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The "Report on the Condition of Education" is an annual report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) that is mandated by the United States Congress. Using data from NCES and other sources, NCES compiles a set of "indicators" of the condition of education in the United States at all levels, from prekindergarten through postsecondary, as well as labor force outcomes and international comparisons. The full contents of the Condition of Education Indicator System can be accessed online or by downloading PDFs for the individual indicators. The "Report on the Condition of Education 2024" comprises key findings from the Indicator System. This summary report provides a brief overview of information available on various topics as well as direct links to the online versions of indicators discussed. This year's report also includes select content from sources outside the Indicator System, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Integrated Postsecondary Education System (IPEDS).

We present the study of seven systems, three of which TOI-2295, TOI-2537, and TOI-5110 are newly discovered planetary systems. Through the analysis of TESS photometry, SOPHIE radial velocities, and high-spatial resolution imaging, we found that TOI-2295b, TOI-2537b, and TOI-5110b are transiting warm Jupiters with orbital periods ranging from 30 to 94 d, masses between 0.9 and 2.9 MJ, and radii ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 RJ. Both TOI-2295 and TOI-2537 each harbor at least one additional, outer planet. Their outer planets TOI-2295c and TOI-2537c are characterized by orbital periods of 966.5 +/- 4.3 and 1920^{+230}_{-140} d, respectively, and minimum masses of 5.61^{+0.23}_{-0.24} and 7.2 +/- 0.5 MJ, respectively. We also investigated and characterized the two recently reported warm Jupiters TOI-1836b and TOI-5076b, which we independently detected in SOPHIE RVs. Additionally, we study the planetary candidates TOI-4081.01 and TOI-4168.01. For TOI-4081.01, despite our detection in radial velocities, we cannot rule out perturbation by a blended eclipsing binary and thus exercise caution regarding its planetary nature. On the other hand, we identify TOI-4168.01 as a firm false positive. Finally, we highlight interesting characteristics of these new planetary systems. The transits of TOI-2295b are highly grazing, with an impact parameter of 1.056$^{+0.063}_{-0.043}$. TOI-2537b, in turn, is a temperate Jupiter with an effective temperature of 307+/-15 K and can serve as a valuable low-irradiation control for models of hot Jupiter inflation anomalies. We also detected significant transit timing variations (TTVs) for TOI-2537b, which are likely caused by gravitational interactions with the outer planet TOI-2537c. Finally, TOI-5110b stands out due to its orbital eccentricity of 0.75+/- 0.03, one of the highest planetary eccentricities discovered thus far., Comment: 46 pages, 21 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

Solar energetic particles in the heliosphere are produced by flaring processes on the Sun or shocks driven by coronal mass ejections. These particles are regularly detected remotely as electromagnetic radiation (X-rays or radio emission), which they generate through various processes, or in situ by spacecraft monitoring the Sun and the heliosphere. We aim to combine remote-sensing and in situ observations of energetic electrons to determine the origin and acceleration mechanism of these particles. Here, we investigate the acceleration location, escape, and propagation directions of electron beams producing radio bursts observed with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), hard X-ray (HXR) emission and, in situ electrons observed at Solar Orbiter (SolO) on 3 October 2023. These observations are combined with a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the electron acceleration locations and results from a magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) model of the solar corona in order to investigate the origin and connectivity of electrons observed remotely at the Sun to in situ electrons. We observed a type II radio burst with good connectivity to SolO, where a significant electron event was detected. However, type III radio bursts and Hard X-rays were also observed co-temporally with the elctron event but likely connected to SolO by different far-sided field lines. The injection times of the SolO electrons are simultaneous with both the onset of the type II radio burst, the group of type III bursts and the presence of a second HXR peak, however, the most direct connection to SolO is that of the type II burst location. The in situ electron spectra point to shock acceleration of electrons with a short-term connection to the source region., Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures

Vibrational and magnetic properties of single-crystal uranium-thorium dioxide (UxTh1-xO2) with a full range of 0

In their seminal 1992 paper, Ba\~{n}ados, Teitelboim and Zanelli (BTZ) proposed a simple charged generalization of what is now known as the spinning BTZ black hole, the proposal being that a rotating metric can be supported by a `static vector' potential. While with such an ansatz the Einstein equations are satisfied, and the corresponding energy-momentum tensor is divergence-less, the Maxwell equations do not (due to the special degenerate form of the corresponding field strength) hold. More recently, Deshpande and Lunin have proposed a generalized `Einstein--Maxwell' system which yields analytic rotating black holes in all odd dimensions. In this paper, we show that the original charged BTZ solution can be re-interpreted as a solution of the Deshpande--Lunin theory. Moreover, as we shall explicitly illustrate on an example of regularized conformal electrodynamics, similar construction also works for any non-linear electrodynamics in 3-dimensions., Comment: 8 pages

We consider the transition rate of a freely falling Unruh-DeWitt (UDW) detector, coupled linearly to a massless scalar quantum field prepared in the Hartle-Hawking-Israel state, as a probe of the interior of a black hole. Specifically, we consider the transition rate of a detector in the spinless Ba\~nados-Teitelboim-Zanelli (BTZ) black hole as it freely falls toward and across the horizon and compare it to the corresponding situation for an $\mathbb{R}\text{P}^{2}$ geon. Both the BTZ black hole and its geon counterpart are quotients of $\text{AdS}_3$ spacetime that are identical exterior to the horizon but have different interior topologies. We find outside the horizon that the rates are qualitatively similar, but with the amplitude in the geon spacetime larger than in the BTZ case. Once the detector crosses the horizon, there are notable distinctions characterized by different discontinuities in the temporal derivative of the response rate. These discontinuities can appear outside the horizon if the detector is switched on at a sufficiently early time, within the past white hole horizon. In general, the detector can act as an `early warning system' that both spots the black hole horizon and discerns its interior topology., Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures

