ALBERT

Description: Article The confined surface plasmon-polariton modes in plasmonic waveguides are a promising platform for single-photon manipulation in small, coplanar architectures. Here, Bermúdez Ureña et al . demonstrate efficient coupling of a single quantum emitter to the supported modes of a V-groove plasmonic waveguide. Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/ncomms8883 Authors: Esteban Bermúdez-Ureña, Carlos Gonzalez-Ballestero, Michael Geiselmann, Renaud Marty, Ilya P. Radko, Tobias Holmgaard, Yury Alaverdyan, Esteban Moreno, Francisco J. García-Vidal, Sergey I. Bozhevolnyi, Romain Quidant

Description: The new minerals bobcookite (IMA 2014-030), NaAl(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 4 ·18H 2 O and wetherillite (IMA 2014-044), Na 2 Mg(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 4 ·18H 2 O, were found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where they occur together as secondary alteration phases in association with boyleite, chalcanthite, dietrichite, gypsum, hexahydrite, johannite, pickeringite and rozenite. Bobcookite descriptive details: lime green to greenish-yellow massive veins and columnar crystals; transparent; vitreous lustre; bright greenish-white fluorescence; pale greenish yellow streak; hardness (Mohs) 21/2; brittle; conchoidal fracture; no cleavage; moderately hygroscopic; easily soluble in cold H 2 O; density calc = 2.669 g cm –3 . Optically, biaxial (–), α = 1.501(1), β = 1.523(1), = 1.536(1) (white light); 2V meas. = 78(1)°; 2V calc. = 74°; dispersion r 〈 v , moderate. Pleochroism: X colourless, Y very pale yellow-green, Z pale yellow-green; X 〈 Y 〈 Z . EDS analyses yielded the empirical formula Na 0.97 Al 1.09 (U 1.02 O 2 ) 2 (S 0.98 O 4 ) 4 (H 2 O) 18 . Bobcookite is triclinic, P 1I, a = 7.7912(2), b = 10.5491(3), c = 11.2451(8) Å, α = 68.961(5), β = 70.909(5), = 87.139(6)°, V = 812.79(8) Å 3 and Z = 1. The structure ( R 1 = 1.65% for 3580 F o 〉 4 F ) contains [(UO 2 )(SO 4 ) 2 (H 2 O)] chains linked by NaO 4 (H 2 O) 2 octahedra to form layers. Hydrogen bonds to insular Al(H 2 O) 6 octahedra and isolated H 2 O groups hold the structure together. The mineral is named for Dr Robert (Bob) B. Cook of Auburn University, Alabama, USA. Wetherillite descriptive details: pale greenish-yellow blades; transparent; vitreous lustre; white streak; hardness (Mohs) 2; brittle; two cleavages, {101I} perfect and {010} fair; conchoidal or curved fracture; easily soluble in cold H 2 O; density calc = 2.626 g cm –3 . Optically, biaxial (+), α = 1.498(1), β = 1.508(1), = 1.519(1) (white light); 2V meas. = 88(1)°, 2V calc. = 87.9°; dispersion is r 〈 v , distinct; optical orientation: Z = b, X ^ a = 54° in obtuse β; pleochroism: X colourless, Y pale yellow-green, Z pale yellow-green; X 〈 Y Z . EDS analyses yielded the empirical formula Na 1.98 (Mg 0.58 Zn 0.24 Cu 0.11 $${\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.09}^{2+}$$ ) 1.02 (U 1.04 O 2 ) 2 (S 0.98 O 4 ) 4 (H 2 O) 18 . Wetherillite is monoclinic, P 2 1 / c, a = 20.367(1), b = 6.8329(1), c = 12.903(3) Å, β = 107.879(10)°, V = 1709.0(5) Å 3 and Z = 2. The structure ( R 1 = 1.39% for 3625 F o 〉 4 F ) contains [(UO 2 )(SO 4 ) 2 (H 2 O)] sheets parallel to {100}. Edge-sharing chains of Na(H 2 O) 5 O polyhedra link adjacent uranyl sulfate sheets forming a weakly bonded three-layer sandwich. The sandwich layers are linked to one another by hydrogen bonds through insular Mg(H 2 O) 6 octahedra and isolated H 2 O groups. The mineral is named for John Wetherill (1866–1944) and George W. Wetherill (1925–2006).

