Long-term measurements of aerosol optical depths (AODs) at 440 nm and Aangstrom exponents (AE) between 440 and 870 nm made for CARSNET were compiled into a climatology of aerosol optical properties ...for China. Quality-assured monthly mean AODs are presented for 50 sites representing remote, rural, and urban areas. AODs were 0.14, 0.34, 0.42, 0.54, and 0.74 at remote stations, rural/desert regions, the Loess Plateau, central and eastern China, and urban sites, respectively, and the corresponding AE values were 0.97, 0.55, 0.82, 1.19, and 1.05. AODs increased from north to south, with low values (< 0.20) over the Tibetan Plateau and northwestern China and high AODs (> 0.60) in central and eastern China where industrial emissions and anthropogenic activities were likely sources. AODs were 0.20-0.40 in semi-arid and arid regions and some background areas in northern and northeastern China. AEs were > 1.20 over the southern reaches of the Yangtze River and at clean sites in northeastern China. In the northwestern deserts and industrial parts of northeast China, AEs were lower (< 0.80) compared with central and eastern regions. Dust events in spring, hygroscopic particle growth during summer, and biomass burning contribute the high AODs, especially in northern and eastern China. The AODs show decreasing trends from 2006 to 2009 but increased ~ 0.03 per year from 2009 to 2013.
Weyl semimetals are a class of materials that can be regarded as three-dimensional analogs of graphene upon breaking time-reversal or inversion symmetry. Electrons in a Weyl semimetal behave as Weyl ...fermions, which have many exotic properties, such as chiral anomaly and magnetic monopoles in the crystal momentum space. The surface state of a Weyl semimetal displays pairs of entangled Fermi arcs at two opposite surfaces. However, the existence of Weyl semimetals has not yet been proved experimentally. Here, we report the experimental realization of a Weyl semimetal in TaAs by observing Fermi arcs formed by its surface states using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our first-principles calculations, which match remarkably well with the experimental results, further confirm that TaAs is a Weyl semimetal.
We report results on the searches of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with sub-GeV masses (mχ) via WIMP-nucleus spin-independent scattering with Migdal effect incorporated. Analysis on ...time-integrated (TI) and annual modulation (AM) effects on CDEX-1B data are performed, with 737.1 kg day exposure and 160 eVee threshold for TI analysis, and 1107.5 kg day exposure and 250 eVee threshold for AM analysis. The sensitive windows in mχ are expanded by an order of magnitude to lower DM masses with Migdal effect incorporated. New limits on σχNSI at 90% confidence level are derived as 2×10−32∼7×10−35 cm2 for TI analysis at mχ∼50–180 MeV/c2, and 3×10−32∼9×10−38 cm2 for AM analysis at mχ∼75 MeV/c2–3.0 GeV/c2.
Using a conjunction of Cluster in the mid‐altitude dayside magnetosphere and Swarm in the low‐altitude ionosphere, we show, by employing multi‐spacecraft analysis, that matched, strong magnetic ...perturbations and the corresponding mesoscale field‐aligned current (FAC) structures are measured in the high latitude polar cusp region during the 7 October 2015 storm. Two pairs of opposite (positive/negative) FACs are observed by both Cluster and Swarm, which may relate to pulsed magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. Furthermore, the current intensity of these matched FACs decreases from high to low latitude, consistent with the time elapsed since reconnection. Corresponding geomagnetic disturbances are also observed by ground stations. Our observations provide direct evidence for the coupling of mesoscale FACs between the magnetosphere, ionosphere and ground in the polar cusp region, where the signatures are driven in this case by conditions suitable for inducing reconnection.
Plain Language Summary
Field‐aligned currents (FACs) are the key medium for the interaction between the distant space magnetosphere (a region filled with Earth's magnetic field) and the near‐Earth space ionosphere. Magnetic reconnection is the most important process to transfer solar wind energy from dayside magnetosphere to nightside, which is accompanied by the generation of FACs extending from the high latitude region of the ionosphere to the magnetosphere. For such structures, extending across different space regions, joint observations by multiple spacecraft are necessary. Using simultaneous measurements of Cluster in the magnetosphere, Swarm in the ionosphere and geomagnetic stations on the ground, coordinated mesoscale FAC structures could show matched signatures in the magnetosphere and the ionosphere and the corresponding geomagnetic disturbances on the ground. Our observations provide direct evidence for the magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐ground coupling during the pulsed magnetic reconnection process.