Astronomers have found more than a dozen planets transiting 10-40 million year old stars, but even younger transiting planets have remained elusive. A possible reason for the lack of such discoveries is that newly formed planets are not yet in a configuration that would be recognized as a transiting planet or cannot exhibit transits because our view is blocked by a protoplanetary disk. However, we now know that many outer disks are warped; provided the inner disk is depleted, transiting planets may thus be visible. Here we report the observations of the transiting planet IRAS 04125+2902 b orbiting a 3 Myr, 0.7 M$_\odot$, pre-main sequence star in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. IRAS 04125+2902 hosts a nearly face-on (i $\sim$ 30$^\circ$) transitional disk and a wide binary companion. The planet has a period of 8.83 days, a radius of 10.9 R$_\oplus$ (0.97R$_J$), and a 95%-confidence upper limit on its mass of 90M$_\oplus$ (0.3M$_J$) from radial velocity measurements, making it a possible precursor of the super-Earths and sub-Neptunes that are commonly found around main-sequence stars. The rotational broadening of the star and the orbit of the wide (4", 635 AU) companion are both consistent with edge-on orientations. Thus, all components of the system appear to be aligned except the outer disk; the origin of this misalignment is unclear. Given the rare set of circumstances required to detect a transiting planet at ages when the disk is still present, IRAS 04125+2902 b likely provides a unique window into sub-Neptunes immediately following formation., Comment: Initial version submitted to Nature. Stellar, and hence planetary, parameters slightly differ from final version. Published version available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08123-3

In this paper, we tackle the challenging problem of delayed rewards in reinforcement learning (RL). While Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) has emerged as a leading Policy Gradient method, its performance can degrade under delayed rewards. We introduce two key enhancements to PPO: a hybrid policy architecture that combines an offline policy (trained on expert demonstrations) with an online PPO policy, and a reward shaping mechanism using Time Window Temporal Logic (TWTL). The hybrid architecture leverages offline data throughout training while maintaining PPO's theoretical guarantees. Building on the monotonic improvement framework of Trust Region Policy Optimization (TRPO), we prove that our approach ensures improvement over both the offline policy and previous iterations, with a bounded performance gap of $(2\varsigma\gamma\alpha^2)/(1-\gamma)^2$, where $\alpha$ is the mixing parameter, $\gamma$ is the discount factor, and $\varsigma$ bounds the expected advantage. Additionally, we prove that our TWTL-based reward shaping preserves the optimal policy of the original problem. TWTL enables formal translation of temporal objectives into immediate feedback signals that guide learning. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through extensive experiments on an inverted pendulum and a lunar lander environments, showing improvements in both learning speed and final performance compared to standard PPO and offline-only approaches.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is the use of digital technologies to improve patient care at a distance. However, current RPM solutions are often biased toward tech-savvy patients. To foster health equity, researchers have studied how to address the socio-economic and cognitive needs of diverse patient groups, but their emotional needs have remained largely neglected. We perform the first qualitative study to explore the emotional needs of diverse patients around RPM. Specifically, we conduct a thematic analysis of 18 interviews and 4 focus groups at a large US healthcare organization. We identify emotional needs that lead to four emotional tensions within and across stakeholder groups when applying an equity focus to the design and implementation of RPM technologies. The four emotional tensions are making diverse patients feel: (i) heard vs. exploited; (ii) seen vs. deprioritized for efficiency; (iii) empowered vs. anxious; and (iv) cared for vs. detached from care. To manage these emotional tensions across stakeholders, we develop design recommendations informed by a paradox mindset (i.e., "both-and" rather than "and-or" strategies)., Comment: Accepted at CSCW 2025

By viewing black hole solutions as topological defects in thermodynamic parameter space, we unveil a novel topological class and two new topological subclasses, respectively denoted $W^{0-\leftrightarrow 1+}$, $\overline{W}^{1+}$, and $\hat{W}^{1+}$, that extend beyond the four established categories proposed by Wei et al. [Phys. Rev. D 110, L081501 (2024)]. Within the newly identified class and these two novel subclasses, the innermost small black hole states exhibit a distinct sequence of unstable, stable, and stable behaviours, while the outermost large black hole states display a uniform pattern of stable behaviours. These classifications indicate thermodynamic properties in both the low and high Hawking temperature regimes that are strikingly different from the previously known four topological classes. In particular, we demonstrate that static charged AdS black holes in gauged supergravity exhibit an intricate thermodynamic evolution that is notably distinct from that of the Reissner-Nordstr\"om anti-de Sitter (RN-AdS) black hole. From a topological perspective, we emphasize the advantages and potential of investigating thermodynamic phase transitions in these black holes, an area that has been rarely explored in previous research. Our findings not only enrich and sharpen the framework of topological classifications in black hole thermodynamics, but also represent a significant stride toward unraveling the fundamental nature of black holes and gravity., Comment: 5+2 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables

We study (topological) pseudo-Anosov flows from the perspective of the associated group actions on their orbit spaces and boundary at infinity. We extend the definition of Anosov-like action from [BFM22] from the transitive to the general non-transitive context and show that one can recover the basic sets of a flow, the Smale order on basic sets, and their essential features, from such general group actions. Using these tools, we prove that a pseudo-Anosov flow in a $3$ manifold is entirely determined by the associated action of the fundamental group on the boundary at infinity of its orbit space. We also give a proof that any topological pseudo-Anosov flow on an atoroidal 3-manifold is necessarily transitive, and prove that density of periodic orbits implies transitivity, in the topological rather than smooth case.