Description: Nature Physics 12, 767 (2016). doi:10.1038/nphys3733 Authors: Ingo C. F. Müller-Wodarg, Sean Bruinsma, Jean-Charles Marty & Håkan Svedhem Waves are ubiquitous phenomena found in oceans and atmospheres alike. From the earliest formal studies of waves in the Earth’s atmosphere to more recent studies on other planets, waves have been shown to play a key role in shaping atmospheric bulk structure, dynamics and variability. Yet, waves are difficult to characterize as they ideally require in situ measurements of atmospheric properties that are difficult to obtain away from Earth. Thus, we have incomplete knowledge of atmospheric waves on planets other than our own, and we are thereby limited in our ability to understand and predict planetary atmospheres. Here we report the first ever in situ observations of atmospheric waves in Venus’s thermosphere (130–140 km) at high latitudes (71.5°–79.0°). These measurements were made by the Venus Express Atmospheric Drag Experiment (VExADE) during aerobraking from 24 June to 11 July 2014. As the spacecraft flew through Venus’s atmosphere, deceleration by atmospheric drag was sufficient to obtain from accelerometer readings a total of 18 vertical density profiles. We infer an average temperature of T = 114 ± 23 K and find horizontal wave-like density perturbations and mean temperatures being modulated at a quasi-5-day period.

Description: Chondritic xenon in the Earth’s mantle Nature 533, 7601 (2016). doi:10.1038/nature17434 Authors: Antonio Caracausi, Guillaume Avice, Peter G. Burnard, Evelyn Füri & Bernard Marty Noble gas isotopes are powerful tracers of the origins of planetary volatiles, and the accretion and evolution of the Earth. The compositions of magmatic gases provide insights into the evolution of the Earth’s mantle and atmosphere. Despite recent analytical progress in the study of planetary materials and mantle-derived gases, the possible dual origin of the planetary gases in the mantle and the atmosphere remains unconstrained. Evidence relating to the relationship between the volatiles within our planet and the potential cosmochemical end-members is scarce. Here we show, using high-precision analysis of magmatic gas from the Eifel volcanic area (in Germany), that the light xenon isotopes identify a chondritic primordial component that differs from the precursor of atmospheric xenon. This is consistent with an asteroidal origin for the volatiles in the Earth’s mantle, and indicates that the volatiles in the atmosphere and mantle originated from distinct cosmochemical sources. Furthermore, our data are consistent with the origin of Eifel magmatism being a deep mantle plume. The corresponding mantle source has been isolated from the convective mantle since about 4.45 billion years ago, in agreement with models that predict the early isolation of mantle domains. Xenon isotope systematics support a clear distinction between mid-ocean-ridge and continental or oceanic plume sources, with chemical heterogeneities dating back to the Earth’s accretion. The deep reservoir now sampled by the Eifel gas had a lower volatile/refractory (iodine/plutonium) composition than the shallower mantle sampled by mid-ocean-ridge volcanism, highlighting the increasing contribution of volatile-rich material during the first tens of millions of years of terrestrial accretion.

Description: A comprehensive transcriptional map of primate brain development Nature 535, 7612 (2016). doi:10.1038/nature18637 Authors: Trygve E. Bakken, Jeremy A. Miller, Song-Lin Ding, Susan M. Sunkin, Kimberly A. Smith, Lydia Ng, Aaron Szafer, Rachel A. Dalley, Joshua J. Royall, Tracy Lemon, Sheila Shapouri, Kaylynn Aiona, James Arnold, Jeffrey L. Bennett, Darren Bertagnolli, Kristopher Bickley, Andrew Boe, Krissy Brouner, Stephanie Butler, Emi Byrnes, Shiella Caldejon, Anita Carey, Shelby Cate, Mike Chapin, Jefferey Chen, Nick Dee, Tsega Desta, Tim A. Dolbeare, Nadia Dotson, Amanda Ebbert, Erich Fulfs, Garrett Gee, Terri L. Gilbert, Jeff Goldy, Lindsey Gourley, Ben Gregor, Guangyu Gu, Jon Hall, Zeb Haradon, David R. Haynor, Nika Hejazinia, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Robert Howard, Jay Jochim, Marty Kinnunen, Ali Kriedberg, Chihchau L. Kuan, Christopher Lau, Chang-Kyu Lee, Felix Lee, Lon Luong, Naveed Mastan, Ryan May, Jose Melchor, Nerick Mosqueda, Erika Mott, Kiet Ngo, Julie Nyhus, Aaron Oldre, Eric Olson, Jody Parente, Patrick D. Parker, Sheana Parry, Julie Pendergraft, Lydia Potekhina, Melissa Reding, Zackery L. Riley, Tyson Roberts, Brandon Rogers, Kate Roll, David Rosen, David Sandman, Melaine Sarreal, Nadiya Shapovalova, Shu Shi, Nathan Sjoquist, Andy J. Sodt, Robbie Townsend, Lissette Velasquez, Udi Wagley, Wayne B. Wakeman, Cassandra White, Crissa Bennett, Jennifer Wu, Rob Young, Brian L. Youngstrom, Paul Wohnoutka, Richard A. Gibbs, Jeffrey Rogers, John G. Hohmann, Michael J. Hawrylycz, Robert F. Hevner, Zoltán Molnár, John W. Phillips, Chinh Dang, Allan R. Jones, David G. Amaral, Amy Bernard & Ed S. Lein The transcriptional underpinnings of brain development remain poorly understood, particularly in humans and closely related non-human primates. We describe a high-resolution transcriptional atlas of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) brain development that combines dense temporal sampling of prenatal and postnatal periods with fine anatomical

