Planetary Systems (United States)

Observations of Titan were performed on the 4 November 2022 with the Near Infra- Red Spectrometer (NIRSpec) onboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The observation is a spectro-image of Titan taken about two and a half years before the northern autumnal equinox. This spectro-image at low phase angle covers a spectral range between 0.95 to 5 . 27 μ m and has a spectral resolving power R= λ / Δ λ =2700. Titan was resolved with about eight pixels across the disk, corresponding to a spatial resolution of 643 km at the centre of Titan. However, the data was resampled to obtain a final spectro-image with thirty pixels across the disk. In this study, we retrieved the distribution of the photochemical haze (above 80 km) and the condensate mist layer (below 80 km) as a function of latitude and altitude. Due to the high NIRSpec spectral resolution, we can distinguish five mist sublayers. We found a haze distribution with extinctions increasing from the north to the south, consistent with the direction of stratospheric meridional winds. The distribution of the mist layer depends on both the circulation and the thermodynamic conditions relating to cloud formation. We found an upper mist layer, above 40 km, having a latitudinal distribution similar to the haze with an increase from north to south. The lower mist, below 40 km, has a minimum around 10 ° N and increases toward the north and the south. The retrieved mist layer also presents a significant increase in extinction that emerges from the background at an altitude of around 50 to 60 km in the southern hemisphere. Finally, we retrieved the surface reflectivity that varies with latitude but is always spectrally consistent with the reflectivity of water ice grains with radius 100 μ m . These results yield important constraints for climate models and, in return, climate models such as the Titan Planetary Climate Model (PCM) will help to fully understand the meaning of our results.

Binary stars are as common as single stars. The number of detected planets orbiting binaries is rapidly increasing thanks to the synergy between transit surveys, Gaia, and high-resolution direct-imaging campaigns. However, global planet formation models around binary stars are still underdeveloped, which limits the theoretical understanding of planets orbiting binary star systems. We introduce the PAIRS project, which aims to build a global planet formation model for planets in binaries and to produce a planet population synthesis to statistically compare theory and observations. In this first paper, we present the adaptation of the circumstellar disc to simulate the formation of S-type planets. The presence of a secondary star tidally truncates and heats the outer part of the circumprimary disc (and vice versa for the circumsecondary disc), limiting the material to form planets. We implemented and quantified this effect for a range of binary parameters by adapting the Bern Model of planet formation in its pebble-based form and for in situ planet growth. We find that disc truncation has a strong impact on reducing the pebble supply for core growth and steadily suppresses planet formation for binary separations below 160 a when all the formed planets more massive than Mars are considered. Moreover, S-type planets tend to form close to the central star with respect to the binary separation and disc truncation radius. Our newly developed model will be the basis of future S-type planet population synthesis studies.

Abstract We present a major update to the open-source atmospheric modeling package PICASO , designed for simulating the thermal structure and spectra of hydrogen-rich atmospheres of brown dwarfs and exoplanets. This release, PICASO 4.0 , expands upon the existing radiative-convective equilibrium model framework by incorporating several new capabilities. Key additions include the integration of Virga for self-consistent cloud modeling, new flexible treatments for rainout and cold trapping of volatile species, and support for photochemistry. We also introduce a parameterized energy injection scheme to simulate additional external or internal heating processes. These features are motivated by lessons from recent JWST observations that reveal the prevalence of nonequilibrium chemistry and clouds. We benchmark the new functionalities against previously published results in the literature, including the Sonora Diamondback grid, energy injected atmospheres, patchy cloud models, and other photochemical models of WASP-39b. PICASO continues to be actively developed as an open-source package aimed at enabling reproducible, community-driven atmospheric modeling of all substellar objects.

The MagNetZ (Magnetic Network on Zoom) webinar series stands as a cornerstone for geomagnetism research, hosting online seminars since the early 2020. Launched amid COVID-19 constraints, MagNetZ are convened by a team of scientists to give visibility to scientific work of both leading scientists and early career researchers, to foster virtual collaboration, overcoming geographical limits for students and professionals alike. It promotes open science sharing, with broad appeal evidenced by international viewership and institutional ties. The presentations typically began with a short talk, followed by interactive Q&A space, which are both recorded, post-edited and published on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@MagNetZ) in a continuously growing archive of recorded content. These webinars are also uploaded to the EarthRef.org Digital Archive (ERDA), development and maintained by the EarthRef.org Database Team and can be cited. Thus far, more than 80 webinars are available for viewing. MagNetZ also supports for national meetings, such as the UK-based annual Magnetic Interactions meeting, offering them the platform to view the recordings of three meetings so far. The webinars provide in-depth discussions on paleo- and rock-magnetism and geomagnetic modeling, with topics spanning from geo- and planetary magnetic field dynamics to mineral properties studies for paleoclimatic reconstructions, from paleomagnetic data for geodynamic applications to archaeomagnetism, and more. The core features of MagNetZ are to ensure accessibility for all genders, all career stages and geographical distributions, enhancing community networks, and serving as an educational hub for magnetic data in tectonics and climate studies. Its YouTube platform ensures enduring access, sparking collaborations and awareness.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that is connected to a range of gynecological symptoms. The disorder has both physical and mental health outcomes. While the physical symptoms are often expressed and diagnosed, the mental health outcomes are ignored and undiagnosed. To the best of our knowledge, in Bangladesh, although women are affected by the disease, research exploring the impact of digital health interventions on the mental health burden is scarce. Emerging evidence suggests that smartphone-based health education interventions could be helpful in alleviating the psychological burden associated with PCOS by improving awareness and self-management among patients. The aim of the study is to explore the impact of digital health education on the stress, anxiety, and depression levels among PCOS patients in Bangladesh. A single blinded, randomized controlled trial was being conducted at the Enayetpur of Sirajganj district at Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College and Hospital. A total of 212 participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group in the study. The intervention group received PCOS related health education via a mobile application reinforced with app notifications and bi-monthly phone calls from the researcher. Baseline Data collection was completed in April 2025. Endline data collection started in November 2025. The intervention was a six-month intervention that ran from May to October. The primary outcome, depression, stress and anxiety was measured using the DASS21 questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were serum hormone levels (cortisol and testosterone), body mass index (BMI), and knowledge about PCOS. The baseline data collection was completed in April 2025. A total of 212 patient provided their consent to participate in the study. The participants were divided into groups of 106 individuals for the control and intervention groups. Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT2062240073), https://jrct.mhlw.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCT2062240073 and North South University Institutional Review Board approved this study (#2024/0RNSU/IRBII 002).

