The Force Balance of Electrons During Kinetic Anti-parallel Magnetic Reconnection

Fully kinetic simulations are applied to the study of 2D anti-parallel reconnection, elucidating the dynamics by which the electron fluid maintains force balance within both the electron diffusion region (EDR) and the ion diffusion region (IDR). Inside the IDR, magnetic field-aligned electron pressure anisotropy ($p_{e\parallel}\gg p_{e\perp})$ develops upstream of the EDR. Compared to previous investigations, the use of modern computer facilities allows for simulations at the natural proton to electron mass ratio $m_i/m_e=1836$. In this high-$m_i/m_e$-limit the electron dynamics changes qualitatively, as the electron inflow to the EDR is enhanced and mainly driven by the anisotropic pressure. Using a coordinate system with the $x$-direction aligned with the reconnecting magnetic field and the $y$-direction aligned with the central current layer, it is well-known that for the much studied 2D laminar anti-parallel and symmetric scenario the reconnection electric field at the $X$-line must be balanced by the $\partial p_{exy}/ \partial x$ and $\partial p_{eyz}/ \partial z$ off-diagonal electron pressure stress components. We find that the electron anisotropy upstream of the EDR imposes large values of $\partial p_{exy}/ \partial x$ within the EDR, and along the direction of the reconnection $X$-line this stress cancels with the stress of a previously determined theoretical form for $\partial p_{eyz}/ \partial z$. The electron frozen-in law is instead broken by pressure tensor gradients related to the direct heating of the electrons by the reconnection electric field. The reconnection rate is free to adjust to the value imposed externally by the plasma dynamics at larger scales.Comment: Submitted to Physics of Plasmas, 11 October 202

Spin Relaxation in Graphene with self-assembled Cobalt Porphyrin Molecules

In graphene spintronics, interaction of localized magnetic moments with the electron spins paves a new way to explore the underlying spin relaxation mechanism. A self-assembled layer of organic cobalt-porphyrin (CoPP) molecules on graphene provides a desired platform for such studies via the magnetic moments of porphyrin-bound cobalt atoms. In this work a study of spin transport properties of graphene spin-valve devices functionalized with such CoPP molecules as a function of temperature via non-local spin-valve and Hanle spin precession measurements is reported. For the functionalized (molecular) devices, we observe a slight decrease in the spin relaxation time ({\tau}s), which could be an indication of enhanced spin-flip scattering of the electron spins in graphene in the presence of the molecular magnetic moments. The effect of the molecular layer is masked for low quality samples (low mobility), possibly due to dominance of Elliot-Yafet (EY) type spin relaxation mechanisms

Nonlinear analog spintronics with van der Waals heterostructures

The current generation of spintronic devices, which use electron-spin relies on linear operations for spin-injection, transport and detection processes. The existence of nonlinearity in a spintronic device is indispensable for spin-based complex signal processing operations. Here we for the first time demonstrate the presence of electron-spin dependent nonlinearity in a spintronic device, and measure up to 4th harmonic spin-signals via nonlocal spin-valve and Hanle spin-precession measurements. We demonstrate its application for analog signal processing over pure spin-signals such as amplitude modulation and heterodyne detection operations which require nonlinearity as an essential element. Furthermore, we show that the presence of nonlinearity in the spin-signal has an amplifying effect on the energy-dependent conductivity induced nonlinear spin-to-charge conversion effect. The interaction of the two spin-dependent nonlinear effects in the spin transport channel leads to a highly efficient detection of the spin-signal without using ferromagnets. These effects are measured both at 4K and room temperature, and are suitable for their applications as nonlinear circuit elements in the fields of advanced-spintronics and spin-based neuromorphic computing.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

Field-Aligned Current Structures during the Terrestrial Magnetosphere's Transformation into Alfven Wings and Recovery

On April 24th, 2023, a CME event caused the solar wind to become sub-Alfvenic, leading to the development of an Alfven Wing configuration in the Earth's Magnetosphere. Alfven Wings have previously been observed as cavities of low flow in Jupiter's magnetosphere, but the observing satellites did not have the ability to directly measure the Alfven Wings' current structures. Through in situ measurements made by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft, the April 24th event provides us with the first direct measurements of current structures during an Alfven Wing configuration. We have found two distinct types of current structures associated with the Alfven Wing transformation as well as the magnetosphere recovery. These structures are observed to be significantly more anti-field-aligned and electron-driven than typical magnetopause currents, indicating the disruptions caused to the magnetosphere current system by the Alfven Wing formation

Rational design of polymer-based absorbents: application to the fermentation inhibitor furfural

