A Detailed Earthquake Catalog for Banda Arc–Australian Plate Collision Zone Using Machine-Learning Phase Picker and an Automated Workflow

The tectonic setting of Timor–Leste and Eastern Indonesia comprises of a complex transition from oceanic lithosphere subduction to arc-continental collision. To better understand the deformation and convergent-zone structure of the region, we derive a new catalog of earthquake hypocenters and magnitudes from a temporary deployment of five years of continuous seismic data using an automated processing procedure. This includes a machine-learning phase picker, EQTransformer, and a sequential earthquake association and location workflow. We detect and locate ∼19,000 events during 2014–2018, which demonstrates that it is possible to characterize earthquake sequences from raw seismic data using a well-trained machine-learning picker for a complex convergent plate setting. This study provides the most complete catalog available for the region for the duration of the temporary deployment, which includes a complex pattern of crustal events across the collision zone and into the back-arc, as well as abundant deep slab seismicity.

Influence of Different Heater Structures on the Temperature Field of AlN Crystal Growth by Resistance Heating

Based on the actual hot zone structure of an AlN crystal growth resistance furnace, the global numerical simulation on the heat transfer process in the AlN crystal growth was performed. The influence of different heater structures on the growth of AlN crystals was investigated. It was found that the top heater can effectively reduce the axial temperature gradient, and the side heater 2 has a similar effect on the axial gradient, but the effect feedback is slightly weaker. The axial temperature gradient tends to increase when the bottom heater is added to the furnace, and the adjustable range of the axial temperature gradient of the side 1 heater + bottom heater mode is the largest. Our work will provide important reference values for AlN crystal growth by the resistance method.

Microring Zone Structure for Near-Field Probes

Recent advances in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technologies have shown the possibility of transmission enhancement of localized modes propagating through sub-diffraction wide slits and apertures, resulting in the strong near-field focusing of metallic planar nanostructures. This work presents a new approach to the fabrication of high-resolution near-field optical probes using 3D lithography in combination with numerical finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. A narrow 500 nm depth of field focus area was observed both by numerical analysis and near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) measurements. Further research and optimization are planned in order to achieve subwavelength focal regions and increased signal intensities.

Nonlinear Quantum Phenomena During the Polarization of Nanometer Layers of Proton Semiconductors and Dielectrics

This paper investigates the influence of the structure and parameters of the degenerate quasi-discrete energy spectrum of relaxers (protons) on the mechanism of nonlinear quantum diffusion polarization in nanoscale layers of hydrogen bonded crystals (HBC) in a wide range of parameters of fields (100 kV/m - 1000 MV/m) and temperatures (0-1550 K). The temperature dependence of the quantum transparency of the parabolic potential barrier for protons in HBC is calculated using the Gibbs quantum canonical distribution for the ensemble of non-interacting protons (ideal proton gas balanced with the ions of anion sub-lattice) moving in an onedimensional potential field of a crystalline lattice (in the field of hydrogen bonds) with a zone structure distributed by energy levels. The influence of "zero" oscillations of protons on the temperature dependences of the proton subsystem kinetic coefficients in HBC is considered. It is revealed that proton tunneling influences the nonlinear space-charge polarization kinetics in HBC at high (150-550 K) and ultrahigh (550-1550 K) temperatures when crystalline layer thickness ranges from 1 to 10 nm. The results of theoretical studies (based on earlier experiments) are bound to be prospective for the prediction of HBC-class (KDP, DKDP) ferroelectrics properties, studying the second-order nonlinear optical effects of femtosecond lasers, and the development of memory cells for non-volatile high-speed memory devices.

Graphene/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite as a Promising Material for Chemical Current Sources: A Theoretical Study

The outstanding mechanical and conductive properties of graphene and high theoretical capacity of magnetite make a composite based on these two structures a prospective material for application in flexible energy storage devices. In this study using quantum chemical methods, the influence of magnetite concentration on energetic and electronic parameters of graphene/Fe3O4 composites is estimated. It is found that the addition of magnetite to pure graphene significantly changes its zone structure and capacitive properties. By varying the concentration of Fe3O4 particles, it is possible to tune the capacity of the composite for application in hybrid and symmetric supercapacitors.

Postoperative features of the macular zone structure after surgical treatment of large full-thickness macular hole using various surgical techniques

Purpose. Comparative assessment of the retinal macular zone structure after surgical treatment of full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) by various methods. Material and methods. Patients with Gass stage III-IV FTMH were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 patients (20 eyes) underwent a standard operation (subtotal vitrectomy (sVE), aspiration convergence of the FTMH edges, gas-air tamponade of the vitreous cavity). Patients in group 2 (20 eyes), after sVE and ILM peeling, autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) were applied to FTMH area followed by air tamponade. Patients of group 3 (20 eyes) after sVE underwent FTMH closure using an inverted ILM flap with the rupture edges approached, followed by air tamponade. Results. The increase in BCVA after 1 month averaged from 0.23±0.1 to 0.41±0.13, (p<0.05) in patients in group 1, in group 2 from 0.15±0, 07 to 0.75±0.09, (p<0.05), in patients in group 3 from 0.14±0.05 to 0.78±0.08, (p<0.05). Anatomical results: in group 1, 17 patients who received standard surgical treatment, a month after surgery, had a satisfactory anatomical result (complete closure of the FTMH with restoration of the correct retinal architectonics in the foveal zone). In 3 patients, additional endovitreal intervention was required with successful FTMH closure. In all patients in group 2, according to OCT data, 5 days after the operation, hyperreflective tissue was detected in the FTMH area ("platelet plug"). When OCT was performed 1 month later, in all cases, the platelet plug resolved, and in all cases, restoration of the foveal profile architectonics was observed. In group 3, the closure of the FTMH on the 5th day of observation was recorded in all patients. When performing OCT after 1 month, complete closure of the neuroepithelium layer was recorded in all cases: in 13 patients - U-shaped closure and in 7 cases – V-shaped. The functional results in both groups were comparable; there was no statistical difference between them. Conclusion: The data obtained demonstrate the morphological features of the retinal foveolar zone postoperative restoration. There was no significant difference in functional results between study groups. Key words: full-thickness macular hole, vitreoretinal surgery, internal limiting membrane, inverted ILM flap, autologous conditioned plasma, optical coherence tomography.

PKC-phosphorylation of Liprin-α3 triggers phase separation and controls presynaptic active zone structure

The active zone of a presynaptic nerve terminal defines sites for neurotransmitter release. Its protein machinery may be organized through liquid–liquid phase separation, a mechanism for the formation of membrane-less subcellular compartments. Here, we show that the active zone protein Liprin-α3 rapidly and reversibly undergoes phase separation in transfected HEK293T cells. Condensate formation is triggered by Liprin-α3 PKC-phosphorylation at serine-760, and RIM and Munc13 are co-recruited into membrane-attached condensates. Phospho-specific antibodies establish phosphorylation of Liprin-α3 serine-760 in transfected cells and mouse brain tissue. In primary hippocampal neurons of newly generated Liprin-α2/α3 double knockout mice, synaptic levels of RIM and Munc13 are reduced and the pool of releasable vesicles is decreased. Re-expression of Liprin-α3 restored these presynaptic defects, while mutating the Liprin-α3 phosphorylation site to abolish phase condensation prevented this rescue. Finally, PKC activation in these neurons acutely increased RIM, Munc13 and neurotransmitter release, which depended on the presence of phosphorylatable Liprin-α3. Our findings indicate that PKC-mediated phosphorylation of Liprin-α3 triggers its phase separation and modulates active zone structure and function.