This article describes some key fundamentals that are common to all JavaScript engines — and not just V8, the engine the authors work on. As a JavaScript developer, having a deeper understanding of how JavaScript engines work helps you reason about the performance characteristics of your code.

This article explains JavaScript engine optimization pipeline trade-offs, and describes how engines such as V8 speed up accesses to prototype properties. As a JavaScript developer, having a deeper understanding of how JavaScript engines work helps you reason about the performance characteristics of your code.

Govt. is keen on revisiting the amendment that curtailed presidential powers; critics are alarmed

A proteomic study reveals wide-ranging protein differences among brain cells treated with various concentrations of PBDE-99.

Ashutosh says he gained from following his father’s disciplined methods

Carlsen among top stars for the Steinitz memorial blitz event

Three aides working for US President Donald Trump, vice-president Mike Pence, and first daughter Ivanka Trump have tested positive for the novel coronavirus this week. This has brought the pandemic to within a degree of the center of power in the US.

Heart harvested from a brain-dead woman transplanted into 49-year-old in Kochi

Coronavirus breaches White House as rest of America re-opens

When a programmer thinks "I've got some code that will make others' lives easier", there are two forms that can take: a library, or a framework.

Nine trade unions under the umbrella of Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) have said it would oppose any proposal to increase the working hours an

Compact X-ray sources based on inverse Compton scattering provide brilliant and partially coherent X-rays in a laboratory environment. The cross section for inverse Compton scattering is very small, requiring high-power laser systems as well as small laser and electron beam sizes at the interaction point to generate sufficient flux. Therefore, these systems are very sensitive to distortions which change the overlap between the two beams. In order to monitor X-ray source position, size and flux in parallel to experiments, the beam-position monitor proposed here comprises a small knife edge whose image is acquired with an X-ray camera specifically designed to intercept only a very small fraction of the X-ray beam. Based on the source position drift recorded with the monitor, a closed-loop feedback stabilizes the X-ray source position by adjusting the laser beam trajectory. A decrease of long-term source position drifts by more than one order of magnitude is demonstrated with this device. Consequently, such a closed-loop feedback system which enables stabilization of source position drifts and flux of inverse Compton sources in parallel to experiments has a significant impact on the performance of these sources.

Multilayer monochromator devices are commonly used at (imaging) beamlines of synchrotron facilities to shape the X-ray beam to relatively small bandwidth and high intensity. However, stripe artefacts are often observed and can deteriorate the image quality. Although the intensity distribution of these artefacts has been described in the literature, their spectral distribution is currently unknown. To assess the spatio-spectral properties of the monochromated X-ray beam, the direct beam has been measured for the first time using a hyperspectral X-ray detector. The results show a large number of spectral features with different spatial distributions for a [Ru, B4C] strip monochromator, associated primarily with the higher-order harmonics of the undulator and monochromator. It is found that their relative contributions are sufficiently low to avoid an influence on the imaging data. The [V, B4C] strip suppresses these high-order harmonics even more than the former, yet at the cost of reduced efficiency.

British Geological Survey recreates Great Britain in Minecraft  Eurogamer.net

Surrey named as one of the UK's earthquake hotspots  Surrey Live

In the title compound, C61H15ClN2O3, the heterocyclic ring adopts an envelope conformation, folded across the N⋯N line, with the 2,5-di­meth­oxy­phenyl unit occupying a quasi-axial site. There are two N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds in the structure: one hydrogen bond links mol­ecules related by a 41 screw axis to form a C(6) chain, and the other links inversion-related pairs of mol­ecules to form an R22(8) ring. The ring motif links all of the chains into a continuous three-dimensional framework structure. Comparisons are made with the structures of some related compounds.

The title phospho­nate-based organic–inorganic hybrid framework, poly[bis(dimethylammonium) [(μ4-2,5-dihydroxybenzene-1,4-diphosphonato)zinc(II)]], {(C2H8N)2[Zn(C6H4O8P2)]}n, was formed unexpectedly when di­methyl­ammonium cations were formed from the in situ deca­rbonylation of the N,N-di­methyl­formamide solvent. The framework is built up from ZnO4 tetra­hedra and bridging di­phospho­nate tetra-anions to generate a three-dimensional network comprising [100] channels occupied by the (CH3)2NH2+ cations. Within the channels, an array of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds help to establish the structure. In addition, intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the appended –OH groups of the phenyl ring and adjacent PO32− groups are observed.