The literature on word-representable graphs is quite rich, and a number of variations of the original definition have been proposed over the years. We are initiating a systematic study of such variations based on formal languages. In our framework, we can associate a graph class to each language over the binary alphabet \{0,1\}. All graph classes that are language-representable in this sense are hereditary and enjoy further common properties. Besides word-representable graphs and, more generally, 1^k- or k-11-representable graphs, we can identify many more graph classes in our framework, like (co)bipartite graphs, (co)comparability graphs, to name a few. It was already known that any graph is 111- or 2-11-representable. When such representations are considered for storing graphs, 111- or 2-11-representability bears the disadvantage of being significantly inferior to standard adjacency matrices or lists. We prove that quite famous languages like the palindromes, the copy language or the Lyndon words can match the efficiency of standard graph representations. The perspective of language theory allows us to prove general results that hold for all graph classes that can be defined in this way. This includes certain closure properties (e.g., all language-definable graph classes are hereditary) as well as certain limitations (e.g., all language-representable graph classes contain graphs of arbitrarily large treewidth and of arbitrarily large degeneracy, except a trivial case). As each language describes a graph class, we can also ask decidability questions concerning graph classes, given a concrete presentation of a formal language. We also present a systematic study of graph classes that can be represented by languages in which each letter occurs at most twice. Here, we find graph classes like interval, permutation, circle, bipartite chain, convex, and threshold graphs.

Dynamical systems theory has long provided a foundation for understanding evolving phenomena across scientific domains. Yet, the application of this theory to complex real-world systems remains challenging due to issues in mathematical modeling, nonlinearity, and high dimensionality. In this work, we introduce a data-driven computational framework to derive low-dimensional linear models for nonlinear dynamical systems directly from raw experimental data. This framework enables global stability analysis through interpretable linear models that capture the underlying system structure. Our approach employs time-delay embedding, physics-informed deep autoencoders, and annealing-based regularization to identify novel low-dimensional coordinate representations, unlocking insights across a variety of simulated and previously unstudied experimental dynamical systems. These new coordinate representations enable accurate long-horizon predictions and automatic identification of intricate invariant sets while providing empirical stability guarantees. Our method offers a promising pathway to analyze complex dynamical behaviors across fields such as physics, climate science, and engineering, with broad implications for understanding nonlinear systems in the real world., Comment: http://generalroboticslab.com/AutomatedGlobalAnalysis

Arrays of atomic emitters have proven to be a promising platform to manipulate and engineer optical properties, due to their efficient cooperative response to near-resonant light. Here, we theoretically investigate their use as an efficient metalens. We show that, by spatially tailoring the (sub-wavelength) lattice constants of three consecutive two-dimensional arrays of identical atomic emitters, one can realize a large transmission coefficient with arbitrary position-dependent phase shift, whose robustness against losses is enhanced by the collective response. To characterize the efficiency of this atomic metalens, we perform large-scale numerical simulations involving a substantial number of atoms ($N\sim 5\times 10^5$) that is considerably larger than comparable works. Our results suggest that low-loss, robust optical devices with complex functionalities, ranging from metasurfaces to computer-generated holograms, could be potentially assembled from properly engineered arrays of atomic emitters., Comment: 20 pages, 9 main figures, 5 appendix figures

We prove that infinite-dimensional highest-weight modules are faithful for Iwasawa algebras corresponding to a simple Lie algebra of type D. We use this to prove that all non-zero two-sided ideals of the Iwasawa algebra have finite codimension in this case.

We present a comprehensive study of the C-metric in $2+1$ dimensions, placing it within a shell of stress energy and matching it to an exterior vacuum AdS metric. The $2+1$ C-metric is not circularly symmetric and hence neither are the constructed shells, which instead take on a cuspoidal or teardrop shape. We interpret the stress energy of the shells as a perfect fluid, calculating the energy density and pressure. For accelerating particles (Class I), we find the stress energy is concentrated on the part of shell farthest from the direction of acceleration and always respects the strong energy condition. For accelerating black holes (Class I$_{\mathrm{C}}$, II, and III), the shell stress energy may either respect or violate the energy conditions depending on the parameter of the exterior metric -- between the two regimes lies a critical value of the external parameter for which the shell stress energy vanishes, leading to new solutions of Einstein's field equations, which fall into three categories: an accelerated black hole pulled by a finite-length string with a point particle at the other end, an accelerated black hole pushed by a finite-length strut with a point particle at the other end, and an accelerated black hole pushed from one side by a finite-length strut and pulled from the other by a finite-length string, each with a point particle at the other end., Comment: 43 pages, 24 figures; v2 reference added

In twisted van der Waals materials, local atomic relaxation can significantly alter the underlying electronic structure and properties. Characterizing the lattice reconstruction and the impact of strain is essential to better understand and harness the resulting emergent electronic states. Here, we use a scanning single-electron transistor to image spatial modulations in the electronic structure of helical trilayer graphene, demonstrating relaxation into a superstructure of large domains with uniform moire periodicity. We further show that the supermoire domain size is enhanced by strain and can even be altered in subsequent measurements of the same device, while nevertheless maintaining the same local electronic properties within each domain. Finally, we observe higher conductance at the boundaries between domains, consistent with the prediction that they host counter-propagating topological edge modes. Our work confirms that lattice relaxation can produce moire-periodic order in twisted multilayers, demonstrates strain-engineering as a viable path for designing topological networks at the supermoire scale, and paves the way to direct imaging of correlation-driven topological phases and boundary modes.

