demonstrate that learning is accompanied by a reorganization of ensemble activity in layer 5a. This reorganization correlates with an increase in ensemble prediction of task accuracy. The authors also find that no such changes take place in layer 2/3. The primary motor cortex (M1) possesses two intermediate layers upstream of the motor-output layer: layer 2/3 (L2/3) and layer 5a (L5a). Although repetitive training often improves motor performance and movement coding by M1 neuronal ensembles, it is unclear how neuronal activities in L2/3 and L5a are reorganized during motor task learning. We conducted two-photon calcium imaging in mouse M1 during 14 training sessions of a self-initiated lever-pull task. In L2/3, the accuracy of neuronal ensemble prediction of lever trajectory remained unchanged globally, with a subset of individual neurons retaining high prediction accuracy throughout the training period. However, in L5a, the ensemble prediction accuracy steadily improved, and one-third of neurons, including subcortical projection neurons, evolved to contribute substantially to ensemble prediction in the late stage of learning. The L2/3 network may represent coordination of signals from other areas throughout learning, whereas L5a may participate in the evolving network representing well-learned movements.

Disgust, a primary negative emotion, plays a vital role in protecting organisms from intoxication and infection. In rodents, this emotion has been quantified by measuring the specific reactions elicited by exposure to unpleasant tastes. These reactions were captured on video and manually analyzed, a process that required considerable time and effort. Here we developed a method to automatically count disgust reactions in mice by using machine learning. The disgust reactions were automatically tracked using DeepLabCut as the coordinates of the nose and both front and rear paws. The automated tracking data were split into test and training data, and the latter were combined with manually labeled data on whether a disgust reaction was present and, if so, which type of disgust reaction was present. Then, a random forest classifier was constructed, and the performance of the classifier was evaluated in the test dataset. The total number of disgust reactions estimated by the classifier highly correlated with those counted manually (Pearson’s r  = 0.97). The present method will decrease the time and effort required to analyze disgust reactions, thus facilitating the implementation of the taste reactivity test in large-scale screening and long-term experiments that necessitate quantifying a substantial number of disgust reactions.

High-throughput DNA sequencing significantly contributed to diagnosis and prognostication in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We determined the biological and prognostic significance of genetic aberrations in MDS. In total, 944 patients with various MDS subtypes were screened for known/putative mutations/deletions in 104 genes using targeted deep sequencing and array-based genomic hybridization. In total, 845/944 patients (89.5%) harbored at least one mutation (median, 3 per patient; range, 0–12). Forty-seven genes were significantly mutated with TET2 , SF3B1 , ASXL1 , SRSF2 , DNMT3A , and RUNX1 mutated in >10% of cases. Many mutations were associated with higher risk groups and/or blast elevation. Survival was investigated in 875 patients. By univariate analysis, 25/48 genes (resulting from 47 genes tested significantly plus PRPF8 ) affected survival ( P <0.05). The status of 14 genes combined with conventional factors revealed a novel prognostic model (‘Model-1’) separating patients into four risk groups (‘low’, ‘intermediate’, ‘high’, ‘very high risk’) with 3-year survival of 95.2, 69.3, 32.8, and 5.3% ( P <0.001). Subsequently, a ‘gene-only model’ (‘Model-2’) was constructed based on 14 genes also yielding four significant risk groups ( P <0.001). Both models were reproducible in the validation cohort ( n =175 patients; P <0.001 each). Thus, large-scale genetic and molecular profiling of multiple target genes is invaluable for subclassification and prognostication in MDS patients.

Quantum triangular-lattice antiferromagnets are important prototype systems to investigate numerous phenomena of the geometrical frustration in condensed matter. Apart from highly unusual magnetic properties, they possess a rich phase diagram (ranging from an unfrustrated square lattice to a quantum spin liquid), yet to be confirmed experimentally. One major obstacle in this area of research is the lack of materials with appropriate (ideally tuned) magnetic parameters. Using Cs 2 CuCl 4 as a model system, we demonstrate an alternative approach, where, instead of the chemical composition, the spin Hamiltonian is altered by hydrostatic pressure. The approach combines high-pressure electron spin resonance and r.f. susceptibility measurements, allowing us not only to quasi-continuously tune the exchange parameters, but also to accurately monitor them. Our experiments indicate a substantial increase of the exchange coupling ratio from 0.3 to 0.42 at a pressure of 1.8 GPa, revealing a number of emergent field-induced phases. Theoretical studies of quantum magnetism typically assume idealised lattices with freely tunable parameters, which are difficult to realise experimentally. Zvyagin et al. perform challenging measurements at high pressures to tune and to accurately monitor the exchange parameters of a triangular lattice antiferromagnet.

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) in hip can cause severe joint destruction and may require total hip replacement surgery to retain normal joint function. With continuing synovial inflammation within the hip joint, the joint destruction progresses. It results in joint space narrowing, marginal and central erosions, and acetabular protrusion. In most of studies on joint damage in RA patients, the evaluation of joint destruction focuses only on small joints, because radiographic damage was scored according to the Sharp method as modified by van der Heijde, which includes the hands and feet. However, there is limited data on joint destruction of large load-bearing joints such as the hip.ObjectivesTo study the destruction patterns of the hip joint in RA patients and to examine the relationships between destruction patterns and variables.MethodsSerial hip radiographs of 50 RA patients (62 hips) undergoing total joint replacement were evaluated. The male/female ratio of the subjects was 38/2. The mean age was 59.8 years, and the mean duration of illness was 18.2 years. The mean duration of the period between hip pain onset and the time of surgery was 2.0 years. Biologics were used in six patients. 70% were concomitantly receiving prednisolone (mean dose: 3.0 mg/day). The relationships between destruction patterns of hip joint and variables was analyzed.ResultsJoint space narrowing (JSN) was seen in 28% of patients and acetabular protrusion (AP) in 45%. Additional destruction patterns included axial migration of the femoral head with hip dysplasia, avascular necrosis of the femoral head and rapidly destructive arthropathy (RDS). In patients with long-standing disease, JSN developed to acetabular protrusion in serial hip radiographs. In AP, mean protrusion distance was 5.1mm (1-15mm). Patients with biologics showed secondary osteoarthritis-like findings such as osteophytosis and subchondral sclerosis. AP and RDS were more frequently seen in patients with multiple joint destruction, compared with JSN. In AP, CRP and rheumatoid factor were significantly higher compared with JSN (p>0.05). The duration of illness and the duration of the period between hip pain onset and the time of surgery were long and prednisolone dose were high in AP compared with JSN, although no significant difference was observed.ConclusionsJoint space narrowing of the hip joint developed to acetabular protrusion in RA patients with high activity and long-standing disease.Disclosure of InterestNone declared