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Complex Ionization and Velocity Structures in GX 340+0 X-ray Binary Revealed by XRISM
No full textWe present the first high-resolution XRISM spectrum of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 340+0, revealing unprecedented detail in its emission and absorption features. The spectrum reveals a rich and complex Fe xxv Heα line profile and a P-Cygni profile from Ca xx. We use the state-of-the-art spectral synthesis code Cloudy to model the emission and absorption features in detail. Our analysis reveals multi-ionization and multi-velocity structures, where the combination of broad (∼ 800 km s⁻¹) and narrow (∼ 360 km s⁻¹) line components, along with rest-frame and blueshifted emission and absorption lines, accounts for the observed line profile complexity. We identify a modest ∼ 2735 km s⁻¹ accretion disk wind exhibiting both absorption and emission features. We also detect a relativistic reflection feature in the spectrum, which we model using relxillNS—specifically designed to characterize X-ray reprocessing in accretion disks around neutron stars. Furthermore, we examine the detailed physics of the Fe xxv Heα complex, focusing on the forbidden to resonance line ratio under the influence of continuum pumping and optical depth effects.PC acknowledges support from NASA XRISM grant 80NSSC23K0637 and NASA Chandra grants GO3- 24124X 16619325, GO3-24024X 16619349, and GO4- 25094X 16619354. IP acknowledges support from Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) contract SV3-73016 to MIT for Support of the Chandra X-Ray Center (CXC) and Science Instruments. CXC is operated by SAO for and on behalf of NASA under contract NAS8-03060. TY acknowledges support by NASA under award number 80GSFC24M0006. TN acknowledges
support by JSPS Kakenhi 23H05441 and 23K17695.https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/adfb6
Leveraging Vulnerabilities in Temporal Graph Neural Networks via Strategic High-Impact Assaults
No full textTemporal Graph Neural Networks (TGNNs) have become indispensable for analyzing dynamic graphs in critical applications such as social networks, communication systems, and financial networks. However, the robustness of TGNNs against adversarial attacks, particularly sophisticated attacks that exploit the temporal dimension, remains a significant challenge. Existing attack methods for Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Graphs (STDGs) often rely on simplistic, easily detectable perturbations (e.g., random edge additions/deletions) and fail to strategically target the most influential nodes and edges for maximum impact. We introduce the High Impact Attack (HIA), a novel restricted black-box attack framework specifically designed to overcome these limitations and expose critical vulnerabilities in TGNNs. HIA leverages a data-driven surrogate model to identify structurally important nodes (central to network connectivity) and dynamically important nodes (critical for the graph's temporal evolution). It then employs a hybrid perturbation strategy, combining strategic edge injection (to create misleading connections) and targeted edge deletion (to disrupt essential pathways), maximizing TGNN performance degradation. Importantly, HIA minimizes the number of perturbations to enhance stealth, making it more challenging to detect. Comprehensive experiments on five real-world datasets and four representative TGNN architectures (TGN, JODIE, DySAT, and TGAT) demonstrate that HIA significantly reduces TGNN accuracy on the link prediction task, achieving up to a 35.55% decrease in Mean Reciprocal Rank (MRR) - a substantial improvement over state-of-the-art baselines. These results highlight fundamental vulnerabilities in current STDG models and underscore the urgent need for robust defenses that account for both structural and temporal dynamics.This study is partially supported by NIH grant R01AG084236, R01AG083039. This work was supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2317117.http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.2541
A Less Terrifying Universe? Mundanity as an Explanation for the Fermi Paradox
No full textApplying a principle of "radical mundanity", this paper examines explanations for the lack of strong evidence for the presence of technology-using extraterrestrial civilizations (ETCs) in the Galaxy - the Fermi paradox. With this principle, the prospect that the Galaxy contains a modest number of civilizations is preferred, where none have achieved technology levels sufficient to accomplish large-scale astro-engineering or lack the desire to do so. This consideration also leads to the expectation that no ETC will colonize a large fraction of the Galaxy, even using robotic probes, and that there are no long-duration high-power beacons. However, there is a reasonable chance that we may make contact on a short, by historical standards, timescale. This event would be momentous, but could still leave us slightly disappointed. Such a Universe would be less terrifying than either of the two possibilities in the quote generally attributed to Arthur C. Clarke on whether we are alone or not. Also, if there is a modest number of ETCs in the Galaxy, that would suggest that there is a large number of planets with some form of life.The work was supported in part by NASA under award number 80GSFC21M0002.http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.2287