We develop a novel holographic dictionary for the thermodynamics of black holes with Lifshitz and hyperscaling violating asymptotics, generalizing the dictionary for Anti-de Sitter black holes. Using our dictionary we show that the holographic Euler equation is dual to a generalized Smarr formula for these black holes, and we find a precise match between the extended bulk and boundary first law. Notably, the dictionary for the central charge appearing in the Euler relation depends on the hyperscaling violating parameter, but not on the Lifshitz dynamical exponent., Comment: 6+4 pages

Wormhole solutions in gravitational theories typically require exotic matter. Here we present a wormhole solution to the field equations of Einsteinian Cubic Gravity -- a phenomenological competitor to general relativity that includes terms cubic in the curvature -- that has no matter, exotic or otherwise. These purely gravitational wormhole geometries are asymptotically AdS but contain a geometric deficit at infinity. The deficit, interpreted as a global monopole, plays an essential role in our construction. We find that our wormhole solution satisfies traversablility criteria. We also find, for different parameters, a range of possible wormhole solutions., Comment: References added

We consider the transition rate of a static Unruh-DeWitt detector in two $(2+1)$-dimensional black hole spacetimes that are isometric to the static Ba\~nados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black hole outside the horizon but have no asymptotically locally anti-de Sitter exterior behind the horizon. The spacetimes are the $\mathbb{R}\text{P}^{2}$ geon, with spatial topology $\mathbb{R}\text{P}^{2}\setminus\{\text{point at infinity}\}$, and the Swedish geon of \AA{}minneborg et al, with spatial topology $T^{2}\setminus\{\text{point at infinity}\}$. For a conformal scalar field, prepared in the Hartle-Hawking-type state that is induced from the global vacuum on the anti-de Sitter covering space, we show numerically that the detector's transition rate distinguishes the two spacetimes, particularly at late exterior times, and we trace this phenomenon to the differences in the isometries that are broken by the quotient construction from the universal covering space. Our results provide an example in which information about the interior topology of a black hole is accessible to a quantum observer outside the black hole., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures

The purpose of this article is threefold: Firstly, we propose some enhancements to the existing definition of 6-functor formalisms. Secondly, we systematically study the category of kernels, which is a certain 2-category attached to every 6-functor formalism. It provides powerful new insights into the internal structure of the 6-functor formalism and allows to abstractly define important finiteness conditions, recovering well-known examples from the literature. Finally, we apply our methods to the theory of smooth representations of $p$-adic Lie groups and, as an application, construct a canonical anti-involution on derived Hecke algebras generalizing results of Schneider--Sorensen. In an appendix we provide the necessary background on $\infty$-categories, higher algebra, enriched $\infty$-categories and $(\infty,2)$-categories. Among others we prove several new results on adjunctions in an $(\infty,2)$-category and in particular show that passing to the adjoint morphism is a functorial operation., Comment: 195 pages, 4 appendices. Comments welcome!

We present the discovery and characterization of TOI-4364\,b, a young mini-Neptune in the tidal tails of the Hyades cluster, identified through TESS transit observations and ground-based follow-up photometry. The planet orbits a bright M dwarf ($K=9.1$\,mag) at a distance of 44\,pc, with an orbital period of 5.42\,days and an equilibrium temperature of $488^{+4}_{-4}$\,K. The host star's well-constrained age of 710\,Myr makes TOI-4364\,b an exceptional target for studying early planetary evolution around low-mass stars. We determined a planetary radius of $2.01^{+0.1}_{-0.08}$\,Earth radii, indicating that this planet is situated near the upper edge of the radius valley. This suggests that the planet retains a modest H/He envelope. As a result, TOI-4364\,b provides a unique opportunity to explore the transition between rocky super-Earths and gas-rich mini-Neptunes at the early stages of evolution. Its radius, which may still evolve as a result of ongoing atmospheric cooling, contraction, and photoevaporation, further enhances its significance for understanding planetary development. Furthermore, TOI-4364\,b possesses a moderately high Transmission Spectroscopy Metric of 44.2, positioning it as a viable candidate for atmospheric characterization with instruments such as JWST. This target has the potential to offer crucial insights into atmospheric retention and loss in young planetary systems., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures

The NOvA collaboration reports cross-section measurements for $\nu_{\mu}$ charged-current interactions with low hadronic energy (maximum kinetic energy of 250 MeV for protons and 175 MeV for pions) in the NOvA Near Detector. The results are presented as a double-differential cross section as a function of the direct observables of the final-state muon kinematics. Results are also presented as a single-differential cross section as a function of the derived square of the four-momentum transfer, $Q^{2}$, and as a function of the derived neutrino energy. The data correspond to an accumulated 8.09$\times10^{20}$ protons-on-target (POT) in the neutrino mode of the NuMI beam, with a narrow band of neutrino energies peaked at 1.8 GeV. The analysis provides a sample of neutrino-nucleus interactions with an enhanced fraction of quasi-elastic and two-particle-two-hole (2p2h) interactions. This enhancement allows quantitative comparisons with various nuclear models. We find strong disagreement between data and theory-based models in various regions of the muon kinematic phase space, especially in the forward muon direction., Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures. The second version includes an additional citation and adds four previously missing authors

