THERE is much excitement in South Africa about the Year of China

after a successful launch of the year-long event at the State Theater in capital Pretoda. At the inaugural ceremony, artists from China and South Africa provided a large appreciative audience the opportunity to engage in an eclectic mix of entertainment. Ancient Chinese folk songs sung by African singers and South African mining songs sung by Chinese tenors all created a rapport that lies at the heart of the Sino-South African relationship.

Spectroscopy and molecule opacity investigation on excited states of SiS

The SiS molecule,which plays a significant role in space,has attracted a great deal of attention for many years.Due to complex interactions among its low-lying electronic states,precise information regarding the molecular structure of SiS is limited.To obtain accurate information about the structure of its excited states,the high-precision multireference configuration interaction(MRCI)method has been utilized.This method is used to calculate the potential energy curves(PECs)of the 18Λ–S states corresponding to the lowest dissociation limit of SiS.The core–valence correlation effect,Davidson’s correction and the scalar relativistic effect are also included to guarantee the precision of the MRCI calculation.Based on the calculated PECs,the spectroscopic constants of quasi-bound and bound electronic states are calculated and they are in accordance with previous experimental results.The transition dipole moments(TDMs)and dipole moments(DMs)are determined by the MRCI method.In addition,the abrupt variations of the DMs for the 1^(5)Σ^(+)and 2^(5)Σ^(+)states at the avoided crossing point are attributed to the variation of the electronic configuration.The opacity of SiS at a pressure of 100 atms is presented across a series of temperatures.With increasing temperature,the expanding population of excited states blurs the band boundaries.

Soleus arthrogenic muscle inhibition following acute lateral ankle sprain correlates with symptoms and ankle disability but not with postural control

Background:Acute lateral ankle sprains(ALAS)are associated with long-term impairments and instability tied to altered neural excitability.Arthrogenic muscle inhibition(AMI)has been observed in this population;however,relationships with injury-related impairments are unclear,potentially due to the resting,prone position in which AMI is typically measured.Assessing AMI during bipedal stance may provide a better understanding of this relationship.Methods:AMI was assessed in 38 young adults(19 ALAS within 72 h of injury:10 males,21.4±2.7 years;19 healthy controls:10 males,21.9±2.2 years;mean±SD)using the Hoffmann reflex(H-reflex)during bipedal stance.Electrical stimulation was administered to identify the _(max)imal H-reflex(H_(max))and _(max)imal motor response(M_(max))from the soleus,fibularis longus,and tibialis anterior muscles.The primary outcome measure was the H_(max)/M_(max) ratio.Secondary outcomes included acute symptoms(pain and swelling),postural control during bipedal stance,and self-reported function.Results:No significant group-by-limb interactions were observed for any muscle.However,a significant group main effect was observed in the soleus muscle(F(1,35)=6.82,p=0.013),indicating significantly lower H_(max)/M_(max) ratios following ALAS(0.38±0.20)compared to healthy controls(0.53±0.16).Furthermore,lower H_(max)/M_(max) ratios in the soleus significantly correlated with acute symptoms and self-reported function but not with postural control.Conclusion:This study supports previous evidence of AMI in patients with ALAS,providing insight into neurophysiologic impacts of musculoskeletal injury.Our results suggest that assessing AMI in a standing position following acute injury may provide valuable insight into how AMI develops and guide potential therapeutic options to curb and offset the formation of joint instability.

Low-energy inelastic electron scattering from carbon monoxide:Excitation and de-excitation of the X^(1)Σ^(+),a^(3)Π,a'^(3)∑^(+),A^(1)Π,d^(3)Δ,e^(3)∑^(-),I^(1)∑^(-)and D^(1)Δelectronic states

Cross-sections for electronic excitation and de-excitation among the ground state and lowest-lying seven electronic excited states of carbon monoxide(CO)by low-energy electron impact are computed using the R-matrix method.The excitation cross-sections from the ground state to the electronic states a^(3)Π,a'^(3)Σ^(+)+and A^(1)Πagree with previous experimental and theoretical results.In addition,the cross-sections for the I^(1)Σ^(+)-and D^(1)Δstates of CO,which will cascade to CO a'^(3)Σ^(+)+and A^(1)Πstates,are calculated.Furthermore,in contrast to the typical increase in electronic excitation cross-sections with collision energy,the de-excitation cross-sections show a negative trend with increasing energy.

