CrF Jahn-Teller-Distorted Fluoroperovskites: Expanding to RbCrF and CsCrF.

The Jahn-Teller effect significantly affects the CrF octahedra in Cr(II) fluoroperovskites. Here, we report the synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of RbCrF and CsCrF, thereby completing a comprehensive investigation of the CrF fluoroperovskites. Powder samples are prepared using a wet-chemical method, which allows stabilization of Cr(II).

Microscopic Origin of Reduced Magnetic Order in a Frustrated Metal.

Although magnetic frustration in metals provides a promising avenue for novel quantum phenomena, their microscopic interpretation is often challenging. Here, we use the face-centered cubic intermetallic HoInCu_{4} as model material to show that Hamiltonians neglecting the charge degree of freedom are appropriate for frustrated metals possessing low density of states at the Fermi surface. Through neutron scattering techniques we determine matching magnetic exchange interactions in the paramagnetic and field-polarized states using an effective spin-1 Heisenberg Hamiltonian, for which we identify antiferromagnetic nearest and next-nearest-neighbor interactions J_{1} and J_{2} that are close to the critical ratio J_{2}/J_{1}=1/2.

Pickering emulsions stabilized with β-lactoglobulin nanoparticles studied by small angle X-ray scattering: stability, aging and temperature effects.

β-Lactoglobulin (BLG) proteins are widely studied due to their natural abundance, nutritional benefits, and potential to act as effective stabilizers. The present work investigates Pickering emulsions stabilized with nanoparticles made from BLG, focusing on the effect of particle, oil and salt concentrations under different conditions (fresh, aged and aged at elevated temperature). We use small angle and ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and USAXS) along with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering to reveal structural changes over time.

Modelling the adoption of combined sewer overflow surveillance in Switzerland.

During wet weather, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) spill untreated wastewater to hydraulically protect wastewater treatment plants. Interestingly, in Switzerland, the impact of these discharges on surface water quality remains unclear due to limited monitoring of CSO spills. Although affordable sensors and regular data review could address this, it is unclear why most wastewater associations seldom assess this data, highlighting political and organisational challenges within wastewater associations and their stakeholder networks rather than technical ones.

Holocene environmental change in Rotsee and its impact on sedimentary carbon storage.

To assess the long-term impact of climate change and human influence on lakes and their sedimentary carbon storage, paleo-environmental approaches using well-dated lake sediment cores can be employed. Here, we reconstruct carbon mass accumulation rates for organic and inorganic carbon since 13 ka BP in Rotsee, a perialpine lake near the Swiss Alps, using a 12-m sediment core. A multiproxy approach (XRF, carbon and nitrogen isotopes, organic macromolecule chemical compositions, aDNA) was used to explore changes in the lake system that affect sedimentary carbon storage.

Altered brain fluid dynamics in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Background: This prospective observational study explored alterations in brain fluid dynamics in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) and confirmed spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, specifically addressing CSF clearance to blood, glymphatic influx and measures of CSF flow.

Methods: A cohort of SIH patients with verified spinal CSF leaks was compared with an age- and sex-matched reference group having no CSF disturbance or neurological disorders. Prior to repair of CSF leakage, CSF clearance was quantified using population pharmacokinetics, glymphatic influx was assessed by intrathecal contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CSF flow patterns were measured using either phase-contrast MRI or multi-phase analysis of CSF tracer transport within the subarachnoid spaces.

Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field.

The intertwined nature of magnetic and electric degrees of freedom in magnetoelectric (ME) materials is well described by ME-coupling theory. When an external electric field is applied to a ME material, the ME coupling induces unique and intriguing magnetic responses. Such responses underpin the utilisation of ME materials across diverse applications, ranging from electromagnetic sensing to low-energy digital memory technologies.

Anomalous Electrical Transport in the Kagome Magnet YbFe_{6}Ge_{6}.

