Young mafic lavas from the East African Western Rift record melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle that was metasomatically modified by multiple tectonic events. We report new isotope data from monogenetic cinder cones near Bufumbira, Uganda, in the Virunga Volcanic Field: Sr-87/Sr-86 = 0.7059-0.7079, e(Nd) = -6.5 to -1.3, e(Hf) = -6.3 to +0.9, Pb-208/Pb-204 = 40.1-40.7, Pb-207/Pb-204 = 15.68-15.75, and Pb-206/Pb-204 = 19.27-19.45. Olivine phenocrysts from the Bufumbira lavas have He-3/He-4 = 6.0-7.4 R-A. The isotopic data, in conjunction with major and trace element systematics, indicate that primitive Bufumbira magmas are derived from two different metasomatized lithospheric source domains. Melts generated by lower degrees of melting record greater contributions from similar to 1 to 2 Ga isotopically enriched garnet-amphibole-phlogopite pyroxenite veins within the lithosphere. As melting progresses, these vein melts become increasingly diluted by melts that originate near the lithosphere/asthenosphere boundary, shifting the isotopic compositions toward the common lithospheric mantle (CLM) proposed by Furman and Graham (1999, ). This similar to 450-500 Ma source domain appears to underlie all Western Rift volcanic provinces and is characterized by Sr-87/Sr-86 similar to 0.705, e(Nd) similar to 0, e(Hf) similar to +1 to +3, Pb-206/Pb-204 similar to 19.0-19.2, Pb-208/Pb-204 similar to 39.7, and He-3/He-4 similar to 7 R-A. Basal portions of the dense subcontinental lithospheric mantle may become gravitationally unstable and founder into underlying warmer asthenosphere, exposing surfaces where melting of locally heterogeneous veins produces small-volume, alkaline mafic melts. Mafic lavas from all Western Rift volcanic provinces record mixing between the CLM and locally variable metasomatized source domains, suggesting this style of melt generation is fundamental to the development of magma-poor rifts.

Super-Earths span a wide range of bulk densities, indicating a diversity in interior conditions beyond that seen in the solar system. In particular, an emerging population of low-density super-Earths may be explained by volatile-rich interiors. Among these, low-density lava worlds have dayside temperatures that are high enough to evaporate their surfaces, providing a unique opportunity to probe their interior compositions and test for the presence of volatiles. In this work, we investigate the atmospheric observability of low-density lava worlds. We use a radiative-convective model to explore the atmospheric structures and emission spectra of these planets, focusing on three case studies with high observability metrics and substellar temperatures spanning & SIM;1900-2800 K: HD 86226 c, HD 3167 b, and 55 Cnc e. Given the possibility of mixed volatile and silicate interior compositions for these planets, we consider a range of mixed volatile and rock-vapor atmospheric compositions. This includes a range of volatile fractions and three volatile compositions: water-rich (100% H2O), water with CO2 (80% H2O+20% CO2), and a desiccated O-rich scenario (67% O-2+33% CO2). We find that spectral features due to H2O, CO2, SiO, and SiO2 are present in the infrared emission spectra as either emission or absorption features, depending on dayside temperature, volatile fraction, and volatile composition. We further simulate JWST secondary-eclipse observations for each of the three case studies, finding that H2O and/or CO2 could be detected with as few as & SIM;five eclipses. Detecting volatiles in these atmospheres would provide crucial independent evidence that volatile-rich interiors exist among the super-Earth population.

The maize female gametophyte contains four cell types: two synergids, an egg cell, a central cell, and a variable number of antipodal cells. In maize, these cells are produced after three rounds of free-nuclear divisions followed by cellularization, differentiation, and proliferation of the antipodal cells. Cellularization of the eight-nucleate syncytium produces seven cells with two polar nuclei in the central cell. Nuclear localization is tightly controlled in the embryo sac. This leads to precise allocation of the nuclei into the cells upon cellularization. Nuclear positioning within the syncytium is highly correlated with their identity after cellularization. Two mutants are described with extra polar nuclei, abnormal antipodal cell morphology, and reduced antipodal cell number, as well as frequent loss of antipodal cell marker expression. Mutations in one of these genes, indeterminate gametophyte2 encoding a MICROTUBULE ASSOCIATED PROTEIN65-3 homolog, shows a requirement for MAP65-3 in cellularization of the syncytial embryo sac as well as for normal seed development. The timing of the effects of ig2 suggests that the identity of the nuclei in the syncytial female gametophyte can be changed very late before cellularization.

Iron hydride in Earth's interior can be formed by the reaction between hydrous minerals (water) and iron. Studying iron hydride improves our understanding of hydrogen transportation in Earth's interior. Our high-pressure experiments found that face-centered cubic (fcc) FeHx (x < 1) is stable up to 165 GPa, and our ab initio molecular dynamics simulations predicted that fcc FeHx transforms to a superionic state under lower mantle conditions. In the superionic state, H-ions in fcc FeH become highly diffusive-like fluids with a high diffusion coefficient of-3.7 x 10-4 cm2s �1, which is comparable to that in the liquid Fe-H phase. The densities and melting temperatures of fcc FeHx were systematically calculated. Similar to superionic ice, the extra entropy of diffusive H-ions increases the melting temperature of fcc FeH. The wide stability field of fcc FeH enables hydrogen transport into the outer core to create a potential hydrogen reservoir in Earth's interior, leaving oxygen-rich patches (ORP) above the core mantle boundary (CMB). & COPY; 2023 Science China Press. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science China Press. All rights reserved.