Exercise-induced adaptation of neurons in the vertebrate locomotor system

Vertebrate neurons are highly dynamic cells that undergo several alterations in their functioning and physiologies in adaptation to various external stimuli.In particular,how these neurons respond to physical exercise has long been an area of active research.Studies of the vertebrate locomotor system’s adaptability suggest multiple mechanisms are involved in the regulation of neuronal activity and properties during exercise.In this brief review,we highlight recent results and insights from the field with a focus on the following mechanisms:(a)alterations in neuronal excitability during acute exercise;(b)alterations in neuronal excitability after chronic exercise;(c)exercise-induced changes in neuronal membrane properties via modulation of ion channel activity;(d)exercise-enhanced dendritic plasticity;and(e)exercise-induced alterations in neuronal gene expression and protein synthesis.Our hope is to update the community with a cellular and molecular understanding of the recent mechanisms underlying the adaptability of the vertebrate locomotor system in response to both acute and chronic physical exercise.

Astrocyte chloride,excitatory-inhibitory balance and epilepsy

Excitation and inhibition are at the core of brain function and malfunction.To sustain the activity of neuronal networks over time and space,glutamatergic excitation is balanced by GABAergic inhibition.The equipoise of excitation and inhibition,known as the excitation/inhibition(E/I)balance,is crucial for proper brain function.The E/I balance is highly dynamic and shifts across different brain states:wakefulness primarily augments excitatory activity,while sleep promotes a decrease in excitation and an increase in inhibition(Bridi et al.,2020).Neuronal activity during various brain states is primarily regulated by neurotransmitters(Schiemann et al.,2015),alongside non-synaptic mechanisms that operate on a slower timescale.The non-synaptic mechanisms are many,with the ionic composition of the extracellular space playing a significant role;altering extracellular ion concentrations affects sleep,arousal,electroencephalogram patterns,and behavioral states(Ding et al.,2016).

Tuning Excitation Transport in a Dissipative Rydberg Ring

We demonstrate the flexible tunability of excitation transport in Rydberg atoms,under the interplay of controlled dissipation and interaction-induced synthetic flux.Considering a minimum four-site setup,i.e.,a triangular configuration with an additional output site,we study the transport of a single excitation.

Twin-Capture Rydberg State Excitation Enhanced with Few-Cycle Laser Pulses

Quantum excitation is usually regarded as a transient process occurring instantaneously,leaving the underlying physics shrouded in mystery.Recent research shows that Rydberg-state excitation with ultrashort laser pulses can be investigated and manipulated with state-of-the-art few-cycle pulses.We theoretically find that the efficiency of Rydberg state excitation can be enhanced with a short laser pulse and modulated by varying the laser intensities.We also uncover new facets of the excitation dynamics,including the launching of an electron wave packet through strong-field ionization,the re-entry of the electron into the atomic potential and the crucial step where the electron makes a U-turn,resulting in twin captures into Rydberg orbitals.By tuning the laser intensity,we show that the excitation of the Rydberg state can be coherently controlled on a sub-optical-cycle timescale.Our work paves the way toward ultrafast control and coherent manipulation of Rydberg states,thus benefiting Rydberg-state-based quantum technology.

Localization Dynamics at the Exceptional Point of Non-Hermitian Creutz Ladder

We propose a quasi-one-dimensional non-Hermitian Creutz ladder with an entirely flat spectrum by introducing alternating gain and loss components while maintaining inversion symmetry.Destructive interference generates a flat spectrum at the exceptional point,where the Creutz ladder maintains coalesced and degenerate eigenvalues with compact localized states distributed in a single plaquette.All excitations are completely confined within the localization area,unaffected by gain and loss.Single-site excitations exhibit nonunitary dynamics with intensities increasing due to level coalescence,while multiple-site excitations may display oscillating or constant intensities at the exceptional point.These results provide insights into the fascinating dynamics of non-Hermitian localization,where level coalescence and degeneracy coexist at the exceptional point.