Description: 〈div data-abstract-type="normal"〉〈p〉Magnesioleydetite (IMA2017-063), Mg(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉2〈/span〉·11H〈span〉2〈/span〉O, and straβmannite (IMA2017-086), Al(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉2〈/span〉F·16H〈span〉2〈/span〉O, are two new minerals from mines in Red Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Magnesioleydetite occurs in the Markey mine and straβmannite occurs in both the Markey and Green Lizard mines. Both minerals are secondary phases found in efflorescent crusts on the surfaces of mine walls. Magnesioleydetite occurs in irregular aggregates (to ~0.5 mm) of blades (to ~0.2 mm) exhibiting the following properties: transparent to translucent; pale green–yellow colour; vitreous lustre; white streak; non-fluorescent; brittle; Mohs hardness ≈ 2; irregular fracture; one perfect cleavage on {001}; and calculated density = 2.463 g/cm〈span〉3〈/span〉. Straβmannite occurs in irregular aggregates (to ~0.5 mm) of equant crystals (to ~0.2 mm) exhibiting the following properties: transparent; light yellow–green colour; vitreous to greasy lustre; nearly white streak; bright greenish-blue fluorescence; somewhat brittle, Mohs hardness ≈ 1½; irregular fracture; one good cleavage on {001}; measured and calculated densities of 2.20(2) and 2.173 g/cm〈span〉3〈/span〉, respectively; optically biaxial (–); α = 1.477(2), β = 1.485(2) and γ = 1.489(2) (white light); 2V〈span〉meas.〈/span〉 = 72(2)°; dispersion 〈span〉r〈/span〉 〉 〈span〉v〈/span〉 (slight); orientation 〈span〉Y〈/span〉 = 〈span〉b〈/span〉, 〈span〉X〈/span〉 ∧ 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 20° (in obtuse β); pleochroism with 〈span〉X〈/span〉 = nearly colourless, 〈span〉Y〈/span〉 = pale green–yellow and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = light green–yellow (〈span〉X〈/span〉 Y Z). The empirical formulas for magnesioleydetite and straβmannite are (Mg〈span〉0.56〈/span〉Fe〈span〉0.26〈/span〉Zn〈span〉0.11〈/span〉Mn〈span〉0.01〈/span〉)〈span〉Σ0.94〈/span〉(U〈span〉0.99〈/span〉O〈span〉2〈/span〉)(S〈span〉1.015〈/span〉O〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉2〈/span〉·11H〈span〉2〈/span〉O and Al〈span〉1.00〈/span〉Na〈span〉0.16〈/span〉(U〈span〉0.99〈/span〉O〈span〉2〈/span〉)(S〈span〉1.00〈/span〉O〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉2〈/span〉[F〈span〉0.58〈/span〉(OH)〈span〉0.42〈/span〉]·16H〈span〉2〈/span〉O, respectively. Magnesioleydetite is monoclinic, 〈span〉C〈/span〉2/〈span〉c〈/span〉, 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 11.3513(3), 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 7.7310(2), 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 21.7957(15) Å, β = 102.387(7)°, 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 1868.19(16) Å〈span〉3〈/span〉 and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 4. Straβmannite is monoclinic, 〈span〉C〈/span〉2/〈span〉c〈/span〉, 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 11.0187(5), 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 8.3284(3), 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 26.6727(19) Å, β = 97.426(7)°, 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 2427.2(2) and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 4. The structures of magnesioleydetite (〈span〉R〈/span〉〈span〉1〈/span〉 = 0.016 for 2040 〈span〉I〈/span〉 〉 2σ〈span〉I〈/span〉 reflections) and straβmannite (〈span〉R〈/span〉〈span〉1〈/span〉 = 0.0343 for 2220 〈span〉I〈/span〉 〉 2σ〈span〉I〈/span〉 reflections) each contain uranyl-sulfate sheets based on the protasite-anion topology.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈div data-abstract-type="normal"〉〈p〉The new mineral ammoniomathesiusite (NH〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉5〈/span〉(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)〈span〉4〈/span〉(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉4〈/span〉(VO〈span〉5〈/span〉)·4H〈span〉2〈/span〉O, was found in the Burro mine, San Miguel County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as a secondary phase on asphaltum/quartz matrix in association with ammoniozippeite, gypsum, jarosite and natrozippeite. The mineral forms pale yellow to greenish-yellow prisms, up to ~0.3 mm long, with pale-yellow streak and bright yellow–green fluorescence. Crystals are transparent and have vitreous lustre. The mineral is