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  1. Free, publicly-accessible full text available December 1, 2026
  2. Abstract Charge-exchange recombination with neutral atoms significantly influences the ionization balance in electron beam ion traps (EBIT) because its cross section is relatively large compared to cross sections of electron collision induced processes. Modeling the highly charged ion cloud requires the estimate of operating parameters, such as electron beam energy and density, the density of neutral atoms, and the relative velocities of collision partners. Uncertainty in the charge-exchange cross section can dominate the overall uncertainty in EBIT experiments, especially when it compounds with the uncertainties of experimental parameters that are difficult to determine. We present measured and simulated spectra of few-electron Fe ions, where we used a single charge-exchange factor to reduce the number of free parameters in the model. The deduction of the charge-exchange factor from the ratio of Li-like and He-like features allows for predicting the intensity of H-like lines in the spectra. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available April 1, 2026
  3. Despite abundant empirical evidence, the details of coupled deformation and mass transfer processes within a framework of the crustal architecture of ancient orogens remains enigmatic. Geophysical imaging of the Larder Lake‐Cadillac deformation zone, a well‐endowed crustal‐scale fault system in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield, characterizes the crustal architecture and fault geometry of the system through the lower crust. By comparing the geophysically determined structure of the Larder Lake‐Cadillac deformation zone to stress changes induced by Archean (peak orogeny) rupture of the fault system, we show domains of earthquake‐triggered deformation coincide with the geophysically imaged low resistivity zones. These low resistivity zones likely formed due to Archean mineral bearing fluid migration from underlying fertile source zones to downstream (shallower) crustal reservoirs and, ultimately, near surface traps. The multi‐disciplinary approach identifies the syntectonic mass‐transfer processes and mineral bearing fluid pathways, providing an interpretive framework for unraveling the geophysical manifestation of the deformation controlled processes responsible for upflow of metalliferous fluids that may result in ore deposit formation in collisional orogens. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available March 28, 2026
  4. In this study, we examine the performance of a multi-scale model for large-eddy simulation (LES) of tur- bulent combustion. The model referred to as RRLES performs the closure of the filtered reaction-rate term in the species transport equation while performing LES by using the linear eddy mixing (LEM) model. The RRLES model uses a multi-scale strategy to obtain the filtered reaction rate of the species and has been shown to address some of the challenges associated with the well-established LEMLES approach. The orig- inally proposed RRLES strategy used a multilevel adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) framework, which was extended to use a single grid-based strategy to enable the application to complex geometries. Additionally, a local dual-resolution grid strategy has also been developed and can potentially be used with different grid topologies, without the need for the AMR. We assess the accuracy and efficiency of the single and dual-grid RRLES approaches by considering a freely propagating turbulent premixed flame under two different initial conditions corresponding to the thin reaction zone (TRZ) and the broken/distributed reaction zone (B/DRZ) regimes. 
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  5. Gray, Ron; McDonald, Scott; Stroupe, David (Ed.)
    Elementary science education, particularly in the 4th and 5th grades, is essential for setting the foundation for lifelong science learning, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students for success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This stage is especially critical for students with disabilities, as achievement gaps between them and their peers emerge during elementary school. Despite this importance, little is known about how science is taught in elementary classrooms during these critical years, particularly for students with disabilities. To address this gap, we surveyed teachers from a nationally representative sample of U.S. schools to examine elementary science education, including instructional practices, allocation of time, and the inclusion and support of students with disabilities. Our findings reveal that limited instructional time is allocated to science, with significant variability across classrooms. The amount of time dedicated to science instruction was significantly influenced by external factors, such as whether science was a tested subject. Students with disabilities often face additional barriers, including being pulled out of science instruction for special education services, resulting in missed opportunities to engage in science. These findings highlight the need to address opportunity gaps in science instruction to ensure all students have meaningful access to quality science education. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available April 18, 2026
