Vanishing of the anomalous Hall effect and enhanced carrier mobility in the spin-gapless ferromagnetic Mn2CoGa1-xAlx alloys

Spin gapless semiconductor (SGS) has attracted long attention since its theoretical prediction, while concrete experimental hints are still lack in the relevant Heusler alloys. Here in this work, by preparing the series alloys of Mn2CoGa1-xAlx (x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1), we identified the vanishing of anomalous Hall effect in the ferromagnetic Mn2CoGa (or x=0.25) alloy in a wide temperature interval, accompanying with growing contribution from the ordinary Hall effect. As a result, comparatively low carrier density (1020 cm-3) and high carrier mobility (150 cm2/Vs) are obtained in Mn2CoGa (or x=0.25) alloy in the temperature range of 10-200K. These also lead to a large dip in the related magnetoresistance at low fields. While in high Al content, despite the magnetization behavior is not altered significantly, the Hall resistivity is instead dominated by the anomalous one, just analogous to that widely reported in Mn2CoAl. The distinct electrical transport behavior of x=0 and x=0.75 (or 1) is presently understood by their possible different scattering mechanism of the anomalous Hall effect due to the differences in atomic order and conductivity. Our work can expand the existing understanding of the SGS properties and offer a better SGS candidate with higher carrier mobility that can facilitate the application in the spin-injected related devices

Baichuan 2: Open Large-scale Language Models

Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable performance on a variety of natural language tasks based on just a few examples of natural language instructions, reducing the need for extensive feature engineering. However, most powerful LLMs are closed-source or limited in their capability for languages other than English. In this technical report, we present Baichuan 2, a series of large-scale multilingual language models containing 7 billion and 13 billion parameters, trained from scratch, on 2.6 trillion tokens. Baichuan 2 matches or outperforms other open-source models of similar size on public benchmarks like MMLU, CMMLU, GSM8K, and HumanEval. Furthermore, Baichuan 2 excels in vertical domains such as medicine and law. We will release all pre-training model checkpoints to benefit the research community in better understanding the training dynamics of Baichuan 2.Comment: Baichuan 2 technical report. Github: https://github.com/baichuan-inc/Baichuan

The preventive efficacy of vitamin B supplements on the cognitive decline of elderly adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The irreversibility of cognitive impairment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prompts that preventing or delaying the onset of AD should be a public health priority. Vitamin B supplements can lower the serum homocysteine (Hcy) level, but whether it can prevent cognitive decline or not remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the preventive efficacy of vitamin B supplements on the cognitive decline of elderly adults. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, PsycINFO from inception to December 1, 2019, and then updated the retrieved results on June 1, 2020. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which evaluated the efficacy of vitamin B in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients or elderly adults without cognitive impairment were selected. Standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) as well as their 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated by performing random effects models or fixed effects models. Results A total of 21 RCTs involving 7571 participants were included for meta-analysis. The forest plots showed that there is significant effect in global cognitive function (15 RCTs, SMD: 0.36; 95 % CI: 0.18 to 0.54, P < 0.01) and Hcy (11 RCTs, MD: -4.59; 95 %CI: -5.51 to -3.67, P < 0.01), but there is no effect in information processing speed (10 RCTs, SMD: 0.06; 95 % CI: -0.12 to 0.25, P = 0.49), episodic memory (15 RCTs, SMD: 0.10; 95 % CI: -0.04 to 0.25, P = 0.16), executive function (11 RCTs, SMD: -0.21; 95 % CI: -0.49 to 0.06, P = 0.13). The value of effect size and heterogeneity did not vary apparently when excluding the low-quality studies, so we could believe that the results of meta-analysis were robust. Conclusions Vitamin B supplements might delay or maintain the cognitive decline of elderly adults. We can recommend that the vitamin B supplements should be considered as a preventive medication to MCI patients or elderly adults without cognitive impairment. More well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes were required to clarify the preventive efficacy in the future

Correlation between Flow Temperature and Average Molar Ionic Potential of Ash during Gasification of Coal and Phosphorus-Rich Biomass

