Characteristic length of a Holographic Superconductor with dd-wave gap

After the discovery of the $s$-wave and $p$-wave holographic superconductors, holographic models of $d$-wave superconductor have also been constructed recently. We study analytically the perturbation of the dual gravity theory to calculate the superconducting coherence length $\xi$ of the $d$-wave holographic superconductor near the superconducting phase transition point. The superconducting coherence length $\xi$ divergents as $(1-T/T_c)^{-1/2}$ near the critical temperature $T_c$. We also obtain the magnetic penetration depth $\lambda\propto(T_c-T)^{-1/2}$ by adding a small external homogeneous magnetic field. The results agree with the $s$-wave and $p$-wave models, which are also the same as the Ginzburg-Landau theory.Comment: last version, 10 pages, accepted by PR

d-wave Holographic Superconductor Vortex Lattice and Non-Abelian Holographic Superconductor Droplet

A d-wave holographic superconductor is studied under a constant magnetic field by perturbation method, we obtain both droplet and triangular vortex lattice solution. The results are the same as the s-wave holographic superconductor. The non-Abelian holographic superconductor with $p+ip$-wave background is also studied under magnetic field, unlike the d-wave and s-wave models, we find that the non-Abelian model has only droplet solution.Comment: Version2, 12 pages,2 figures. Accepted by PR

Microwave Ablation of Primary Malignant Pelvic Bone Tumors

Background: En bloc tumor resection followed by reconstruction is a widely used surgical treatment for malignant pelvic bone tumors. High rates of complications and mechanical instability often contribute to poor postoperative results. We attempted en bloc microwave ablation (MWA) in situ to improve the outcome.Methods: From May 1995 to December 2015, 104 patients with primary pelvic malignancy received radical MWA in our department. After careful dissection of the tumor-bearing bone from surrounding normal tissues with safe margins, a microwave antenna array was inserted into the tumor mass to emit electromagnetic energy, inducing tumor cellular death via thermocoagulation. The loose, devitalized tumor tissues were removed by cutting or curettage, leaving a defective bone scaffold. Re-strengthening by autograft or allograft was needed in most patients.Results: The over 3 years survival rate was 51.5% for high-grade malignancies (among them, 26.9% were osteosarcoma) and 94.8% for low-grade malignancies (chondrosarcoma). In most of the living patients, cosmetic and useful limbs were preserved. The mean functional score (Musculoskeletal Tumor Society) was 27 or 90% (range: 25–30, 75–100%). Among the 56 patients who belonged to the excellent function group, 11 were followed up for more than 10 years. The local recurrence rate was 8.6%. Among the 9 patients with recurrence, 5 died from disease, 2 were treated by hemipelvic amputation, and 2 underwent revision surgery with MWA and gained local control. The deep infection rate was 5.6%. All six patients with infection were healed by irrigation, debridement, and systemic antibiotic administration.Conclusion: Local, microwave-induced hyperthermia for treating malignant pelvic bone tumors is an effective alternative method. The oncological and functional results are encouraging. The use of MWA should be continued to evaluate and improve this new therapeutic system

Causal relationships between CD25 on immune cells and hip osteoarthritis

ObjectivesPrevious research has indicated a potential association between immune factors and osteoarthritis (OA), but the causal relationship between CD25 expression on immune cells and hip OA remains enigmatic. To shed light on this relationship, this study utilized the two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) method.MethodsLeveraging genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data from the UK Biobank and arcOGEN, the investigation encompasses a substantial European cohort comprising 15,704 hip OA cases and 378,169 controls. Genetic insights into CD25 stem from a subgroup of 3,757 individuals with European ancestry, encompassing 77 CD25-related traits. Several MR methods were applied, and robustness was assessed through heterogeneity and sensitivity analysis.ResultsAmong the 77 traits examined, 66 shared the same single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with hip OA. Of these, 7 CD25-related traits were found to be causally associated with hip OA (adjusted P><0.05), with F-statistics ranging from 33 to 122. These traits are specifically related to CD4+CD25+ T cells, exhibiting odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) less than 1. Notably, no causal link was discerned with the CD8+CD25+ T cell subset. Within absolute count (AC) and relative count (RC) trait types, a significant causal relationship was observed solely between CD4+CD25+ T cells and hip OA, without subtype localization. A more intricate examination of CD25 expression levels within the CD4+CD25+ T cell subset revealed a correlation with the CD39+ regulatory T (Treg) subset and hip OA, particularly within the CD39+ activated Treg subset. Furthermore, a notable causal relationship emerged between CD25 expression levels in the CD45RA- not Treg subset and hip OA. However, no significant causal link was established with any subsets of B cells.ConclusionThe genetic prediction suggests that CD25, particularly within the realm of CD4+CD25+ T cells, may exert a protective influence against the development of hip OA. These findings provide a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of hip OA