  6. The interstellar medium in the Milky Way’s Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) is known to be strongly magnetised, but its large-scale morphology and impact on the gas dynamics are not well understood. We explore the impact and properties of magnetic fields in the CMZ using three-dimensional non-self gravitating magnetohydrodynamical simulations of gas flow in an external Milky Way barred potential. We find that: (1) The magnetic field is conveniently decomposed into a regular time-averaged component and an irregular turbulent component. The regular component aligns well with the velocity vectors of the gas everywhere, including within the bar lanes. (2) The field geometry transitions from parallel to the Galactic plane near ɀ = 0 to poloidal away from the plane. (3) The magneto-rotational instability (MRI) causes an in-plane inflow of matter from the CMZ gas ring towards the central few parsecs of 0.01−0.1 Myr−1that is absent in the unmagnetised simulations. However, the magnetic fields have no significant effect on the larger-scale bar-driven inflow that brings the gas from the Galactic disc into the CMZ. (4) A combination of bar inflow and MRI-driven turbulence can sustain a turbulent vertical velocity dispersion ofσɀ= 5 km s−1on scales of 20 pc in the CMZ ring. The MRI alone sustains a velocity dispersion ofσɀ≃ 3 km s−1. Both these numbers are lower than the observed velocity dispersion of gas in the CMZ, suggesting that other processes such as stellar feedback are necessary to explain the observations. (5) Dynamo action driven by differential rotation and the MRI amplifies the magnetic fields in the CMZ ring until they saturate at a value that scales with the average local density asB≃ 102 (n/103cm−3)0.33µG. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results within the observational context in the CMZ. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 1, 2025
  7. Inutsuka, Shu-ichiro; Aikawa, Yuri; Muto, Takayuki; Tomida, Kengo; Tamura, Motohide (Ed.)
    The interstellar medium (ISM) contains filamentary structure over a wide range of scales. Understanding the role of this structure, both as a conduit of gas across the scales and a diagnostic tool of local physics, is a major focus of star formation studies. We review recent progress in studying filamentary structure in the ISM, interpreting its properties in terms of physical processes, and exploring formation and evolution scenarios. We include structures from galactic-scale filaments to tenth-of-a-parsec scale filaments, comprising both molecular and atomic structures, from both observational and theoretical perspectives. In addition to the literature overview, we assemble a large amount of catalog data from different surveys and provide the most comprehensive census of filamentary structures to date. Our census consists of 22 803 filamentary structures, facilitating a holistic perspective and new insights. We use our census to conduct a meta-analysis, leading to a description of filament properties over four orders of magnitudes in length and eight in mass. Our analysis emphasize the hierarchical and dynamical nature of filamentary structures. Filaments do not live in isolation, nor they generally resemble static structures close to equilibrium. We propose that accretion during filament formation and evolution sets some of the key scaling properties of filaments. This highlights the role of accretion during filament formation and evolution and also in setting the initial conditions for star formation. Overall, the study of filamentary structures during the past decade has been observationally driven. While great progress has been made on measuring the basic properties of filaments, our understanding of their formation and evolution is clearly lacking. In this context, we identify a number of directions and questions we consider most pressing for the field. 
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  8. Abstract The contemporaneous detection of gravitational waves and gamma rays from GW170817/GRB 170817A, followed by kilonova emission a day after, confirmed compact binary neutron star mergers as progenitors of short-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and cosmic sources of heavy r -process nuclei. However, the nature (and life span) of the merger remnant and the energy reservoir powering these bright gamma-ray flashes remains debated, while the first minutes after the merger are unexplored at optical wavelengths. Here, we report the earliest discovery of bright thermal optical emission associated with short GRB 180618A with extended gamma-ray emission—with ultraviolet and optical multicolor observations starting as soon as 1.4 minutes post-burst. The spectrum is consistent with a fast-fading afterglow and emerging thermal optical emission 15 minutes post-burst, which fades abruptly and chromatically (flux density F ν ∝ t − α , α = 4.6 ± 0.3) just 35 minutes after the GRB. Our observations from gamma rays to optical wavelengths are consistent with a hot nebula expanding at relativistic speeds, powered by the plasma winds from a newborn, rapidly spinning and highly magnetized neutron star (i.e., a millisecond magnetar), whose rotational energy is released at a rate L th ∝ t −(2.22±0.14) to reheat the unbound merger-remnant material. These results suggest that such neutron stars can survive the collapse to a black hole on timescales much larger than a few hundred milliseconds after the merger and power the GRB itself through accretion. Bright thermal optical counterparts to binary merger gravitational wave sources may be common in future wide-field fast-cadence sky surveys. 
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