This work tackles the challenge of efficiently selecting high-performance pre-trained vision backbones for specific target tasks. Although exhaustive search within a finite set of backbones can solve this problem, it becomes impractical for large datasets and backbone pools. To address this, we introduce Vision Backbone Efficient Selection (VIBES), which aims to quickly find well-suited backbones, potentially trading off optimality for efficiency. We propose several simple yet effective heuristics to address VIBES and evaluate them across four diverse computer vision datasets. Our results show that these approaches can identify backbones that outperform those selected from generic benchmarks, even within a limited search budget of one hour on a single GPU. We reckon VIBES marks a paradigm shift from benchmarks to task-specific optimization., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, under review at WACV 2025

Double- and single-differential cross sections for inclusive charged-current neutrino-nucleus scattering are reported for the kinematic domain 0 to 2 GeV/c in three-momentum transfer and 0 to 2 GeV in available energy, at a mean muon-neutrino energy of 1.86 GeV. The measurements are based on an estimated 995,760 muon-neutrino CC interactions in the scintillator medium of the NOvA Near Detector. The subdomain populated by 2-particle-2-hole reactions is identified by the cross-section excess relative to predictions for neutrino-nucleus scattering that are constrained by a data control sample. Models for 2-particle-2- hole processes are rated by chi-square comparisons of the predicted-versus-measured muon-neutrino CC inclusive cross section over the full phase space and in the restricted subdomain. Shortfalls are observed in neutrino generator predictions obtained using the theory-based Val`encia and SuSAv2 2p2h models., Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures

Annual North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) counts are frequently modeled as a Poisson process with a state-dependent rate. We provide a lower bound on the forecasting error of this class of models. Remarkably we find that this bound is already saturated by a simple linear model that explains roughly 50 percent of the annual variance using three climate indices: El Ni\~no Southern Oscillation (ENSO), average sea surface temperature (SST) in the main development region (MDR) of the North Atlantic and the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) atmospheric circulation index (Kozar et al 2012). As expected under the bound, increased model complexity does not help: we demonstrate that allowing for quadratic and interaction terms, or using an Elastic Net to forecast TC counts using global SST maps, produces no detectable increase in skill. We provide evidence that observed TC counts are consistent with a Poisson process, limiting possible improvements in TC modeling by relaxing the Poisson assumption., Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Geophysical Research Letters

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for advanced therapeutic strategies. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising approach to improve the specificity and efficacy of anticancer treatments. This review examines three cutting-edge mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based drug delivery to introduce novel CRC therapy, each utilizing unique functionalization strategies for targeted drug release. The first system, hyaluronidase-responsive MSN-HA/DOX, employs biotin-modified hyaluronic acid to facilitate dual-stimulus drug release in the tumor microenvironment, exhibiting enhanced in vivo tumor inhibition. The DOX/SLN-PEG-Biotin utilizes polyethylene glycol and biotin to improve drug stability and target biotin-overexpressing CRC cells, demonstrating superior anti-cancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Lastly, galactosylated chitosan-functionalized MSNs enable targeted delivery through asialoglycoprotein receptors, providing controlled drug release and strong therapeutic potential. Collectively, these systems highlight the advancements in nanoparticle functionalization for CRC treatment, offering a pathway to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy. Further research is required to translate these innovations into clinical practice, ensuring safety and scalability.

This paper introduces the hypothetical track-length fitting algorithm, a novel method for measuring the kinetic energies of ionizing particles in liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). The algorithm finds the most probable offset in track length for a track-like object by comparing the measured ionization density as a function of position with a theoretical prediction of the energy loss as a function of the energy, including models of electron recombination and detector response. The algorithm can be used to measure the energies of particles that interact before they stop, such as charged pions that are absorbed by argon nuclei. The algorithm's energy measurement resolutions and fractional biases are presented as functions of particle kinetic energy and number of track hits using samples of stopping secondary charged pions in data collected by the ProtoDUNE-SP detector, and also in a detailed simulation. Additional studies describe impact of the dE/dx model on energy measurement performance. The method described in this paper to characterize the energy measurement performance can be repeated in any LArTPC experiment using stopping secondary charged pions.

The Neptunian desert and savanna have been recently found to be separated by a ridge, an overdensity of planets in the $\simeq$3-5 days period range. These features are thought to be shaped by dynamical and atmospheric processes. However, their relative roles are not yet well understood. We intend to confirm and characterise the super-Neptune TESS candidate TOI-5005.01, which orbits a moderately bright (V = 11.8) solar-type star (G2 V) with an orbital period of 6.3 days. We confirm TOI-5005 b to be a transiting super-Neptune with a radius of $R_{\rm p}$ = $6.25\pm 0.24$ $\rm R_{\rm \oplus}$ ($R_{\rm p}$ = $0.558\pm 0.021$ $\rm R_{\rm J}$) and a mass of $M_{\rm p}$ = $32.7\pm 5.9$ $\rm M_{\oplus}$ ($M_{\rm p}$ = $0.103\pm 0.018$ $\rm M_{\rm J}$), which corresponds to a mean density of $\rho_{\rm p}$ = $0.74 \pm 0.16$ $\rm g \, cm^{-3}$. Our internal structure modelling indicates that the overall metal mass fraction is well constrained to a value slightly lower than that of Neptune and Uranus ($Z_{\rm planet}$ = $0.76^{+0.04}_{-0.11}$). We also estimated the present-day atmospheric mass-loss rate of TOI-5005 b but found contrasting predictions depending on the choice of photoevaporation model. At a population level, we find statistical evidence ($p$-value = $0.0092^{+0.0184}_{-0.0066}$) that planets in the savanna such as TOI-5005 b tend to show lower densities than planets in the ridge, with a dividing line around 1 $\rm g \, cm^{-3}$, which supports the hypothesis of different evolutionary pathways populating both regimes. TOI-5005 b is located in a key region of the period-radius space to study the transition between the Neptunian ridge and the savanna. It orbits the brightest star of all such planets, which makes it a target of interest for atmospheric and orbital architecture observations that will bring a clearer picture of its overall evolution., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Abstract shortened. 35 pages, 26 figures