Two-dimensional (2D) kagome metals offer a unique platform for exploring electron correlation phenomena derived from quantum many-body effects. Here, we report a combined study of electrical magnetotransport and neutron scattering on YbFe_{6}Ge_{6}, where the Fe moments in the 2D kagome layers exhibit an A-type collinear antiferromagnetic order below T_{N}≈500  K. Interactions between the Fe ions in the layers and the localized Yb magnetic ions in between reorient the c-axis-aligned Fe moments to the kagome plane below T_{SR}≈63  K.

Cation-Anion Co-doped NaV(PO) Cathode for Robust and High-Performance Sodium-Ion Storage.

Sodium ion superconductors (NASICON) are widely perceived as potential cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of their good structural stability and high operation potential for Na de/intercalation. Nevertheless, the limited sodium ion storage capacity, rate capability, and stability due to the poor electronic conductivity hinder their widespread application. In this work, cation (Fe) and multivalent anion group (MoO ) are co-doped into NaV(PO) (NVP) by replacing V and PO , producing a Fe/MoO co-doped NVP, i.

Employing Eye Trackers to Reduce Nuisance Alarms.

When process operators anticipate an alarm prior to its annunciation, that alarm loses information value and becomes a nuisance. This study investigated using eye trackers to measure and adjust the salience of alarms with three methods of gaze-based acknowledgement (GBA) of alarms that estimate operator anticipation. When these methods detected possible alarm anticipation, the alarm's audio and visual salience was reduced.

Towards a European sustainable beneficiation of rare earth elements bearing minerals: a review.

This review explores the multifaceted aspects of sustainable extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) bearing minerals within Europe, stressing the exploitation of local deposits, that together with the integration of cleaner and greener approaches (including circular economy approaches) might help to reduce dependency on imports and contribute to a greener economy. The mineralogical characteristics and distribution of REEs in European deposits are examined, alongside current and emerging beneficiation techniques aimed at enhancing extraction efficiency and sustainability. Key challenges, such as the mineral extraction complexities (technological and economic limitations), radiochemical and environmental impacts, as well as social acceptance, are critically assessed.

BIFROST-An indirect geometry cold neutron spectrometer at the European Spallation Source.

We present the detailed design and performance simulations of BIFROST, a multiplexing indirect neutron time-of-flight spectrometer at the European Spallation Source. The instrument allows a neutron bandwidth of Δλ = 1.74 Å to reach the sample.

Entropy Profiles for Li-Ion Batteries-Effects of Chemistries and Degradation.

This paper presents entropy measurements for a large set of commercial Li-ion cells. We present entropy data on full cells with a variety of common Li-ion cell electrode chemistries; graphite, hard carbon, lithium-titanium-oxide (LTO), lithium cobalt-oxide (LCO), nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC), nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA), lithium iron-phosphate (LFP), as well as electrodes with mixes of these. All data were collected using an accelerated potentiometric method in steps of approximately 5% State-of-Charge (SoC) across the full SoC window.

Crystal Structure of NdPtO a New Neodymium Platinate.

A new platinate was recently discovered when NdO was explored as a platinum capture material in the Ostwald process, formed by a direct reaction between gaseous PtO and NdO. The crystal structure of this new platinate and its composition, NdPtO, are here reported for the first time. The compound is synthesized either by a direct reaction between PtO() and NdO or by the citric acid chemical route.

Feasibility of magnetic resonance elastography in the healthy rat heart.

Purpose: Develop a MR elastography (MRE) protocol to detect in vivo cardiac stiffness in rats.

Methods: This study was approved by the National Animal Research Authority. A healthy, adult, male Sprague-Dawley rat underwent cardiac MRE.

Observation of the spiral spin liquid in a triangular-lattice material.