BACKGROUND: Reducing the amount of water-soluble fermentation inhibitors like furfural is critical for downstream bio-processing steps to biofuels. A theoretical approach for tailoring absorption polymers to reduce these pretreatment contaminants would be useful for optimal bioprocess design. RESULTS: Experiments were performed to measure aqueous furfural partitioning into polymer resins of 5 bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (epoxy) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Experimentally measured partitioning of furfural between water and PDMS, the more hydrophobic polymer, showed poor performance, with the logarithm of PDMS-to-water partition coefficient falling between −0.62 and −0.24 (95% confidence). In contrast, the fast setting epoxy was found to effectively partition furfural with the logarithm of the epoxy-to-water partition coefficient falling between 0.41 and 0.81 (95% confidence). Flory-Huggins theory is used to predict the partitioning of furfural into diverse polymer absorbents and is useful for predicting these results. CONCLUSION: We show that Flory-Huggins theory can be adapted to guide the selection of polymer adsorbents for the separation of low molecular weight organic species from aqueous solutions. This work lays the groundwork for the general design of polymers for the separation of a wide range of inhibitory compounds in biomass pretreatment streams

Incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery according to suture technique: Hughes Abdominal Repair Randomized Trial (HART).

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernias cause morbidity and may require further surgery. HART (Hughes Abdominal Repair Trial) assessed the effect of an alternative suture method on the incidence of incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: A pragmatic multicentre single-blind RCT allocated patients undergoing midline incision for colorectal cancer to either Hughes closure (double far-near-near-far sutures of 1 nylon suture at 2-cm intervals along the fascia combined with conventional mass closure) or the surgeon's standard closure. The primary outcome was the incidence of incisional hernia at 1 year assessed by clinical examination. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: Between August 2014 and February 2018, 802 patients were randomized to either Hughes closure (401) or the standard mass closure group (401). At 1 year after surgery, 672 patients (83.7 per cent) were included in the primary outcome analysis; 50 of 339 patients (14.8 per cent) in the Hughes group and 57 of 333 (17.1 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.84, 95 per cent c.i. 0.55 to 1.27; P = 0.402). At 2 years, 78 patients (28.7 per cent) in the Hughes repair group and 84 (31.8 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.86, 0.59 to 1.25; P = 0.429). Adverse events were similar in the two groups, apart from the rate of surgical-site infection, which was higher in the Hughes group (13.2 versus 7.7 per cent; OR 1.82, 1.14 to 2.91; P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The incidence of incisional hernia after colorectal cancer surgery is high. There was no statistical difference in incidence between Hughes closure and mass closure at 1 or 2 years. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN25616490 (http://www.controlled-trials.com)

A novel formulation of inhaled sodium cromoglicate (PA101) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic cough: a randomised, double-blind, proof-of-concept, phase 2 trial

Background Cough can be a debilitating symptom of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and is difficult to treat. PA101 is a novel formulation of sodium cromoglicate delivered via a high-efficiency eFlow nebuliser that achieves significantly higher drug deposition in the lung compared with the existing formulations. We aimed to test the efficacy and safety of inhaled PA101 in patients with IPF and chronic cough and, to explore the antitussive mechanism of PA101, patients with chronic idiopathic cough (CIC) were also studied. Methods This pilot, proof-of-concept study consisted of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with IPF and chronic cough and a parallel study of similar design in patients with CIC. Participants with IPF and chronic cough recruited from seven centres in the UK and the Netherlands were randomly assigned (1:1, using a computer-generated randomisation schedule) by site staff to receive PA101 (40 mg) or matching placebo three times a day via oral inhalation for 2 weeks, followed by a 2 week washout, and then crossed over to the other arm. Study participants, investigators, study staff, and the sponsor were masked to group assignment until all participants had completed the study. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in objective daytime cough frequency (from 24 h acoustic recording, Leicester Cough Monitor). The primary efficacy analysis included all participants who received at least one dose of study drug and had at least one post-baseline efficacy measurement. Safety analysis included all those who took at least one dose of study drug. In the second cohort, participants with CIC were randomly assigned in a study across four centres with similar design and endpoints. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02412020) and the EU Clinical Trials Register (EudraCT Number 2014-004025-40) and both cohorts are closed to new participants. Findings Between Feb 13, 2015, and Feb 2, 2016, 24 participants with IPF were randomly assigned to treatment groups. 28 participants with CIC were enrolled during the same period and 27 received study treatment. In patients with IPF, PA101 reduced daytime cough frequency by 31·1% at day 14 compared with placebo; daytime cough frequency decreased from a mean 55 (SD 55) coughs per h at baseline to 39 (29) coughs per h at day 14 following treatment with PA101, versus 51 (37) coughs per h at baseline to 52 (40) cough per h following placebo treatment (ratio of least-squares [LS] means 0·67, 95% CI 0·48–0·94, p=0·0241). By contrast, no treatment benefit for PA101 was observed in the CIC cohort; mean reduction of daytime cough frequency at day 14 for PA101 adjusted for placebo was 6·2% (ratio of LS means 1·27, 0·78–2·06, p=0·31). PA101 was well tolerated in both cohorts. The incidence of adverse events was similar between PA101 and placebo treatments, most adverse events were mild in severity, and no severe adverse events or serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation This study suggests that the mechanism of cough in IPF might be disease specific. Inhaled PA101 could be a treatment option for chronic cough in patients with IPF and warrants further investigation