The title imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine derivative, C13H8Br2N2, was synthesized via a single-step reaction method. The title mol­ecule is planar, showing a dihedral angle of 0.62 (17)° between the phenyl and the imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine rings. An intra­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond with an S(5) ring motif is present. In the crystal, a short H⋯H contact links adjacent mol­ecules into inversion-related dimers. The dimers are linked in turn by weak C—H⋯π and slipped π–π stacking inter­actions, forming layers parallel to (110). The layers are connected into a three-dimensional network by short Br⋯H contacts. Two-dimensional fingerprint plots and three-dimensional Hirshfeld surface analysis of the inter­molecular contacts reveal that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H⋯Br/Br⋯H (26.1%), H⋯H (21.7%), H⋯C/C⋯H (21.3%) and C⋯C (6.5%) inter­actions. Energy framework calculations suggest that the contacts formed between mol­ecules are largely dispersive in nature. Analysis of HOMO–LUMO energies from a DFT calculation reveals the pure π character of the aromatic rings with the highest electron density on the phenyl ring, and σ character of the electron density on the Br atoms. The HOMO–LUMO gap was found to be 4.343 eV.

The non-porous three-dimensional structure of poly[(μ5-2-amino­benzene-1,4-di­carboxyl­ato)(μ6-oxalato)(oxomium)europium(III)], [Eu(C8H5NO4)(C2O4)(H3O)]n or [EuIII(NH2–BDC)(ox)(H3O)]n (NH2–BDC2− = 2-amino­terephthalate and ox2− = oxalate) is constructed from two-dimensional layers of EuIII–carboxyl­ate–oxalate, which are connected by NH2–BDC2− pillars. The basic structural unit of the layer is an edge-sharing dimer of TPRS-{EuIIIO9}, which is assembled through the ox2− moiety. The intra­layer void is partially occupied by TPR-{EuIIIO6} motifs. Weak C—H⋯O and strong, classical intra­molecular N—H⋯O and inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions, as well as weak π–π stacking inter­actions, affix the organic pillars within the framework. The two-dimensional layer can be simplified to a uninodal 4-connected sql/Shubnikov tetra­gonal plane net with point symbol {44.62}.

The crystal structure of the polymeric title compound, catena-poly[[[di­aqua­lithium]-μ-γ-cyclo­dextrin(1−)-[aqua­lithium]-μ-γ-cyclo­dextrin(1−)] pentadecahydrate], {[Li2(C48H79O40)2(H2O)3]·15H2O}n, consists of deprotonated γ-cyclo­dextrin (CD) mol­ecules assembled by lithium ions into metal–organic ribbons that are cross-linked by multiple O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into sheets extending parallel to (0overline11). Within a ribbon, one Li+ ion is coordinated by one deprotonated hydroxyl group of the first γ-CD torus and by one hydroxyl group of the second γ-CD torus as well as by two water mol­ecules. The other Li+ ion is coordinated by one deprotonated hydroxyl and by one hydroxyl group of the second γ-CD torus, by one hydroxyl group of the first γ-CD torus as well as by one water mol­ecule. The coordination spheres of both Li+ cations are distorted tetra­hedral. The packing of the structure constitute channels along the a axis. Parts of the hy­droxy­methyl groups in cyclo­dextrin molecules as well as water mol­ecules show two-component disorder. Electron density associated with additional disordered solvent mol­ecules inside the cavities was removed with the SQUEEZE [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18] routine in PLATON. These solvent mol­ecules are not considered in the given chemical formula and other crystal data. Five out of the sixteen hy­droxy­methyl groups and one water mol­ecule are disordered over two sets of sites.

Single crystals of Ni3(TeO(OH)2)2(PO4)2, trinickel(II) bis[(oxidodihydoxidotellurate(IV)] bis(phosphate),were obtained by hydro­thermal synthesis at 483 K, starting from NiCO3·2Ni(OH)2, TeO2 and H3PO4 in a molar ratio of 1:2:2. The crystal structure of Ni3Te2O2(PO4)2(OH)4 is isotypic with that of Co3Te2O2(PO4)2(OH)4 [Zimmermann et al. (2011). J. Solid State Chem. 184, 3080–3084]. The asymmetric unit comprises two Ni (site symmetries overline{1}, 2/m) one Te (m), one P (m), five O (three m, two 1) and one H (1) sites. The tellurium(IV) atom shows a coordination number of five, with the corresponding [TeO3(OH)2] polyhedron having a distorted square-pyramidal shape. The two NiII atoms are both octa­hedrally coordinated but form different structural elements: one constitutes chains made up from edge-sharing [NiO6] octa­hedra extending parallel to [010], and the other isolated [NiO2(OH)4] octa­hedra. The two kinds of nickel/oxygen octa­hedra are connected by the [TeO3(OH)2] pyramids and the [PO4] tetra­hedra through edge- and corner-sharing into a three-dimensional framework structure with channels extending parallel to [010]. Hydrogen bonds of medium strength between the hy­droxy groups and one of the phosphate O atoms consolidate the packing. A qu­anti­tative structure comparison between Ni3Te2O2(PO4)2(OH)4 and Co3Te2O2(PO4)2(OH)4 is made.

Total scattering measurements enable understanding of the structural disorder in crystalline materials by Fourier transformation of the total structure factor, S(Q), where Q is the magnitude of the scattering vector. In this work, the direct calculation of total scattering from a crystalline structural model is proposed. To calculate the total scattering intensity, a suitable Q-broadening function for the diffraction profile is needed because the intensity and the width depend on the optical parameters of the diffraction apparatus, such as the X-ray energy resolution and divergence, and the intrinsic parameters. X-ray total scattering measurements for CeO2 powder were performed at beamline BL04B2 of the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility in Japan for comparison with the calculated S(Q) under various optical conditions. The evaluated Q-broadening function was comparable to the full width at half-maximum of the Bragg peaks in the experimental total scattering pattern. The proposed calculation method correctly accounts for parameters with Q dependence such as the atomic form factor and resolution function, enables estimation of the total scattering factor, and facilitates determination of the reduced pair distribution function for both crystalline and amorphous materials.

The structural dimension of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is of great importance in defining their properties and thus applications. In particular, 2D layered MOFs are of considerable interest because of their useful applications, which are facilitated by unique structural features of 2D materials, such as a large number of open active sites and high surface areas. Herein, this work demonstrates a methodology for the selective synthesis of a 2D layered MOF in the presence of the competitive formation of a 3D MOF. The ratio of the reactants, metal ions and organic building blocks used during the reaction is found to be critical for the selective formation of a 2D MOF, and is associated with its chemical composition. In addition, the well defined and uniform micro-sized 2D MOF particles are successfully synthesized in the presence of an ultrasonic dispersion. Moreover, the laminated 2D MOF layers are directly synthesized via a modified bottom-up lamination method, a combination of chemical and physical stimuli, in the presence of surfactant and ultrasonication.

As is well known, polymers commonly form lamellar crystals, and these assemble further into lamellar stacks and spherulites during quiescent crystallization. Fifty years ago, Vonk and Kortleve constructed the classical small-angle X-ray scattering theory (SAXS) for a lamellar system, in which it was assumed that the lamellar stack had an infinite lateral size [Vonk & Kortleve (1967), Kolloid Z. Z. Polym. 220, 19–24]. Under this assumption, only crystal planes satisfying the Bragg condition can form strong scattering, and the scattering from the lamellar stack arises from the difference between the scattering intensities in the amorphous and crystalline layers, induced by the incident X-ray beam. This assumption is now deemed unreasonable. In a real polymer spherulite, the lamellar crystal commonly has dimensions of only a few hundred nanometres. At such a limited lateral size, lamellar stacks in a broad orientation have similar scattering, so interference between these lamellar stacks must be considered. Scattering from lamellar stacks parallel to the incident X-ray beam also needs to be considered when total reflection occurs. In this study, various scattering contributions from lamellar stacks in a spherulite are determined. It is found that, for a limited lateral size, the scattering induced by the incident X-ray beam is not the main origin of SAXS. It forms double peaks, which are not observed in real scattering because of destructive interference between the lamellar stacks. The scattering induced by the evanescent wave is the main origin. It can form a similar interference pattern to that observed in a real SAXS measurement: a Guinier region in the small-q range, a signal region in the intermediate-q range and a Porod region in the high-q range. It is estimated that, to avoid destructive interference, the lateral size needs to be greater than 11 µm, which cannot be satisfied in a real lamellar system. Therefore, SAXS in a real polymer system arises largely from the scattering induced by the evanescent wave. Evidence for the existence of the evanescent wave was identified in the scattering of isotactic polypropyl­ene. This study corrects a long-term misunderstanding of SAXS in a polymer lamellar system.

The crystal structure of ilmajokite, a rare Na-K-Ba-Ce-titanosilicate from the Khibiny mountains, Kola peninsula, Russia, has been solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The crystal structure is based on a 3D titanosilicate framework consisting of trigonal prismatic titanosilicate (TPTS) clusters centered by Ce3+ in [9]-coordination. Four adjacent TPTS clusters are linked into four-membered rings within the (010) plane and connected via ribbons parallel to 101. The ribbons are organized into layers parallel to (010) and modulated along the a axis with a modulation wavelength of csinβ = 32.91 Å and an amplitude of ∼b/2 = 13.89 Å. The layers are linked by additional silicate tetrahedra. Na+, K+, Ba2+ and H2O groups occur in the framework cavities and have different occupancies and coordination environments. The crystal structure of ilmajokite can be separated into eight hierarchical levels: atoms, coordination polyhedra, TPTS clusters, rings, ribbons, layers, the framework and the whole structure. The information-based analysis allows estimation of the complexity of the structure as 8.468 bits per atom and 11990.129 bits per cell. According to this analysis, ilmajokite is the third-most complex mineral known to date after ewingite and morrisonite, and is the most complex mineral framework structure, comparable in complexity to paulingite-(Ca) (11 590.532 bits per cell).

Efficient infiltration of a mesoporous titania matrix with conducting organic polymers or small molecules is one key challenge to overcome for hybrid photovoltaic devices. A quantitative analysis of the backfilling efficiency with time-of-flight grazing incidence small-angle neutron scattering (ToF-GISANS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements is presented. Differences in the morphology due to the backfilling of mesoporous titania thin films are compared for the macromolecule poly[4,8-bis­(5-(2-ethyl­hexyl)­thio­phen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']di­thio­phene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethyl­hexyl)-3-fluoro­thieno[3,4-b]thio­phene-)-2-carboxyl­ate-2-6-diyl)] (PTB7-Th) and the heavy-element containing small molecule 2-pinacol­boronate-3-phenyl­phen­anthro[9,10-b]telluro­phene (PhenTe-BPinPh). Hence, a 1.7 times higher backfilling efficiency of almost 70% is achieved for the small molecule PhenTe-BPinPh compared with the polymer PTB7-Th despite sharing the same volumetric mass density. The precise characterization of structural changes due to backfilling reveals that the volumetric density of backfilled materials plays a minor role in obtaining good backfilling efficiencies and interfaces with large surface contact.

Over the past decade, ptychography has been proven to be a robust tool for non-destructive high-resolution quantitative electron, X-ray and optical microscopy. It allows for quantitative reconstruction of the specimen's transmissivity, as well as recovery of the illuminating wavefront. Additionally, various algorithms have been developed to account for systematic errors and improved convergence. With fast ptychographic microscopes and more advanced algorithms, both the complexity of the reconstruction task and the data volume increase significantly. PtychoShelves is a software package which combines high-level modularity for easy and fast changes to the data-processing pipeline, and high-performance computing on CPUs and GPUs.

A calculation procedure for X-ray total scattering and the pair distribution function from a crystalline structural model is presented. It allows one to easily and precisely deal with diffraction-angle-dependent parameters such as the atomic form factor and the resolution of the optics.

Describing his project of counting bears, bobcats and other predatory mammals along the Appalachian Trail, National Zoological Park wildlife ecologist William McShea looks to American literature for a comparison.

The post Appalachian Trail survey aims hidden cameras at large predators appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Today the Smithsonian Institution announced Eva J. Pell, Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Pennsylvania State University, will be the new Under Secretary for Science at the Institution.

The post Smithsonian Names Eva Pell as Under Secretary for Science appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

In a series of ongoing experiments on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal, Kays and other researchers are using camera traps, radio collars and palm nuts with tracking transmitters attached to them to take a closer look at the nut-hoarding strategies of the agouti.

The post Camera traps & radio collars reveal hoarding strategies of the South American agouti appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Dennis W. Kelly has been named director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., effective Feb. 15, 2010.

The post Dennis Kelly Named Director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The study found that infants whose mothers had higher levels of available milk energy soon after their birth, coped more effectively (moved around more, explored more, ate and drank) and showed greater confidence (were more playful, exploratory, curious and active) with this novel situation.

The post New study sees mother’s milk as a communications link that shapes infant temperament appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The Caddo people of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma have maintained many of their traditional ways and actively work to preserve their unique tribal cultural today. One example is the pottery of Jeri Redcorn.

The post Clay vessels by Native American potter Jeri Redcorn added to Smithsonian collections appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

This circa 1910 Yup'ik mask from Good News Bay, Alaska--made of driftwood, baleen, feathers, paint and cotton twine--is part of "Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian," an exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian, opening Saturday, Oct. 23.

The post Yup’ik mask in “Infinity of Nations” exhibition at the American Indian Museum appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.