The characterization of young planets (< 300 Myr) is pivotal for understanding planet formation and evolution. We present the 3-5$\mu$m transmission spectrum of the 17 Myr, Jupiter-size ($R$ $\sim$10$R_{\oplus}$) planet, HIP 67522 b, observed with JWST/NIRSpec/G395H. To check for spot contamination, we obtain a simultaneous $g$-band transit with SOAR. The spectrum exhibits absorption features 30-50% deeper than the overall depth, far larger than expected from an equivalent mature planet, and suggests that HIP 67522 b's mass is $<$20 $M_{\oplus}$ irrespective of cloud cover and stellar contamination. A Bayesian retrieval analysis returns a mass constraint of $13.8\pm1.0M_{\oplus}$. This challenges the previous classification of HIP 67522 b as a hot Jupiter and instead, positions it as a precursor to the more common sub-Neptunes. With a density of $<$0.10g/cm$^{3}$, HIP 67522 b is one of the lowest density planets known. We find strong absorption from H$_{2}$O and CO$_{2}$ ($\ge7\sigma$), a modest detection of CO (3.5$\sigma$), and weak detections of H$_2$S and SO$_2$ ($\simeq2\sigma$). Comparisons with radiative-convective equilibrium models suggest supersolar atmospheric metallicities and solar-to-subsolar C/O ratios, with photochemistry further constraining the inferred atmospheric metallicity to 3$\times$10 Solar due to the amplitude of the SO$_2$ feature. These results point to the formation of HIP 67522 b beyond the water snowline, where its envelope was polluted by icy pebbles and planetesimals. The planet is likely experiencing substantial mass loss (0.01-0.03 M$_{\oplus}$ Myr$^{-1}$), sufficient for envelope destruction within a Gyr. This highlights the dramatic evolution occurring within the first 100 Myr of its existence., Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal; 32 pages, 18 figures, 7 tables

The challenging spatial resolution of DWI could be addressed by deep learning based image reconstruction, by reducing noise without increasing acquisition time. To compare the image quality of the Echo Planar Imaging Deep Learning (EPI DL) DWI sequence with the clinically used simultaneous multi slice (SMS) RESOLVE in breast lesions. EPI DL and RESOLVE breast images from 20 participants were qualitatively evaluated. Quantitative image quality metrics of SNR and CNR on both high b-value (b800) images and ADC maps were calculated. SNR in RESOLVE vs. EP DL differed statistically significantly in manually delineations for b800 (p=0.006), ADC maps (p=0.001), and in ADC circularly delineations (0.001). DWI DL reconstruction may be clinically useful for addressing low-spatial resolution without compromising acquisition time and image quality. Such benefits coupled with the available methods of readout segmentation and SMS acquisitions may further enhance the value of DWI in breast imaging., Comment: Digital poster presented in the Annual Meeting of International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), 4th to 9th of May 2024, Singapore

In this Letter, we investigate the universal classifications of black hole states by considering them as topological defects within the thermodynamic parameter space. Through the asymptotic behaviors of the constructed vector, our results indicate the existence of four distinct topological classifications, denoted as $W^{1-}$, $W^{0+}$, $W^{0-}$, and $W^{1+}$. Within these classifications, the innermost small black hole states are characterized as unstable, stable, unstable, and stable, respectively, while the outermost large ones exhibit an unstable, unstable, stable, and stable behavior. These classifications also display contrasting thermodynamic properties in both low and high Hawking temperature limits. Furthermore, we establish a systematic ordering of the local thermodynamically stable and unstable black hole states as the horizon radius increases for a specific topological classification. These results reveal the universal topological classifications governing black hole thermodynamics, providing valuable insights into the fundamental nature of quantum gravity., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication as a Letter in PRD

Recent observations of giant planets have revealed unexpected bulk densities. Hot Jupiters, in particular, appear larger than expected for their masses compared to planetary evolution models, while warm Jupiters seem denser than expected. These differences are often attributed to the influence of the stellar incident flux, but could they also result from different planet formation processes? Is there a trend linking the planetary density to the chemical composition of the host star? In this work we present the confirmation of three giant planets in orbit around solar analogue stars. TOI-2714 b ($P \simeq 2.5$ d, $R_{\rm p} \simeq 1.22 R_{\rm J}$, $M_{\rm p} = 0.72 M_{\rm J}$) and TOI-2981 b ($P \simeq 3.6$ d, $R_{\rm p} \simeq 1.2 R_{\rm J}$, $M_{\rm p} = 2 M_{\rm J}$) are hot Jupiters on nearly circular orbits, while TOI-4914 b ($P \simeq 10.6$ d, $R_{\rm p} \simeq 1.15 R_{\rm J}$, $M_{\rm p} = 0.72 M_{\rm J}$) is a warm Jupiter with a significant eccentricity ($e = 0.41 \pm 0.02$) that orbits a star more metal-poor ([Fe/H]$~= -0.13$) than most of the stars known to host giant planets. Our radial velocity (RV) follow-up with the HARPS spectrograph allows us to detect their Keplerian signals at high significance (7, 30, and 23$\sigma$, respectively) and to place a strong constraint on the eccentricity of TOI-4914 b (18$\sigma$). TOI-4914 b, with its large radius and low insolation flux ($F_\star < 2 \times 10^8~{\rm erg~s^{-1}~cm^{-2}}$), appears to be more inflated than what is supported by current theoretical models for giant planets. Moreover, it does not conform to the previously noted trend that warm giant planets orbiting metal-poor stars have low eccentricities. This study thus provides insights into the diverse orbital characteristics and formation processes of giant exoplanets, in particular the role of stellar metallicity in the evolution of planetary systems., Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 21 pages, 26 figures, and 8 tables. Abstract abridged