The co-gasification of biomass and coal is helpful for achieving the clean and efficient utilization of phosphorus-rich biomass. A large number of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) present in the ash system of coal (or biomass) cause varying degrees of ash, slagging, and corrosion problems in the entrained flow gasifier. Meanwhile, phosphorus is present in the slag in the form of PO43−, which has a strong affinity for AAEMs (especially for Ca2+) to produce minerals dominated by calcium phosphates or alkaline Ca-phosphate, effectively mitigating the aforementioned problems. To investigate the changing behavior of the slag flow temperature (FT) under different CaO/P2O5 ratios, 72 synthetic ashes with varying CaO/P2O5 ratios at different Si/Al contents and compositions were prepared, and their ash fusion temperatures were tested. The effects of different CaO/P2O5 ratios on the FT were analyzed using FactSage thermodynamic simulation. A model for predicting slag FT at different CaO/P2O5 ratios was constructed on the basis of the average molar ionic potential (Ia) method and used to predict data reported from 19 mixed ashes in the literature. The results showed that Ia and FT gradually increased with a decreasing CaO/P2O5 ratio, and the main mineral types shifted from anorthite → mullite → berlinite, which reasonably explained the decrease in ash fusion temperatures in the mixed ash. The established model showed good adaptability to the prediction of 19 actual coal ash FTs in the literature; the deviation of the prediction was in the range of 40 °C. The model proposed between FT and Ia based on the different CaO/P2O5 ratios can be used to predict the low-rank coal and phosphorus-rich biomass and their mixed ashes

Tobacco as a promising crop for low-carbon biorefinery

Energy crops play a vital role in meeting future energy and chemical demands while addressing climate change. However, the idealization of low carbon workflows and careful consideration of cost-benefit equations are crucial for their more sustainable implementation. Here, we propose tobacco as a promising energy crop because of its exceptional water solubility, mainly attributed to a high proportion of water-soluble carbohydrates and nitrogen, less lignocellulose, and the presence of acids. We then designed a strategy that maximizes biomass conversion into bio-based products while minimizing energy and material inputs. By autoclaving tobacco leaves in water, we obtained a nutrient-rich medium capable of supporting the growth of microorganisms and the production of bioproducts without the need for extensive pretreatment, hydrolysis, or additional supplements. Additionally, cultivating tobacco on barren lands can generate sufficient biomass to produce approximately 573 billion gallons of ethanol per year. This approach also leads to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 76% compared to traditional corn stover during biorefinery processes. Therefore, our study presents a novel and direct strategy that could significantly contribute to the goal of reducing carbon emissions and global sustainable development compared to traditional methods

CEPC Technical Design Report -- Accelerator

International audienceThe Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large scientific project initiated and hosted by China, fostered through extensive collaboration with international partners. The complex comprises four accelerators: a 30 GeV Linac, a 1.1 GeV Damping Ring, a Booster capable of achieving energies up to 180 GeV, and a Collider operating at varying energy modes (Z, W, H, and ttbar). The Linac and Damping Ring are situated on the surface, while the Booster and Collider are housed in a 100 km circumference underground tunnel, strategically accommodating future expansion with provisions for a Super Proton Proton Collider (SPPC). The CEPC primarily serves as a Higgs factory. In its baseline design with synchrotron radiation (SR) power of 30 MW per beam, it can achieve a luminosity of 5e34 /cm^2/s^1, resulting in an integrated luminosity of 13 /ab for two interaction points over a decade, producing 2.6 million Higgs bosons. Increasing the SR power to 50 MW per beam expands the CEPC's capability to generate 4.3 million Higgs bosons, facilitating precise measurements of Higgs coupling at sub-percent levels, exceeding the precision expected from the HL-LHC by an order of magnitude. This Technical Design Report (TDR) follows the Preliminary Conceptual Design Report (Pre-CDR, 2015) and the Conceptual Design Report (CDR, 2018), comprehensively detailing the machine's layout and performance, physical design and analysis, technical systems design, R&D and prototyping efforts, and associated civil engineering aspects. Additionally, it includes a cost estimate and a preliminary construction timeline, establishing a framework for forthcoming engineering design phase and site selection procedures. Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028, pending government approval, with an estimated duration of 8 years. The commencement of experiments could potentially initiate in the mid-2030s