The evolution of eukaryotic life was predicated on the development of organelles such as mitochondria and plastids. During this complex process of organellogenesis, the host cell and the engulfed prokaryote became genetically codependent, with the integration of genes from the endosymbiont into the host nuclear genome and subsequent gene loss from the endosymbiont. This process required that horizontally transferred genes become active and properly regulated despite inherent differences in genetic features between donor (endosymbiont) and recipient (host). Although this genetic reorganization is considered critical for early stages of organellogenesis, we have little knowledge about the mechanisms governing this process. The photosynthetic amoeba Paulinella micropora offers a unique opportunity to study early evolutionary events associated with organellogenesis and primary endosymbiosis. This amoeba harbors a "chromatophore," a nascent photosynthetic organelle derived from a relatively recent cyanobacterial association (similar to 120 million years ago) that is independent of the evolution of primary plastids in plants (initiated similar to 1.5 billion years ago). Analysis of the genome and transcriptome of Paulinella revealed that retrotransposition of endosymbiont-derived nuclear genes was critical for their domestication in the host. These retrocopied genes involved in photoprotection in cyanobacteria became expanded gene families and were "rewired," acquiring light-responsive regulatory elements that function in the host. The establishment of host control of endosymbiont-derived genes likely enabled the cell to withstand photo-oxidative stress generated by oxygenic photosynthesis in the nascent organelle. These results provide insights into the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary pressures that facilitated the metabolic integration of the host-endosymbiont association and sustained the evolution of a photosynthetic organelle.

Na-rich antiperovskites are recently developed solid electrolytes with enhanced sodium ionic conductivity and show promising functionality as a novel solid electrolyte in an all solid-state battery. In this work, the sodium ionic transport pathways of the parent compound Na3OBr, as well as the modified layered antiperovskite Na4OI2, were studied and compared through temperature-dependent neutron diffraction combined with the maximum entropy method. In the cubic Na30Br antiperovskite, the nuclear density distribution maps at SOO K indicate that sodium ions hop within and among oxygen octahedra, and Br- ions are not involved. In the tetragonal Na4OI2 antiperovskite, Na ions, which connect octahedra in the oh plane, have the lowest activation energy barrier. The transport of sodium ions along the c axis is assisted by I- ions.

Materials with an abrupt volume collapse of more than 20% during a pressure-induced phase transition are rarely reported. In such an intriguing phenomenon, the lattice may be coupled with dramatic changes of orbital and/or the spin-state of the transition metal. A combined in situ crystallography and electron spin-state study to probe the mechanism of the pressure-driven lattice collapse in MnS and MnSe is presented. Both materials exhibit a rocksalt-to-MnP phase transition under compression with ca. 22% unit-cell volume changes, which was found to be coupled with the Mn2+(d(5)) spin-state transition from S = 5/2 to S = 1/2 and the formation of Mn-Mn intermetallic bonds as supported by the metallic transport behavior of their high-pressure phases. Our results reveal the mutual relationship between pressure-driven lattice collapse and the orbital/spin-state of Mn2+ in manganese chalcogenides and also provide deeper insights toward the exploration of new metastable phases with exceptional functionalities.

Employing particle swarm optimization (PSO) combined with first-principles calculations, we systemically studied high-pressure behaviors of hard CrB4. Our predictions reveal a distinct structural evolution under pressure for CrB4 despite having the same initial structure as FeB4. CrB4 is found to adopt a new P2/m structure above 196 GPa, another Pm structure at a pressure range of 261-294 GPa and then a Pmma structure beyond 294 GPa. Instead of puckering boron sheets in the initial structure, the high-pressure phases have planar boron sheets with different motifs upon compression. Comparatively, FeB4 prefers an I4(1)/acd structure over 48 GPa with tetrahedron B-4 units and a P2(1)3 structure above 231 GPa having equilateral triangle B-3 units. Significantly, CrB4 exhibits persistent metallic behavior in contrast with the semiconducting features of FeB4 upon compression. The varied pressure response of hard tetraborides studied here is of importance for understanding boron-rich compounds and designing new materials with superlative properties.

First-principles calculations were performed to understand the structural stability, synthesis routes, mechanical and electronic properties of diverse ruthenium nitrides. RuN with a new I-4m2 symmetry stabilized by pressure is found to be energetically preferred over the experimental NaCl-type and ZnS-type ones. The Pnnm-RuN2 is found to be stable above 1.1 GPa, in agreement with the experimental results. Specifically, new stoichiometries like RuN3 and RuN4 are proposed firstly to be thermodynamically stable, and the dynamical and mechanical stabilities of the newly predicted structures have been verified by checking their phonon spectra and elastic constants. A phase transition from P4/mmm-RuN4 to C2/c-RuN4 is also uncovered at 23.0 GPa. Drawn from bonding and band structure analysis, P4/mmm-RuN4 exhibits semi-metal-like behavior and becomes a semiconductor for the high-pressure C2/c-RuN4 phase. Meanwhile the P2(1)/c-RuN3 shows metallic feature. Highly directional covalent N-N and Ru-N bonds are formed and dominating in N-enriched Ru nitrides, making them promising hard materials.