Effects of UI Abstraction on Non‑Expert Prompting Workflows in Generative AI
No full textM.S. -- The University of
Baltimore, 2025Thesis submitted to the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences of The University of Baltimore in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Science in Interaction Design and Information ArchitectureGenerative AI tools offer powerful capabilities but often demand that users craft precise prompts, effectively requiring humans to “think like machines.” This thesis investigates whether thoughtful interface design can instead enable generative AI to better speak like us, aligning with natural human communication. We conducted an exploratory study with 10 non-expert participants, observing each as they interacted with three Figma-based prototype interfaces of varying abstraction (ranging from a freeform text input to a highly guided prompt form) to complete a prompt-writing task. Our findings show that the level of UI abstraction significantly shaped users’ prompting experience. Participants preferred different interfaces depending on their familiarity and comfort: a freeform prompt felt most intuitive and expressive for some, whereas others benefitted from structured templates that yielded clearer prompts and greater confidence. These results highlight that a one-size-fits-all prompting solution is suboptimal. We discuss implications for the UX design of AI-powered tools, emphasizing the need for adaptive, user-centered prompt interfaces that accommodate varying experience levels and facilitate more natural human–AI interaction
Nocturnal Convection Along a Trailing-End Cold Front: Insights from Ground-Based Remote Sensing Observations
No full textThis study examines a convergence event at the trailing end of a cold front observed in the United States’ Southern Great Plains region on 28 September 1997, using an array of in situ and remote sensing instruments. The event exhibited a structure with elevated divergence near 3 km AGL and moisture transport over both warm and cold sectors. Data from Raman lidar (RL), Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI), and Radar Wind Profilers (RWP) were used to characterize vertical profiles of the event, revealing the presence of a narrow moist updraft, horizontal moisture advection, and cloud development ahead of the front. Convection parameters, Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and Convective Inhibition (CIN), were derived from collocated AERI and RL. Regions of high CAPE were aligned with areas of high moisture, indicating that convection was more favorable at moist elevated levels than near the surface. RWP observations revealed vorticity structures consistent with existing theories. This study highlights the value of high-resolution, continuous profiling from remote sensors to resolve mesoscale processes and evaluate convection potential. The event underscores the role of elevated moisture and wind shear in modulating convection initiation along a trailing-end cold front boundary where mesoscale and synoptic forces interact.This material is based upon work supported by the NASA Early Career Research Program, Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Science and Technology, under Award No. #80NSSC22K1454 and by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Educational Partnership Program, under Agreement No. #NA16SEC4810006.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/8/92
The impact of fungal developmental structures on mechanical properties of mycelial materials
No full textThis study explores how suppressing asexual development in Aspergillus nidulans enhances the mechanical properties of mycelial materials. Using four aconidial mutants (ΔbrlA, ΔflbA, ΔfluG, and fadAᴳ⁴²ᴿ) that lack asexual development and a control strain (A28) that undergoes typical asexual development, we found that the absence of asexual development significantly improves mechanical strength. All mutants exhibited higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) than the control, with ΔfluG and ΔbrlA (fluffy nonsporulating, FNS phenotype) showing the highest UTS. Additionally, fadAᴳ⁴²ᴿ and ΔflbA (fluffy autolytic dominant, FAD phenotype) demonstrated significantly higher strain at failure (SF), linked to increased autolysis and lower dry cell mass compared to the control and FNS mutants. Solid-state NMR analysis revealed that autolysis in FAD mutants disrupts galactofuranose-related metabolic processes, altering cell wall composition and contributing to higher elasticity. These findings suggest that suppressing asexual development