The pseudochiral Fermi surface of α\alpha-RuI3_3

In continuation of research into RuCl$_3$ and RuBr$_3$ as potential quantum spin liquids, a phase with unique magnetic order characterised by long-range quantum entanglement and fractionalised excitations, the compound RuI$_3$ has been recently synthesised. Here, we show RuI$_3$ is a moderately correlated metal with two bands crossing the Fermi level, implying the absence of any quantum spin liquids phase. We find that the Fermi surface as measured or calculated for a 2D ($k_\text{x},k_\text{y}$) slice at any $k_\text{z}$ lacks mirror symmetry, i.e. is pseudochiral. We link this phenomenon to the ABC stacking in the R$\bar{3}$ space group of $\alpha$-RuI$_3$, which is achiral but lacks any mirror or glide symmetries. We further provide a formal framework for understanding when such a pseudochiral electronic structure may be observed

Spin-ARPES EUV beamline for ultrafast materials research and development

A new femtosecond, Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV), Time Resolved Spin-Angle Resolved Photo-Emission Spectroscopy (TR-Spin-ARPES) beamline was developed for ultrafast materials research and development. This 50-fs laser-driven, table-top beamline is an integral part of the "Ultrafast Spintronic Materials Facility", dedicated to engineering ultrafast materials. This facility provides a fast and in-situ analysis and development of new materials. The EUV source based on high harmonic generation process emits 2.3 × 1011 photons/second (2.3 × 108 photons/pulse) at H23 (35.7 eV) and its photon energy ranges from 10 eV to 75 eV, which enables surface sensitive studies of the electronic structure dynamics. The EUV monochromator provides the narrow bandwidth of the EUV beamline while preserving its pulse duration in an energy range of 10-100 eV. Ultrafast surface photovoltaic effect with ~650 fs rise-time was observed in p-GaAs (100) from time-resolved ARPES spectra. The data acquisition time could be reduced by over two orders of magnitude by scaling the laser driver from 1 KHz, 4W to MHz, KW average power

Ultramafic vegetation and soils in the circumboreal region of the Northern Hemisphere

The paper summarizes literature on climate, soil chemistry, vegetation and metal accumulation by plants found on ultramafic substrata in the circumboreal zone (sensu Takhtajan, Floristic regions of the world, 1986) of the Northern Hemisphere. We present a list of 50 endemic species and 18 ecotypes obligate to ultramafic soils from the circumboreal region of Holarctic, as well as 30 and 2 species of Ni and Zn hyperaccumulators, respectively. The number of both endemics and hyperaccumulators are markedly lower compared to that of the Mediterranean and tropical regions. The diversity of plant communities on ultramafics soils of the circumboral region is also described. The underlying causes for the differences of ultramafic flora between arctic, cold, cool temperate and Mediterranean and tropical regions are also discussed. © 2018, The Ecological Society of Japan

Nonlinear Selection and a Blend of Convergent, Divergent and Parallel Evolution Shapes Natural Variation in Glucosinolates

The molecular mechanisms underlying organismal fitness in complex environments is just beginning to be illuminated. One of the pre-eminent model systems that span the molecular to field fitness chasm is the natural variation in glucosinolate defence metabolites within the Capparales. In this system, there have been extensive surveys of variation in the same phenotypes across a breadth of species and the molecular basis of the major polymorphisms both within and between species is largely known. This is showing an extensive array of evolutionary processes that create and recreate specific polymorphisms and traits that is highly similar both within and between species. Further, early field trials with single gene recreations of natural variation are showing that selection is highly fluctuating both from site to site and from year to year within a location. This review goes into the specific ecological, evolutionary and molecular observations for each of the major loci controlling natural variation in glucosinolates

Nonlinear Selection and a Blend of Convergent, Divergent and Parallel Evolution Shapes Natural Variation in Glucosinolates

The molecular mechanisms underlying organismal fitness in complex environments is just beginning to be illuminated. One of the pre-eminent model systems that span the molecular to field fitness chasm is the natural variation in glucosinolate defence metabolites within the Capparales. In this system, there have been extensive surveys of variation in the same phenotypes across a breadth of species and the molecular basis of the major polymorphisms both within and between species is largely known. This is showing an extensive array of evolutionary processes that create and recreate specific polymorphisms and traits that is highly similar both within and between species. Further, early field trials with single gene recreations of natural variation are showing that selection is highly fluctuating both from site to site and from year to year within a location. This review goes into the specific ecological, evolutionary and molecular observations for each of the major loci controlling natural variation in glucosinolates

Extinction threat in the Pedilanthus clade (Euphorbia Euphorbiaceae) with special reference to the recently rediscovered E conzattii (P pulchellus)

The type locality of the slipper spurge Euphorbia conzattii has been in doubt because the 1917 type is a mixed collection with vague label data. In recent field work, the species was found on Cerro Espino, Pochutla District, Oaxaca, Mexico. We used the Method for Evaluation of Risk of Extinction for Mexican Wild Species (MER), required to protect a species under Mexican law, to assess the conservation status of E. conzattii and found it to be endangered, We discuss the mixture in the type of this species with E. calcarata and present an updated description and an illustration of E. conzattii. Preliminary MER assessments of the other Mexican Pedilanthus clade species show two species to be extinct (E. cyri, E. dressleri) and four threatened (including E. colligata, E. finkii E. tehuacana). The remaining eight have more favorable outlooks. We comment on MER robustness and aspects vulnerable to confusion and offer clarifications. Extinction risk is not distributed evenly throughout the clade, with a subclade of leafy treelets from a variety of habitats having the greatest number of endangered species. Extinction risk is distributed across all Pedilanthus-clade habitat

The pseudochiral Fermi surface of α-RuI3

Abstract In continuation of research into RuCl3 and RuBr3 as potential quantum spin liquids, a phase with unique magnetic order characterised by long-range quantum entanglement and fractionalised excitations, the compound RuI3 has been recently synthesised. Here, we show RuI3 is a moderately correlated metal with two bands crossing the Fermi level, implying the absence of any quantum spin liquids phase. We find that the Fermi surface as measured or calculated for a 2D (k x, k y) slice at any k z lacks mirror symmetry, i.e. is pseudochiral. We link this phenomenon to the ABC stacking in the R $$\bar{3}$$ 3 ¯ space group of α-RuI3, which is achiral but lacks any mirror or glide symmetries. We further provide a formal framework for understanding when such a pseudochiral electronic structure may be observed

Carbon-rich monolayers on ITO as highly sensitive platforms for detecting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water: The case of pyrene

The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water at low levels is a current challenge given their great impact on the health and safety of the public. Here, a novel pyrene-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM) platform is exploited as PAH sensing recognition device. Interestingly, the formation of π-π sandwich complexes between PAHs and the recognition element switches the surface electron transfer capability. The unique supramolecular interaction between identical aromatic molecules provides a highly sensitive and selective sensor for pyrene in the order of part per trillion. Accordingly, and using pyrene as a proof-of-concept, this work presents the basis for an 'at-point-of-use' impedimetric sensor focused on a highly sensitive carbon-based SAM for PAHs determination in water at ultra-trace levels.This work was funded by the ERC StG 2012-306826 e-GAMES. The authors also thank the ITN iSwitch 642196 project, Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), the DGI (Spain) project FANCY CTQ2016-80030-R, the Generalitat de Catalunya (2014-SGR-17) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centers of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2015-0496).Peer reviewe