CEPC Technical Design Report -- Accelerator

International audienceThe Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large scientific project initiated and hosted by China, fostered through extensive collaboration with international partners. The complex comprises four accelerators: a 30 GeV Linac, a 1.1 GeV Damping Ring, a Booster capable of achieving energies up to 180 GeV, and a Collider operating at varying energy modes (Z, W, H, and ttbar). The Linac and Damping Ring are situated on the surface, while the Booster and Collider are housed in a 100 km circumference underground tunnel, strategically accommodating future expansion with provisions for a Super Proton Proton Collider (SPPC). The CEPC primarily serves as a Higgs factory. In its baseline design with synchrotron radiation (SR) power of 30 MW per beam, it can achieve a luminosity of 5e34 /cm^2/s^1, resulting in an integrated luminosity of 13 /ab for two interaction points over a decade, producing 2.6 million Higgs bosons. Increasing the SR power to 50 MW per beam expands the CEPC's capability to generate 4.3 million Higgs bosons, facilitating precise measurements of Higgs coupling at sub-percent levels, exceeding the precision expected from the HL-LHC by an order of magnitude. This Technical Design Report (TDR) follows the Preliminary Conceptual Design Report (Pre-CDR, 2015) and the Conceptual Design Report (CDR, 2018), comprehensively detailing the machine's layout and performance, physical design and analysis, technical systems design, R&D and prototyping efforts, and associated civil engineering aspects. Additionally, it includes a cost estimate and a preliminary construction timeline, establishing a framework for forthcoming engineering design phase and site selection procedures. Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028, pending government approval, with an estimated duration of 8 years. The commencement of experiments could potentially initiate in the mid-2030s

CEPC Technical Design Report -- Accelerator

The Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large scientific project initiated and hosted by China, fostered through extensive collaboration with international partners. The complex comprises four accelerators: a 30 GeV Linac, a 1.1 GeV Damping Ring, a Booster capable of achieving energies up to 180 GeV, and a Collider operating at varying energy modes (Z, W, H, and ttbar). The Linac and Damping Ring are situated on the surface, while the Booster and Collider are housed in a 100 km circumference underground tunnel, strategically accommodating future expansion with provisions for a Super Proton Proton Collider (SPPC). The CEPC primarily serves as a Higgs factory. In its baseline design with synchrotron radiation (SR) power of 30 MW per beam, it can achieve a luminosity of 5e34 /cm^2/s^1, resulting in an integrated luminosity of 13 /ab for two interaction points over a decade, producing 2.6 million Higgs bosons. Increasing the SR power to 50 MW per beam expands the CEPC's capability to generate 4.3 million Higgs bosons, facilitating precise measurements of Higgs coupling at sub-percent levels, exceeding the precision expected from the HL-LHC by an order of magnitude. This Technical Design Report (TDR) follows the Preliminary Conceptual Design Report (Pre-CDR, 2015) and the Conceptual Design Report (CDR, 2018), comprehensively detailing the machine's layout and performance, physical design and analysis, technical systems design, R&D and prototyping efforts, and associated civil engineering aspects. Additionally, it includes a cost estimate and a preliminary construction timeline, establishing a framework for forthcoming engineering design phase and site selection procedures. Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028, pending government approval, with an estimated duration of 8 years. The commencement of experiments could potentially initiate in the mid-2030s

CEPC Technical Design Report -- Accelerator

International audienceThe Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is a large scientific project initiated and hosted by China, fostered through extensive collaboration with international partners. The complex comprises four accelerators: a 30 GeV Linac, a 1.1 GeV Damping Ring, a Booster capable of achieving energies up to 180 GeV, and a Collider operating at varying energy modes (Z, W, H, and ttbar). The Linac and Damping Ring are situated on the surface, while the Booster and Collider are housed in a 100 km circumference underground tunnel, strategically accommodating future expansion with provisions for a Super Proton Proton Collider (SPPC). The CEPC primarily serves as a Higgs factory. In its baseline design with synchrotron radiation (SR) power of 30 MW per beam, it can achieve a luminosity of 5e34 /cm^2/s^1, resulting in an integrated luminosity of 13 /ab for two interaction points over a decade, producing 2.6 million Higgs bosons. Increasing the SR power to 50 MW per beam expands the CEPC's capability to generate 4.3 million Higgs bosons, facilitating precise measurements of Higgs coupling at sub-percent levels, exceeding the precision expected from the HL-LHC by an order of magnitude. This Technical Design Report (TDR) follows the Preliminary Conceptual Design Report (Pre-CDR, 2015) and the Conceptual Design Report (CDR, 2018), comprehensively detailing the machine's layout and performance, physical design and analysis, technical systems design, R&D and prototyping efforts, and associated civil engineering aspects. Additionally, it includes a cost estimate and a preliminary construction timeline, establishing a framework for forthcoming engineering design phase and site selection procedures. Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028, pending government approval, with an estimated duration of 8 years. The commencement of experiments could potentially initiate in the mid-2030s