enhances mycelial material strength, while autolysis mechanisms influence elasticity. This research highlights the potential for genetic manipulation in fungi to engineer advanced mycelial-based materials with tailored mechanical properties.Student support for this work was provided by an NIGMS Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Grant (5 R25 GM055036), a NIGMS Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) Grant (T32-GM144876), G-RISE at UMBC awarded in 2021, National Science Foundation (NSF 2006189), and the Department of Defense (DoD) Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship - funded by the OUSD/R&E (The Under Secretary of Defense-Research and Engineering), and the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) / BA-1, Basic Research. Solid-state NMR analysis was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant R01AI173270 to T.W.https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.01.644731v
Well Crafted: Analyzing Greater Baltimore Craft Beer Labels; A Content Analysis and Label Design Project
No full textM.F.A. -- The University of
Baltimore, 2025Thesis submitted to the Yale
Gordon College of Arts and
Sciences of The University of
Baltimore in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree
of Master of Fine Arts in Integrated
DesignWitty names, pop culture references, vibrant colors, intricate illustrations, tasteful typography, whimsical copy—craft breweries have distinguished themselves in the beer market through creative packaging and label design. When it comes to craft beer, what’s on the can or bottle matters as much as what’s inside. Craft beer labels are more than just utilitarian packaging—they are miniature canvases for storytelling and design that reflect a brewery’s personality, tone, and regional identity. A strong sense of place is central to the craft beer industry, with breweries anchoring their brands to local names, landmarks, geography, people, and historical elements. This study conducts a content analysis of craft beer packaging from Baltimore-based breweries to examine how they visually represent Baltimore and communicate their regional identity
Considering children’s characteristics in Chinese American mothers’ attributions, well-being, and parenting practices
No full textThis study assessed whether: (a) the relation between mothers' attributions of parenting failures to uncontrollable causes (i.e., parenting skills, task difficulty) and parenting practices (i.e., warm parenting, psychologically controlling parenting) was explained by mothers' psychological well-being, and (b) children's difficult behaviors moderated the relation between mothers' attributions and psychological well-being. Data were collected from 270 Chinese American mothers (Mage = 37.8 years old) with young children (Mage = 4.6 years old, 50 % boys). Results revealed that mothers' attributions of caregiving failures to uncontrollable causes were associated with poorer psychological well-being, which in turn, was related to less warm parenting and more psychologically controlling parenting. Moreover, the indirect effects were significant only when children displayed low or moderate levels of difficult behaviors. Our findings can inform the design of culturally sensitive interventions to promote positive child-rearing beliefs and strategies in Chinese American families.This research was funded by the Foundation for Child Development and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development awarded to Charissa S. L. Cheah (1R03HD052827-01)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019339732500064
Escalating Fight Over LGBTQ Rights “Distracts” Frederick School Board
No full textFrederick County, MD, school board saw escalating tensions between conservative activists and liberal school board leadership over LGBTQ rights in county schools. A newly elected board member attacked trans rights from the board table, a conservative activist tried to forcibly seat herself on at the board, and a man fake-mooned a board meeting. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Frederick Board of Education President Rae Gallagher, and Vice-President Dean Rose about the fight over LGBRTQ rights and its impact on school governance. Music by Silver Spring power pop band, The Airport77s.https://open.spotify.com/episode/0H3OIaYvXMMgfq0khUP8c
I Hate the News Apr 8
No full textThe weekly news analysis from I Hate Politics: Locals join nationwide Hands Off Rally against the Trump presidency. Congressman Jamie Raskin channels Winston Churchill at the protest. MD General Assembly ends the 2025 session with budget, energy reform, education bills, and more. MCPS launches boundary study potentially affecting the entire county. Poll shows Marylanders want countywide voting centers, but what are the tradeoffs with neighborhood polling places? Washington DC tries to limit open meeting law. Music from the Hands Off Rally protests.https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hExByDmJ8PYEzezTCHAZ