The spiral spin liquid (SSL) is a highly degenerate state characterized by a continuous contour or surface in reciprocal space spanned by a spiral propagation vector. Although the SSL state has been predicted in a number of various theoretical models, very few materials are so far experimentally identified to host such a state. Via combined single-crystal wide-angle and small-angle neutron scattering, we report observation of the SSL in the quasi-two-dimensional delafossite-like AgCrSe.

Revisiting Mechanism of Silicon Degradation in Li-Ion Batteries: Effect of Delithiation Examined by Microscopy Combined with ReaxFF.

For the past decade, silicon (Si) as a material for negative electrodes of Li-ion batteries has been considered among the most promising candidates for replacing commonly used graphite. However, Si-based electrodes suffer from severe degradation, which depends on the type of Si materials used. Generally, the degradation of Si is mainly viewed in terms of particle fracturing during lithiation accompanied by constant growth of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI).

Rendering the European neutron research landscape.

Neutrons, owing to their unique properties, serve as indispensable probes for investigating the structure and dynamics of materials across various length scales. The scientific community utilizing neutron research infrastructures encompasses a diverse range of disciplines, making it challenging to quantify its scientific and societal impact. To address this challenge, we apply Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques to analyze the scientific output of the European neutron science community.

An empirical analysis on webservice antipattern prediction in different variants of machine learning perspective.

Anti-patterns are explicit structures in the design that represents a significant violation of software design principles and negatively impacts the software design quality. The presence of these Anti-patterns highly influences the maintainability and perception of software systems. Thus it becomes necessary to predict anti-patterns at the early stage and refactor them to improve the software quality in terms of execution cost, maintenance cost, and memory consumption.

Unveiling the Advantages of Silicon Nitride Nanoparticle Anodes for Enhanced Cyclic Stability, Rate Performance, and Mechanical Robustness.

Silicon nitride, known as a convertible-type silicon-based anode material, has emerged as a promising alternative to pure Si anodes, featuring improved cyclic stability, rate performance, and kinetics. This study reports on the electrochemical properties of silicon nitride nanoparticles as an anode material. It demonstrates that this anode outperforms a pure silicon anode in terms of cyclic stability and kinetics.

Sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species at the Borealis Mud Volcano.

Borealis is a recently discovered submerged mud volcano in the Polar North Atlantic, differing from the numerous methane seepages previously identified in the region. Here we show in situ observations from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), capturing the release of warm (11.5 °C) Neogene sediments and methane-rich fluids from a gryphon at Borealis.

Size Dependence of the Band Gap of Core-Shell Tantalum and Tantalum Oxide (V) Nanoclusters.

Monodisperse films of spherical tantalum oxide (V) nanoclusters and spherical tantalum nanoclusters with a tantalum oxide shell with diameters of 1.4-8 nm were obtained by magnetron sputtering. The size of the deposited nanoclusters was controlled using a quadrupole mass filter.

Stepwise Structural Relaxation in Battery Active Materials.

Whenever the cycling of Li-ion batteries is stopped, the electrode materials undergo a relaxation process, but the structural changes that occur during relaxation are not well-understood. We have used operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction with a time resolution of 1.24 s to observe the structural changes that occur when the lithiation of graphite and LiFePO electrodes are interrupted.

Sn(SO)·2HO from synchrotron powder data.

Tin(IV) sulfate dihydrate, Sn(SO)·2HO, was prepared in a reflux of sulfuric acid under oxidizing conditions. Its crystal structure was determined from powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction data and is constructed of (100) layers of [SnO(HO)] octa-hedra (point group symmetry 1) corner-connected by sulfate tetra-hedra. Hydrogen bonds of moderate strength between the water mol-ecules and sulfate O atoms hold the layers together.

FAIR data - the photon and neutron communities move together towards open science.

The topic of data storage, traceability, and data use and reuse in the years following experiments is becoming an important topic in Europe and across the world. Many scientific communities are striving to create open data by the FAIR principles. This is a requirement from the European Commission for EU-funded projects and experiments at EU-funded research infrastructures (RIs) and from many national funding agencies.