Precision breast cancer (BC) risk assessment is crucial for developing individualized screening and prevention. Despite the promising potential of recent mammogram (MG) based deep learning models in predicting BC risk, they mostly overlook the 'time-to-future-event' ordering among patients and exhibit limited explorations into how they track history changes in breast tissue, thereby limiting their clinical application. In this work, we propose a novel method, named OA-BreaCR, to precisely model the ordinal relationship of the time to and between BC events while incorporating longitudinal breast tissue changes in a more explainable manner. We validate our method on public EMBED and inhouse datasets, comparing with existing BC risk prediction and time prediction methods. Our ordinal learning method OA-BreaCR outperforms existing methods in both BC risk and time-to-future-event prediction tasks. Additionally, ordinal heatmap visualizations show the model's attention over time. Our findings underscore the importance of interpretable and precise risk assessment for enhancing BC screening and prevention efforts. The code will be accessible to the public.

In pursuit of a full-fledged theory of quantum gravity, operational approaches offer insights into quantum-gravitational effects produced by quantum superposition of different spacetimes not diffeomorphic to one another. Recent work applies this approach to superpose cylindrically identified Minkowski spacetimes (i.e. periodic boundary conditions) with different characteristic circumferences, where a two-level detector coupled to a quantum field residing in the spacetime exhibits resonance peaks in response at certain values of the superposed length ratios. Here, we extend this analysis to a superposition of cylindrically identified Rindler spacetimes, considering a two-level detector constantly accelerated in the direction orthogonal to the compact dimension. Similarly to previous work, we find resonance peaks in the detector response at rational ratios of the superposed compactified lengths, which we observe to be accentuated by the acceleration of the detector. Furthermore, for the first time we confirm the detailed balance condition due to acceleration in a superposition of spacetimes, commensurate with the Unruh effect in a single spacetime state. The resonant structure of detector response in the presence of event horizons, for the first time observed in 3+1 dimensions, may offer clues to the nature of black hole entropy in the full theory of quantum gravity., Comment: 8 + 12 pages, 7 + 2 figures

We propose fractional anomalous Hall crystals (FAHCs) as possible ground states of strongly interacting electrons in parent bands with Berry curvature. FAHCs are exotic states of matter that spontaneously break continuous translation symmetry to form a fractional Chern insulator. We construct a unified family of variational wavefunctions that describe FAHCs and their competing states in the presence of uniform parent Berry curvature. We calculate their variational energy with Coulomb interactions semi-analytically in the thermodynamic limit. Our analysis reveals that FAHCs can be energetically favorable over both Wigner crystals and integer anomalous Hall crystals for sufficiently strong interactions or flat dispersion.

High-quality (Q)-factor optical resonators with extreme temporal coherence are of both technological and fundamental importance in optical metrology, continuous-wave lasing, and semiconductor quantum optics. Despite extensive efforts in designing high-Q resonators across different spectral regimes, the experimental realization of very large Q-factors at visible wavelengths remains challenging due to the small feature size that is sensitive to fabrication imperfections, and thus is typically implemented in integrated photonics. In the pursuit of free-space optics with the benefits of large space-bandwidth product and massive parallel operations, here we design and fabricate a visible-wavelength etch-free metasurface with minimized fabrication defects and experimentally demonstrate a million-scale ultrahigh-Q resonance. A new laser-scanning momentum-space-resolved spectroscopy technique with extremely high spectral and angular resolution is developed to characterize the record-high Q-factor as well as the dispersion of the million-Q resonance in free space. By integrating monolayer WSe2 into our ultrahigh-Q meta-resonator, we further demonstrate laser-like highly unidirectional and narrow-linewidth exciton emission, albeit without any operating power density threshold. Under continuous-wave laser pumping, we observe pump-power-dependent linewidth narrowing at room temperature, indicating the potential of our meta-optics platform in controlling coherent quantum light-sources. Our result also holds great promise for applications like optical sensing, spectral filtering, and few-photon nonlinear optics.

This study presents a machine learning-aided approach to accurately estimate the region of attraction (ROA) of a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) controlled using a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller. Conventional ROA estimation approaches rely on a nominal dynamic model for ROA calculation, leading to inaccurate estimation due to unknown dynamics and disturbances associated with the physical system. To address this issue, our study utilizes a neural network to predict these unknown disturbances of a planar quadrotor. The nominal model integrated with the learned disturbances is then employed to calculate the ROA of the planer quadrotor using a graphical technique. The estimated ROA is then compared with the ROA calculated using Lyapunov analysis and the graphical approach without incorporating the learned disturbances. The results illustrated that the proposed method provides a more accurate estimation of the ROA, while the conventional Lyapunov-based estimation tends to be more conservative.