Abstract The proliferation of metaheuristic optimization algorithms has led to concerns about their novelty. This study introduces three key contributions to address this challenge: (1) a novel systematic taxonomic framework that employs nineteen rigorously selected, metaphor-free criteria to evaluate algorithmic distinctiveness; (2) a comprehensive clustering methodology that combines Rogers-Tanimoto distance analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering to quantify algorithmic similarities; and (3) an objective assessment method for evaluating genuine algorithmic innovations. Through the analysis of 145 metaheuristic algorithms, we demonstrate that 74 algorithms (51.0%) exhibit distances below the confidence interval threshold, indicating profound structural overlap. Network analysis reveals 26 algorithms with perfect structural identity (distance = 0.0) and 512 algorithm pairs showing high similarity (distance < 0.039), representing 18.9% of all pairwise comparisons. The results show that numerous algorithms claiming innovation deliver only incremental modifications to existing implementation patterns, lacking fundamental methodological advancement. The framework provides both a theoretical foundation for understanding algorithmic similarities and a practical tool for evaluating new algorithmic proposals, potentially transforming how the field assesses and develops novel optimization methods.

Rice husk (RH) is a widely available lignocellulosic residue for biohydrogen production but requires effective pretreatment to overcome lignin-related recalcitrance. This study investigates the kinetics of lignin removal from RH using 3% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and water pretreatments at high temperatures between 100 and 129 °C (25 °C control) with short reaction times (15–60 min) in an autoclave system. Biomass composition, solid yield, delignification efficiency, and enzymatic hydrolysis for glucose production were evaluated. NaOH pretreatment achieved up to 72.72% lignin removal at 129 °C after 60 min, significantly outperforming water pretreatment, which reached a maximum delignification of 20.24% under the same conditions. Kinetic analysis revealed first-order reaction behavior, with the kinetic rate constants varying between 5.14 × 10−5 and 4.31 × 10−3 with water pretreatment and from 3.73 × 10−4 to 2.46 × 10−2 with NaOH and activation energies of 42.61 kJ mol−1 K−1 and 39.31 kJ mol−1 K−1 for water and NaOH pretreatment, respectively. Enhanced lignin removal improved cellulose accessibility, resulting in glucose yields from enzymatic hydrolysis of up to 52.13 mg/g for NaOH-treated samples, double those obtained with water pretreatment (26.97 mg/g). While NaOH pretreatment achieved higher lignin removal efficiency and glucose yield, it exhibited significantly higher environmental impacts across multiple categories, including global warming potential and terrestrial ecotoxicity, based on the life cycle assessment (LCA). Even water-based pretreatment showed considerable burdens; thus, both pretreatment methods impose high life cycle impacts when applied to RH, which makes it an unsustainable feedstock for glucose production under the evaluated conditions. Alternative feedstocks or improved process integration strategies are required for environmentally viable biohydrogen production.

This study investigated the effects of in vitro digestion, for the first time, on the biological activities of Abelmoschus sagittifolius, an essential step in evaluating its potential as a functional food. Different extracts from tuber, root, flower, leaf, and fruit were examined for antioxidant, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic properties, along with their phytochemical compositions. Among those extracts, leaf exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (IC50=0.13mg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50=0.18mg/mL), while fruit demonstrated the greatest α-amylase inhibition (IC50=0.8mg/mL) and cytotoxicity against K562, U937, and THP1 cell lines (IC50=0.22, 0.11, and 0.11mg/mL, respectively). However, these activities significantly decreased through in vitro digestion. Notably, after digestion, the tuber showed a remarkable increase in cytotoxicity (inhibition up to 98.12%) and retained its α-amylase inhibitory effect. Phytochemical analysis suggested the preserved bioactivity of the tuber may result from a synergistic interaction among its constituents of phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, and polyamines. These findings highlight tuber as a promising candidate for functional foods targeting myeloid leukemia and metabolic disorders, although further investigations are required.