Key Points
Multi‐spacecraft Cluster and Swarm reveal matched magnetic perturbation and corresponding mesoscale field‐aligned currents (FACs) at different altitudes in the cusp region
Multiple pairs of opposite FACs associated with pulsed magnetic reconnection are dominant currents system at the dayside during storm time
Direct evidence for detailed dayside mesoscale FACs coupling between magnetosphere, ionosphere and ground is provided
The mechanism of superconductivity in cuprates remains one of the big challenges of condensed matter physics. High-Tc
cuprates crystallize into a layered perovskite structure featuring copper oxygen ...octahedral coordination. Due to the Jahn Teller effect in combination with the strong static Coulomb interaction, the octahedra in high-Tc
cuprates are elongated along the c axis, leading to a 3dx²-y² orbital at the top of the band structure wherein the doped holes reside. This scenario gives rise to 2D characteristics in high-Tc
cuprates that favor d-wave pairing symmetry. Here, we report superconductivity in a cuprate Ba₂CuO4-y, wherein the local octahedron is in a very exceptional compressed version. The Ba₂CuO4-y compound was synthesized at high pressure at high temperatures and shows bulk superconductivity with critical temperature (Tc
) above 70 K at ambient conditions. This superconducting transition temperature is more than 30 K higher than the Tc
for the isostructural counterparts based on classical La₂CuO₄. X-ray absorption measurements indicate the heavily doped nature of the Ba₂CuO4-y superconductor. In compressed octahedron, the 3d3z²-r² orbital will be lifted above the 3dx²-y² orbital, leading to significant 3D nature in addition to the conventional 3dx²-y² orbital. This work sheds important light on advancing our comprehensive understanding of the superconducting mechanism of high Tc
in cuprate materials.
CTONG0806 assessed the efficacy of pemetrexed versus gefitinib as second-line treatment in advanced nonsquamous nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor ...(EGFR).
Patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC harboring wild-type EGFR, detected by direct sequencing, and previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive gefitinib (250 mg/day) orally or pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) i.v. on day 1 of a 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). The Independent Review Committee (IRC) evaluated all pictorial data.
From February 2009 to August 2012, 161 patients were enrolled, and 157 were assessable (81 in the gefitinib arm, 76 in the pemetrexed arm). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two arms. The median PFSs were 4.8 versus 1.6 months in the pemetrexed and gefitinib arms, respectively hazard ratio (HR) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40–0.75, P < 0.001 as confirmed by IRC evaluation (5.6versus 1.7 months, HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38–0.75, P < 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) showed a trend of superiority in the pemetrexed arm (12.4 versus 9.6 months, HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.49–1.04, P = 0.077). Quality-of-life assessment showed no marked difference between the arms. No unexpected adverse events were found. Of 108 patients with sufficient DNA samples, EGFR mutation status was re-tested by Scorpion amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS); 32 (29.6%) tested positive (19 in the pemetrexed arm, 13 in the gefitinib arm; median PFS: 8.1 versus 7.0 months, HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.43–2.08, P = 0.877).
CTONG0806 is the first trial to show significant improvement in PFS and an improved OS trend with pemetrexed compared with gefitinib as second-line setting treatment of EGFR wild-type advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. ARMS is superior to direct sequencing in excluding false-negative patients.
NCT00891579.
lThe critical thermal issues of lithium-ion batteries are introduced.lThe design principles for batteries thermal management are presented.lThe latest advances on battery thermal management systems ...are summarized.lEmerging technologies for next-generation power batteries are discussed.
Replacing conventional gasoline-powered cars with electric vehicles (EVs) can reduce not only pollution emissions but also the dependence on fossil fuels. As the most widely used power source to propel EVs, lithium-ion batteries are highly sensitive to the operating temperatures, rendering battery thermal management indispensable to ensure their high performance, long cycle life and safe operation. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in thermal management for lithium-ion batteries. The critical thermal issues caused by high temperature, low temperature and temperature non-uniformity are firstly discussed. The design principles and the existing thermal management systems are then presented and elaborated extensively. Emerging technologies such as thermoelectric devices and internal heating methods for future battery thermal management are analyzed. We highlight that the combination of passive and active cooling/heating methods is promising to meet the stringent thermal requirements, particularly under dynamic conditions with drastic power fluctuations. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives of thermal management systems with high efficiency and durability are provided. This review offers comprehensive guidance on the design of advanced thermal management system for next-generation power batteries.
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