Detachment Activated CyPA/CD147 Induces Cancer Stem Cell Potential in Non-stem Breast Cancer Cells

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs), responsible for cancer metastasis and recurrence, are generated from non-CSCs after chemo-radiation therapy. This study investigated the induction of CSC potential in non-stem breast cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms in detachment culture. Methods: Bulk breast cancer cells, or sorted non-CSCs and CSCs were cultured under an attached or detached condition to assess CSC numbers, ability to form tumor spheres, expression of stemness markers, and chemoresistance. Lentivirus carrying CD147 shRNA or cDNA was used to manipulate CD147 expression, while CD147 ligand recombinant cyclophilin A (CyPA) or its inhibitor was used to activate or inhibit CD147 signaling. Results: Detachment promoted anoikis resistance, chemoresistance, sphere formation, self-renewal, and expression of stemness markers in breast cancer cells. Detachment increased functional ALDH+ or CD44highCD24–/low CSCs, and induced CSC potential in ALDH– or CD44lowCD24high non-CSCs. Upon detachment, both CD147 expression and CyPA secretion were enhanced, and CyPA-CD147 activation mediated detachment induced CSC potential in non-CSCs via STAT3 signaling. Clinically, CD147 and pSTAT3 were highly co-expressed and correlated with poor overall survival and tumor recurrence in breast cancer patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that detachment induces the generation of CSCs from non-stem breast cancer cells via CyPA-CD147 signaling, indicating that targeting CD147 may serve as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for lethal metastatic breast cancer by eliminating induced CSCs.National Basic Research Program (#2015CB553700)National Science and Technology Major Project (#2015ZX09501-009)National Natural Science Foundation of China (#31571469 and #81872349

Acupuncture for menstruation-related migraine prophylaxis:A multicenter randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture, an alternative medicine therapy, as a preventive treatment for menstruation-related migraine (MRM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, double-dummy, participant-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in China between 1 April 2013, and 30 April 2014. The participants were enrolled from four study centers and randomized to into either the acupuncture group, which received 24 sessions of acupuncture at traditional acupoints plus placebo, or the medication group, which received sham acupuncture plus naproxen. The primary endpoint was change from the baseline average number of migraine days per perimenstrual period over cycles 1−3. The secondary endpoints included changes from the baseline average number of migraine days outside the perimenstrual period, mean number of migraine hours during and outside the perimenstrual period, mean visual analog scale score during and outside the perimenstrual period, ≥50% migraine responder rate, and the proportion of participants who used acute pain medication over cycles 1−3 and 4−6. RESULTS: A total of 172 women with MRM were enrolled; 170 in the intention-to-treat analyses. Our primary outcome reported a significant between-group difference that favored the acupuncture group (95% CI, 0.17–0.50; P < 0.001), with the average reduction of migraine days per perimenstrual period from the baseline was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.82–1.07) in the acupuncture group and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.50–0.71) in the medication group over cycles 1−3. CONCLUSION: This study showed that compared to medication, acupuncture reduces the number of migraine days experienced by patients with MRM. For patients who received the acupuncture treatment over three cycles, the preventive effect of the therapy was sustained for six cycles. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: [https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN57133712], identifier [ISRCTN15663606]

Tunable Coupling Architectures with Capacitively Connecting Pads for Large-Scale Superconducting Multi-Qubit Processors

We have proposed and experimentally verified a tunable inter-qubit coupling scheme for large-scale integration of superconducting qubits. The key feature of the scheme is the insertion of connecting pads between qubit and tunable coupling element. In such a way, the distance between two qubits can be increased considerably to a few millimeters, leaving enough space for arranging control lines, readout resonators and other necessary structures. The increased inter-qubit distance provides more wiring space for flip-chip process and reduces crosstalk between qubits and from control lines to qubits. We use the term Tunable Coupler with Capacitively Connecting Pad (TCCP) to name the tunable coupling part that consists of a transmon coupler and capacitively connecting pads. With the different placement of connecting pads, different TCCP architectures can be realized. We have designed and fabricated a few multi-qubit devices in which TCCP is used for coupling. The measured results show that the performance of the qubits coupled by the TCCP, such as $T_1$ and $T_2$, was similar to that of the traditional transmon qubits without TCCP. Meanwhile, our TCCP also exhibited a wide tunable range of the effective coupling strength and a low residual ZZ interaction between the qubits by properly tuning the parameters on the design. Finally, we successfully implemented an adiabatic CZ gate with TCCP. Furthermore, by introducing TCCP, we also discuss the realization of the flip-chip process and tunable coupling qubits between different chips.Comment: Main text: 7 pages, 6 figure