brittle, with Mohs hardness of 2½, stepped fracture and two cleavages: excellent on {110} and good on {001}. The calculated density is 3.672 g/cm〈span〉3〈/span〉. Ammoniomathesiusite is optically uniaxial (–) with ω = 1.653(2) and ε = 1.609(2) (white light). Pleochroism is: 〈span〉O〈/span〉 = green-yellow, 〈span〉E〈/span〉 = colourless; 〈span〉O〈/span〉 〉 〈span〉E〈/span〉. Electron microprobe analyses yielded the empirical formula [(NH〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉4.75〈/span〉(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)〈span〉4〈/span〉(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉4〈/span〉(VO〈span〉5〈/span〉)·4(H〈span〉2.07〈/span〉O). The five strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [〈span〉d〈/span〉〈span〉obs〈/span〉 Å(〈span〉I〈/span〉)(〈span〉hkl〈/span〉)]: 10.57(46)(110), 7.10(62)(001), 6.41(100)(101), 3.340(35)(240) and 3.226(44)(141). Ammoniomathesiusite is tetragonal, 〈span〉P〈/span〉4/〈span〉n〈/span〉 with 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 14.9405(9), 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 7.1020(5) Å, 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 1585.3(2) Å〈span〉3〈/span〉 and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 2. The structure of ammoniomathesiusite (〈span〉R〈/span〉〈span〉1〈/span〉 = 0.0218 for 3427 〈span〉I〈/span〉 〉 2σ〈span〉I〈/span〉) contains heteropolyhedral sheets based on [(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)〈span〉4〈/span〉(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉4〈/span〉(VO〈span〉5〈/span〉)]〈span〉5–〈/span〉 clusters. The structure is identical to that of mathesiusite, with 〈span〉〈span〉〈img data-mimesubtype="gif" data-type="simple" src="http://static.cambridge.org/resource/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20190313104343836-0311:S0026461X18001123:S0026461X18001123_inline1.gif"〉 〈span data-mathjax-type="texmath"〉 〈/span〉 〈/span〉〈/span〉 in place of K〈span〉+〈/span〉.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: Despite constituting a widespread and significant environmental change, understanding of artificial nighttime skyglow is extremely limited. Until now, published monitoring studies have been local or regional in scope, and typically of short duration. In this first major international compilation of monitoring data we answer several key questions about skyglow properties. Skyglow is observed to vary over four orders of magnitude, a range hundreds of times larger than was the case before artificial light. Nearly all of the study sites were polluted by artificial light. A non-linear relationship is observed between the sky brightness on clear and overcast nights, with a change in behavior near the rural to urban landuse transition. Overcast skies ranged from a third darker to almost 18 times brighter than clear. Clear sky radiances estimated by the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness were found to be overestimated by ~25%; our dataset will play an important role in the calibration and ground truthing of future skyglow models. Most of the brightly lit sites darkened as the night progressed, typically by ~5% per hour. The great variation in skyglow radiance observed from site-to-site and with changing meteorological conditions underlines the need for a long-term international monitoring program. Scientific Reports 5 doi: 10.1038/srep08409

Description: Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) alteration was studied with flow-through experiments at 25°C and pH 9.2. Three materials with apparent Ca/Si ratios (C/S ratios) of 1.47, 1.38 and 0.86 were investigated. Physical (thermogravimetric analyses/differential thermal analysis), mineralogical (X-ray diffraction) and chemical (electron probe microanalysis, transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry) analyses were performed to characterize the reacting minerals. Initial stoichiometric C/S ratios were 1.22, 1.22 and 0.85, respectively. The excess of Ca is attributed mainly to the presence of calcium hydroxide intimately mixed in with C-S-H particles. The C-S-H chemical compositions were monitored during flow-through experiments in order to determine the mineral stoichiometry needed for reaction kinetics. Under our experimental conditions the stoichiometric C/S ratios decreased continuously with time. A close to stoichiometric dissolution was observed after 2 days of experiments. Using an integrated approach, the kinetics was found to be a function of the C/S. A decrease in layer-to-layer distance in the early stage of the alteration process is interpreted as interlayer Ca/Na exchange (Na being part of the pH buffering solution). A second dissolution step, marked by a close to stoichiometric release of Ca and Si, undoubtedly results from layer dissolution. The structural similarity of C-S-H and tobermorite was confirmed.