This paper presents a generative adversarial network (GAN) based approach for radar image enhancement. Although radar sensors remain robust for operations under adverse weather conditions, their application in autonomous vehicles (AVs) is commonly limited by the low-resolution data they produce. The primary goal of this study is to enhance the radar images to better depict the details and features of the environment, thereby facilitating more accurate object identification in AVs. The proposed method utilizes high-resolution, two-dimensional (2D) projected light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point clouds as ground truth images and low-resolution radar images as inputs to train the GAN. The ground truth images were obtained through two main steps. First, a LiDAR point cloud map was generated by accumulating raw LiDAR scans. Then, a customized LiDAR point cloud cropping and projection method was employed to obtain 2D projected LiDAR point clouds. The inference process of the proposed method relies solely on radar images to generate an enhanced version of them. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through both qualitative and quantitative results. These results show that the proposed method can generate enhanced images with clearer object representation compared to the input radar images, even under adverse weather conditions.

A fundamental comparison between undulator and ion channel radiation is presented. Conventional theory for both devices fails to describe high $k$ and $K/\gamma$ regimes accurately, providing an underestimation of particle trajectory amplitude and period. This may lead to incorrect estimation of radiation emission in many setups of practical interest, such as the ion column. A redefinition of plasma density and undulator strength expressions leads to a more reliable prediction of particle behaviour, reproducing the closest possible conditions in the two devices and correctly matching expected betatron oscillation amplitude and wavelength for a wide range of $K/\gamma$ values. Differences in spectral features of the two devices can then be addressed via numerical simulations of single particle and beam dynamics. In this paper we outline a theoretical framework and compare its results with numerical simulation applied to setups eligible for possible radiation sources., Comment: 11 pages,13 figures

Understanding energetic electron precipitation is crucial for accurate space weather modeling and forecasting, impacting the Earth's upper atmosphere and human infrastructure. This study presents a low-cost, low-mass, and low-power solution for high-fidelity analysis of electron precipitation events by measuring the resulting bremsstrahlung X-ray emissions. Specifically, we report on results from the flight of a radiation detector payload based on a silicon pixel read-out Timepix detector technology, and its successful utilization onboard a `burster' weather balloon. We launched this payload during the May 2024 superstorm, capturing high-resolution measurements of both background galactic cosmic ray radiation as well as storm-time energetic electron precipitation. We further developed particle and radiation detection algorithms to separate bremsstrahlung X-rays from other particle species in the pixel-resolved trajectories as seen in the Timepix detector. The measurements revealed a distinctive four-peak structure in X-ray flux, corresponding to periodic four-minute-long bursts of energetic electron precipitation between 21:20 and 21:40 UT. This precipitation was also observed by a riometer station close to the balloon launch path, further validating balloon measurements and the developed X-ray identification algorithm. The clear periodic structure of the measured precipitation is likely caused by modulation of the electron losses from the radiation belt by harmonic Pc5 ULF waves, observed contemporaneously on the ground. The study underscores the potential of compact, low-cost payloads for advancing our understanding of space weather. Specifically, we envision a potential use of such Timepix-based detectors in space science, for example on sounding rockets or nano-, micro-, and small satellite platforms.

The international collaboration designing and constructing the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) has developed a two-phase strategy toward the implementation of this leading-edge, large-scale science project. The 2023 report of the US Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) reaffirmed this vision and strongly endorsed DUNE Phase I and Phase II, as did the European Strategy for Particle Physics. While the construction of the DUNE Phase I is well underway, this White Paper focuses on DUNE Phase II planning. DUNE Phase-II consists of a third and fourth far detector (FD) module, an upgraded near detector complex, and an enhanced 2.1 MW beam. The fourth FD module is conceived as a "Module of Opportunity", aimed at expanding the physics opportunities, in addition to supporting the core DUNE science program, with more advanced technologies. This document highlights the increased science opportunities offered by the DUNE Phase II near and far detectors, including long-baseline neutrino oscillation physics, neutrino astrophysics, and physics beyond the standard model. It describes the DUNE Phase II near and far detector technologies and detector design concepts that are currently under consideration. A summary of key R&D goals and prototyping phases needed to realize the Phase II detector technical designs is also provided. DUNE's Phase II detectors, along with the increased beam power, will complete the full scope of DUNE, enabling a multi-decadal program of groundbreaking science with neutrinos.

Seismocardiogram (SCG) signals can play a crucial role in remote cardiac monitoring, capturing important events such as aortic valve opening (AO) and mitral valve closure (MC). However, existing SCG methods for detecting AO and MC typically rely on electrocardiogram (ECG) data. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to identify AO and MC events in SCG signals without the need for ECG information. Our method utilized a template bank, which consists of signal templates extracted from SCG waveforms of 5 healthy subjects. These templates represent characteristic features of a heart cycle. When analyzing new, unseen SCG signals from another group of 6 healthy subjects, we employ these templates to accurately detect cardiac cycles and subsequently pinpoint AO and MC events. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed template bank approach in achieving ECG-independent AO and MC detection, laying the groundwork for more convenient remote cardiovascular assessment.

We show that a quantum spin system has an exact free-parafermion solution if its frustration graph is an oriented indifference graph. Further, we show that if the frustration graph of a model can be dipath oriented via switching operations, then the model is integrable in the sense that there is a family of commuting independent set charges. Additionally, we establish an efficient algorithm for deciding whether this is possible. Our characterisation extends that given for free-fermion solvability. Finally, we apply our results to solve three qudit spin models., Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures