Yuexiong Huang

The equations of state for the ideal classical gas are generalized with two characteristic constants known as the state indices. A simple and complete representation is developed for the super-ideal gas, with explicit results which are general enough to cover a wide range of equilibrium systems and states. Evidence and justification are provided in terms of examples and results of statistical physics. The new model should prove useful for treating problems involving physical behavior and properties which might otherwise call for specialized or advanced methods of statistical mechanics

To better determine the history of modern birds, we performed a genome-scale phylogenetic analysis of 48 species representing all orders of Neoaves using phylogenomic methods created to handle genome-scale data.We recovered a highly resolved tree that confirms previously controversial sister or close relationships.We identified the first divergence in Neoaves, two groups we named Passerea and Columbea, representing independent lineages of diverse and convergently evolved land and water bird species. Among Passerea, we infer the common ancestor of core landbirds to have been an apex predator and confirm independent gains of vocal learning. Among Columbea, we identify pigeons and flamingoes as belonging to sister clades. Even with whole genomes, some of the earliest branches in Neoaves proved challenging to resolve, which was best explained by massive protein-coding sequence convergence and high levels of incomplete lineage sorting that occurred during a rapid radiation after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event about 66 million years ago.