Design and Performance Analysis of HMDV Dynamic Inertial Suspension Based on Active Disturbance Rejection Control

This paper addresses the impact of vertical vibration negative effects,unbalanced radial forces generated by the static eccentricity of the hub motor,and road excitation on the suspension performance of Hub Motor Driven Vehicle(HMDV).A dynamic inertial suspension based on Active Disturbance Rejection Control(ADRC)is proposed,combining the vertical dynamic characteristics of dynamic inertial suspension with the features of ADRC,which distinguishes between internal and external disturbances and arranges the transition process.Firstly,a simulation model of the static eccentricity of the hub motor is established to simulate the unbalanced radial electromagnetic force generated under static eccentricity.A quarter-vehicle model of an HMDV with a controllable dynamic inertial suspension is then constructed.Subsequently,the passive suspension model is studied under different grades of road excitation,and the impact mechanism of suspension performance at speeds of 0–20 m/s is analyzed.Next,the three main components within the ADRC controller are designed for the second-order controlled system,and optimization algorithms are used to optimize its internal parameters.Finally,the performance of the traditional passive suspension,the PID-based controllable dynamic inertial suspension,and the ADRC-based controllable dynamic inertial suspension are analyzed under different road inputs.Simulation results show that,under sinusoidal road input,the ADRC-based controllable dynamic inertial suspension exhibits a 52.3%reduction in the low-frequency resonance peak in the vehicle body acceleration gain diagram compared to the traditional passive suspension,with significant performance optimization in the high-frequency range.Under random road input,the ADRC-based controllable dynamic inertial suspension achieves a 29.53%reduction in the root mean square value of vehicle body acceleration and a 14.87%reduction in dynamic tire load.This indicates that the designed controllable dynamic inertial suspension possesses excellent vibration isolation performance.

A Composite Ansatz for Calculation of Dynamical Structure Factor

We propose an ansatz without adjustable parameters for the calculation of a dynamical structure factor.The ansatz combines the quasi-particle Green’s function,especially the contribution from the renormalization factor,and the exchange-correlation kernel from time-dependent density functional theory together,verified for typical metals and semiconductors from a plasmon excitation regime to the Compton scattering regime.It has the capability to reconcile both small-angle and large-angle inelastic x-ray scattering(IXS)signals with muchimproved accuracy,which can be used as the theoretical base model,in inversely inferring electronic structures of condensed matter from IXS experimental signals directly.It may also be used to diagnose thermal parameters,such as temperature and density,of dense plasmas in x-ray Thomson scattering experiments.

Low-Energy Spin Excitations in Detwinned FeSe

Antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation is regarded as the leading driving force for electron pairing in high-Tc superconductors.In iron-based superconductors,spin excitations at low energy range,especially the spin-resonance mode at ER~5kBTc,are important for understanding the superconductivity.Here,we use inelastic neutron scattering(INS)to investigate the symmetry and in-plane wave-vector dependence of low-energy spin excitations in uniaxial-strain detwinned Fe Se.The low-energy spin excitations(E<10 meV)appear mainly at Q=(±1,0)in the superconducting state(T9K)and the nematic state(T90 K),confirming the constant C_(2)rotational symmetry and ruling out the C_(4)mode at E≈3 meV reported in a prior INS study.Moreover,our results reveal an isotropic spin resonance in the superconducting state,which is consistent with the s±wave pairing symmetry.At slightly higher energy,low-energy spin excitations become highly anisotropic.The full width at half maximum of spin excitations is elongated along the transverse direction.The Q-space isotropic spin resonance and highly anisotropic low-energy spin excitations could arise from dyz intra-orbital selective Fermi surface nesting between the hole pocket aroundΓpoint and the electron pockets centered at MX point.

Semiclassical approach to spin dynamics of a ferromagnetic S = 1 chain

Motivated by recent experimental progress on the quasi-one-dimensional quantum magnet Ni Nb2O6, we study the spin dynamics of an S = 1 ferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with single-ion anisotropy by using a semiclassical molecular dynamics approach. This system undergoes a quantum phase transition from a ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic state under a transverse magnetic field, and the magnetic response reflecting this transition is well described by our semiclassical method.We show that at low temperature the transverse component of the dynamical structure factor depicts clearly the magnon dispersion, and the longitudinal component exhibits two continua associated with single-and two-magnon excitations,respectively. These spin excitation spectra show interesting temperature dependence as effects of magnon interactions. Our findings shed light on the experimental detection of spin excitations in a large class of quasi-one-dimensional magnets.

Ion-acoustic waves with non-planar wavefronts

The ion-acoustic(IA) mode exhibiting various orbital angular momentum(OAM) states is examined in a plasma with drifting electrons.The constituent plasma species are modeled with a non-gyrotropic Maxwellian distribution and discussion of dispersion relation and growth rate of twisted IA waves under various conditions is presented.In the domain of kinetic model,the twisted IA waves are characterized by Laguerre-Gaussian(LG) solutions,where plasma distribution function and electric field are decomposed into axial and azimuthal components.The plasma response function is obtained under paraxial approximations and investigated for threshold condition of instability growth rate with helical electric field structures.The impact of an extra electron specie on the instability is demonstrated through a comparison of twisted waves for single and double electron species.

Vibration attenuation performance of wind turbine tower using a prestressed tuned mass damper under seismic excitation

With the rapid development of large megawatt wind turbines,the operation environment of wind turbine towers(WTTs)has become increasingly complex.In particular,seismic excitation can create a resonance response and cause excessive vibration of the WTT.To investigate the vibration attenuation performance of the WTT under seismic excitations,a novel passive vibration control device,called a prestressed tuned mass damper(PS-TMD),is presented in this study.First,a mathematical model is established based on structural dynamics under seismic excitation.Then,the mathematical analytical expression of the dynamic coefficient is deduced,and the parameter design method is obtained by system tuning optimization.Next,based on a theoretical analysis and parameter design,the numerical results showed that the PS-TMD was able to effectively mitigate the resonance under the harmonic basal acceleration.Finally,the time-history analysis method is used to verify the effectiveness of the traditional pendulum tuned mass damper(PTMD)and the novel PS-TMD device,and the results indicate that the vibration attenuation performance of the PS-TMD is better than the PTMD.In addition,the PS-TMD avoids the nonlinear effect due to the large oscillation angle,and has the potential to dissipate hysteretic energy under seismic excitation.

Auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam-bridge model under two-point periodic excitation:an experimental investigation and stability analysis

The auto-parametric resonance of a continuous-beam bridge model subjected to a two-point periodic excitation is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study.An auto-parametric resonance experiment of the test model is conducted to observe and measure the auto-parametric resonance of a continuous beam under a two-point excitation on columns.The parametric vibration equation is established for the test model using the finite-element method.The auto-parametric resonance stability of the structure is analyzed by using Newmark's method and the energy-growth exponent method.The effects of the phase difference of the two-point excitation on the stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance are studied for the test model.Compared with the experiment,the numerical instability predictions of auto-parametric resonance are consistent with the test phenomena,and the numerical stability boundaries of auto-parametric resonance agree with the experimental ones.For a continuous beam bridge,when the ratio of multipoint excitation frequency(applied to the columns)to natural frequency of the continuous girder is approximately equal to 2,the continuous beam may undergo a strong auto-parametric resonance.Combined with the present experiment and analysis,a hypothesis of Volgograd Bridge's serpentine vibration is discussed.

Establishment of NaLuF_(4):15%Tb-based low dose X-PDT agent and its application on efficient antitumor therapy

X-ray excited photodynamic therapy(X-PDT)is the bravo answer of photodynamic therapy(PDT)for deep-seated tumors,as it employs X-ray as the irradiation source to overcome the limitation of light penetration depth.However,high X-ray irradiation dose caused organ lesions and side effects became the major barrier to X-PDT application.To address this issue,this work employed a classic-al co-precipitation reaction to synthesize NaLuF_(4):15%Tb^(3+)(NLF)with an average particle size of(23.48±0.91)nm,which was then coupled with the photosensitizer merocyanine 540(MC540)to form the X-PDT system NLF-MC540 with high production of singlet oxygen.The system could induce antitumor efficacy to about 24%in relative low dose X-ray irradiation range(0.1-0.3 Gy).In vivo,when NLF-MC540 irradiated by 0.1 Gy X-ray,the tumor inhibition percentage reached 89.5%±5.7%.The therapeutic mechanism of low dose X-PDT was found.A significant increase of neutrophils in serum was found on the third day after X-PDT.By immunohistochemical staining of tumor sections,the Ly6G^(+),CD8^(+),and CD11c^(+)cells infiltrated in the tumor microenvironment were studied.Utilizing the bilat-eral tumor model,the NLF-MC540 with 0.1 Gy X-ray irradiation could inhibit both the primary tumor and the distant tumor growth.De-tected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),two cytokines IFN-γand TNF-αin serum were upregulated 7 and 6 times than negative control,respectively.Detected by enzyme linked immune spot assay(ELISPOT),the number of immune cells attributable to the IFN-γand TNF-αlevels in the group of low dose X-PDT were 14 and 6 times greater than that in the negative control group,respectively.Thus,it conclude that low dose X-PDT system could successfully upregulate the levels of immune cells,stimulate the secretion of cy-tokines(especially IFN-γand TNF-α),activate antitumor immunity,and finally inhibit colon tumor growth.

How do lateral septum projections to the ventral CA1 influence sociability?

Social dysfunction is a risk factor for several neuropsychiatric illnesses.Previous studies have shown that the lateral septum(LS)-related pathway plays a critical role in mediating social behaviors.Howeve r,the role of the connections between the LS and its downstream brain regions in social behavio rs remains unclea r.In this study,we conducted a three-chamber test using electrophysiological and chemogenetic approaches in mice to determine how LS projections to ventral CA1(vCA1)influence sociability.Our res ults showed that gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-e rgic neuro ns were activated following social experience,and that social behavio rs were enhanced by chemogenetic modulation of these neurons.Moreover,LS GABAergic neurons extended their functional neural connections via vCA1 glutamatergic pyramidal neurons,and regulating LSGABA→vCA1Gluneural projections affected social behaviors,which were impeded by suppressing LSprojecting vCA1 neuronal activity or inhibiting GABAAreceptors in vCA1.These findings support the hypothesis that LS inputs to the vCA1 can control social prefe rences and social novelty behaviors.These findings provide new insights rega rding the neural circuits that regulate sociability.

Core level excitation spectra of La and Mn ions in LaMnO3

Manganese-based perovskite is popular for research on ferromagnetic materials,and its spectroscopic studies are essential for understanding its electronic structure,dielectric,electrical,and magnetic properties.In this paper,the M-edge spectra of La ions and the M-edge,L-edge,and K-edge spectra of Mn ions in LaMnO3 are calculated by considering both the free-ion multiplet calculation and the crystal field effects.We analyze spectral shapes,identify peak origins,and estimate the oxidation states of La and Mn ions in LaMnO3 theoretically.It is concluded that La ions in LaMnO3 predominantly exist in the trivalent state,while Mn ions exist primarily in the trivalent state with a minor presence of tetravalent ions.Furthermore,the calculated spectra are in better conformity with the experimental spectra when the proportion of Mn3+is 90%and Mn4+is 10%.This article enhances our comprehension of the oxidation states of La and Mn within the crystal and also provides a valuable guidance for spectroscopic investigations of other manganates.

Ultrafast photoemission electron microscopy:A multidimensional probe of nonequilibrium physics

Exploring the realms of physics that extend beyond thermal equilibrium has emerged as a crucial branch of condensed matter physics research.It aims to unravel the intricate processes involving the excitations,interactions,and annihilations of quasi-and many-body particles,and ultimately to achieve the manipulation and engineering of exotic non-equilibrium quantum phases on the ultrasmall and ultrafast spatiotemporal scales.Given the inherent complexities arising from many-body dynamics,it therefore seeks a technique that has efficient and diverse detection degrees of freedom to study the underlying physics.By combining high-power femtosecond lasers with real-or momentum-space photoemission electron microscopy(PEEM),imaging excited state phenomena from multiple perspectives,including time,real space,energy,momentum,and spin,can be conveniently achieved,making it a unique technique in studying physics out of equilibrium.In this context,we overview the working principle and technical advances of the PEEM apparatus and the related laser systems,and survey key excited-state phenomena probed through this surface-sensitive methodology,including the ultrafast dynamics of electrons,excitons,plasmons,spins,etc.,in materials ranging from bulk and nano-structured metals and semiconductors to low-dimensional quantum materials.Through this review,one can further envision that time-resolved PEEM will open new avenues for investigating a variety of classical and quantum phenomena in a multidimensional parameter space,offering unprecedented and comprehensive insights into important questions in the field of condensed matter physics.