Description: 〈div data-abstract-type="normal"〉〈p〉The new mineral feynmanite, Na(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)(OH)·3.5H〈span〉2〈/span〉O, was found in both the Blue Lizard and Markey mines, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as a secondary phase on pyrite-rich asphaltum in association with chinleite-(Y), gypsum, goethite, natrojarosite, natrozippeite, plášilite, shumwayite (Blue Lizard) and wetherillite (Markey). The mineral is pale greenish yellow with a white streak and fluoresces bright greenish white under a 405 nm laser. Crystals are transparent with a vitreous lustre. It is brittle, with a Mohs hardness of ~2, irregular fracture and one perfect cleavage on {010}. The calculated density is 3.324 g cm〈span〉–3〈/span〉. Crystals are thin needles or blades, flattened on {010} and elongate on [100], exhibiting the forms {010}, {001}, {101} and {10〈span〉〈span〉〈img data-mimesubtype="gif" data-type="simple" src="http://static.cambridge.org/resource/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20190522072108342-0385:S0026461X18001172:S0026461X18001172_inline1.gif"〉 〈span data-mathjax-type="texmath"〉 〈/span〉 〈/span〉〈/span〉}, and are up to ~0.1 mm in length. Feynmanite is optically biaxial (–), with α = 1.534(2), β = 1.561(2) and γ = 1.571(2) (white light); 2V〈span〉meas.〈/span〉 = 62(2)°; no dispersion; and optical orientation: 〈span〉X〈/span〉 = 〈span〉b〈/span〉, 〈span〉Y〈/span〉 ≈ 〈span〉a,〈/span〉〈span〉Z〈/span〉 ≈ 〈span〉c〈/span〉. It is weakly pleochroic: 〈span〉X〈/span〉 = colourless, 〈span〉Y〈/span〉 = very pale green yellow and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = pale green yellow (〈span〉X〈/span〉 Y Z). Electron microprobe analyses (WDS mode) provided (Na〈span〉0.84〈/span〉Fe〈span〉0.01〈/span〉)(U〈span〉1.01〈/span〉O〈span〉2〈/span〉)(S〈span〉1.01〈/span〉O〈span〉4〈/span〉)(OH)·3.5H〈span〉2〈/span〉O. The five strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [〈span〉d〈/span〉〈span〉obs〈/span〉 Å(〈span〉I〈/span〉)(〈span〉hkl〈/span〉)]: 8.37(100)(010), 6.37(33)(〈span〉〈span〉〈img data-mimesubtype="gif" data-type="simple" src="http://static.cambridge.org/resource/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20190522072108342-0385:S0026461X18001172:S0026461X18001172_inline2.gif"〉 〈span data-mathjax-type="texmath"〉 〈/span〉 〈/span〉〈/span〉01,101), 5.07(27)(〈span〉〈span〉〈img data-mimesubtype="gif" data-type="simple" src="http://static.cambridge.org/resource/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20190522072108342-0385:S0026461X18001172:S0026461X18001172_inline3.gif"〉 〈span data-mathjax-type="texmath"〉 〈/span〉 〈/span〉〈/span〉11,111), 4.053(46)(004,021) and 3.578(34)(120). Feynmanite is monoclinic, has space group 〈span〉P〈/span〉2/〈span〉n〈/span〉, 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 6.927(3), 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 8.355(4), 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 16.210(7) Å, β = 90.543(4)°, 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 938.1(7) Å〈span〉3〈/span〉 and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 4. The structure of feynmanite (〈span〉R〈/span〉〈span〉1〈/span〉 = 0.0371 for 1879 〈span〉I〈/span〉〈span〉o〈/span〉 〉 2σ〈span〉I〈/span〉) contains edge-sharing pairs of pentagonal bipyramids that are linked by sharing corners with SO〈span〉4〈/span〉 groups, yielding a [(UO〈span〉2〈/span〉)〈span〉2〈/span〉(SO〈span〉4〈/span〉)〈span〉2〈/span〉(OH)〈span〉2〈/span〉]〈span〉2–〈/span〉 sheet based on the phosphuranylite anion topology. The sheet is topologically identical to those in deliensite, johannite and plášilite. The dehydration of feynmanite to plášilite results in interlayer collapse involving geometric reconfiguration of the sheets and the ordering of Na.〈/p〉〈/div〉