Julkaisuarkisto

A new species, Breynia phuongiana (Phyllanthaceae subgen. Sauropus), is described and illustrated from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It is morphologically similar to B. beillei, B. bonii, and B. thorelii, but differs in having oblong-elliptic leaves, sepals marked with reddish striations, an androphore exceeding 1 mm in length, and distinctly hexagonal, starfish-shaped fruits with erect and persistent stigmas. A detailed morphological comparison with related species is provided. A preliminary conservation assessment categorizes it as ‘Data Deficient' (DD) based on IUCN Red List criteria.

Near-Earth asteroids such as Itokawa and Eros provide valuable insights into the collisional and surface evolution of the inner solar system. As S-type asteroids, their surfaces are altered by space weathering (SW) from solar wind and micrometeorite impacts. Because SW progresses over time, it serves as a proxy for estimating surface exposure ages, revealing resurfacing and geologic histories. This study estimates the SW ages at the present conditions of Itokawa and Eros using a machine learning model developed by L. Palamakumbure et al. The ensemble model was trained on laboratory reflectance spectra of irradiated silicate samples (olivine, pyroxene, mixtures, and chondrites) to capture spectral changes due to SW. Asteroid spectra were obtained from the Near Infrared Spectrometer (Hayabusa) dataset for Itokawa and the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NEAR Shoemaker) dataset for Eros via NASA Planetary Data System. SW ages for Itokawa range from 1.9 kyr to 2.5 Gyr, reflecting alteration from both solar wind and micrometeorite impacts. Eros, in contrast, shows older SW ages (0.4 to 2 Gyr), dominated by micrometeorite effects. These results align with previous studies and Hayabusa sample analyses, confirming Itokawa’s young surfaces are influenced by solar wind, with older, less disturbed regions such as Arcoona. Eros displays more uniformly mature surfaces, with localized relatively young areas linked to cratering or regolith movement. The contrasting SW ages highlight how asteroid size, regolith behavior, and orbital characteristics influence SW processes. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of machine learning for reconstructing surface exposure histories on airless bodies.

Collisionless shocks are fundamental accelerators of energetic particles, yet the observations of nonlinear foreshock structures, which are essential in acceleration processes, differ significantly between interplanetary (IP) shocks and planetary bow shocks. We present a direct comparison of two high-Mach-number, quasi-parallel shocks: an IP shock observed by Solar Orbiter and the Earth’s bow shock measured by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission during the 2024–2025 “string-of-pearls” campaign. We show that foreshock compressive structures (FCSs) initiate upstream of both shocks at similar normalized distances (≲50 ion inertial lengths, d_i) when the suprathermal (>10 keV) ion density exceeds ∼1% of the background. However, the IP shock lacks the fully evolved, high-amplitude short large-amplitude magnetic structures characteristic of the terrestrial foreshock. We demonstrate that the “growth zone” capable of sustaining these structures is spatially limited (∼135 d_i), which, due to the high speed of the propagating IP shock, corresponds to a brief observational window of <10 s. Beyond this observational constraint, we suggest an additional physical mechanism that can inhibit foreshock maturity at IP shocks. The lack of global curvature prevents the lateral supply (“cross talk”) of energetic ions from different shock regions. These findings suggest that while the fundamental physics of FCS initiation is unified across collisionless shocks, the achievement of full nonlinearity can be regulated by the unique shock geometry and upstream properties while ultimately remaining observationally challenging to identify.

Aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) offer a scalable pathway for long-duration energy storage, yet their performance is often limited by the solubility, stability, or kinetic behavior of organic redox materials. We report a molecular design strategy based on the N-alkylation of 5,8-difluoro-2-aza-anthraquinone to access a new class of quaternized pyridinium salts (AAQ-1, AAQ-2, AAQ-3). N-alkylation of the pyridinium group enhanced solubility and enabled the tuning of redox behavior. AAQ-1 displayed superior electrochemical characteristics, including high solubility (847 mM in 2 M H₂SO₄) and fast charge transfer kinetics (k⁰ = 2.6 × 10⁻² cm/s). Full-cell tests at both low and high concentrations further demonstrated very good stability, with a small capacity fade of 0.05% per day at high concentration, reaching a volumetric capacity of 25.6 Ah/L and a theoretical maximum of 43.4 Ah/L. AAQ-3 showed stable cycling at low concentration with small capacity decay of 0.46% per day. Post-mortem analyses on AAQ-1 revealed no structural degradation. Additionally, Pourbaix analysis confirmed a 2e⁻/2H⁺ proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism active under acidic conditions. This work introduces a practical, scalable, and tuneable redox platform for AOFBs. Through functional design, we demonstrate the feasibility of high-performance organic negolytes for long-duration, sustainable energy storage systems.

This article examines the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) position following the 2025 federal election, considering whether the party is entering a stage of decline, sustaining its previous support, or moving toward greater ascendancy. The analysis assesses changes in voter demographics, regional dynamics, and issue salience to identify patterns of continuity or transformation in the party's base. We also define potential future issues, including continued dissatisfaction with the previous Ampel coalition and the grand coalition that replaced it, backlash against the end of the debt brake, and the perceived weakness of Friedrich Merz as a leader. In light of recent efforts to classify the AfD as an extremist party, the article evaluates how the party's evolving strategy and public perception may influence its capacity to shape party competition and national policymaking. Finally, it explores whether the AfD's post-2025 trajectory signals a tipping point in the normalization of far-right politics in Germany or a plateau in its influence, with broader implications for democratic stability in advanced democracies.