Tunnel splitting and quantum phase interference in biaxial ferrimagnetic particles at excited states

The tunneling splitting in biaxial ferrimagnetic particles at excited states with an explicit calculation of the prefactor of exponent is obtained in terms of periodic instantons which are responsible for tunneling at excited states and is shown as a function of magnetic field applied along an arbitrary direction in the plane of hard and medium axes. Using complex time path-integral we demonstrate the oscillation of tunnel splitting with respect to the magnitude and the direction of the magnetic field due to the quantum phase interference of two tunneling paths of opposite windings . The oscillation is gradually smeared and in the end the tunnel splitting monotonously increases with the magnitude of the magnetic field when the direction of the magnetic field tends to the medium axis. The oscillation behavior is similar to the recent experimental observation with Fe$_8$ molecular clusters. A candidate of possible experiments to observe the effect of quantum phase interference in the ferrimagnetic particles is proposed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, acceptted to be pubblished in Physical Review

Parent-adolescent attachment and peer attachment associated with Internet Gaming Disorder: a longitudinal study of first-year undergraduate students

Background and aims: Given that Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has tentatively been included in DSM-5 as a psychiatric disorder, it is important that the effect of parental and peer attachment in the development of IGD is further explored. Methods: Utilizing a longitudinal design, this study investigated the bidirectional association between perceived Q1 parent-adolescent attachment, peer attachment, and IGD among 1,054 first-year undergraduate students (58.8% female). The students provided demographic information (e.g., age, gender) and were assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale and the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment. Assessments occurred three times, six months apart (October 2017; April 2018; October 2018). Results: Cross-lagged panel models suggested that IGD weakly predicted subsequent mother attachment but significantly negatively predicted father attachment. However, father and mother attachment could not predict subsequent IGD. Moreover, peer attachment has bidirectional association with IGD. Further, the model also demonstrated stable crosssectional negative correlations between attachment and IGD across all three assessments. Discussion and conclusions: The findings of the present study did not show a bidirectional association between parental attachment and IGD, but they did show a negative bidirectional association between peer attachment and IGD. The results suggested previous cross-sectional associations between IGD and attachment, with larger links among males than females at the first measurement point. We found that peer attachment could negatively predict subsequent IGD, which indicates that peer attachment plays an important role in preventing addictive gaming behaviors for university students

Molecular Characterization of the Ghrelin and Ghrelin Receptor Genes and Effects on Fat Deposition in Chicken and Duck

Ghrelin (GHRL) and its receptor (GHSR) are involved in various bioactivities. In this study, the complete cDNA and 5′ flanking region of the duck GHRL (dGHRL) gene and a 3717 bp fragment of the duck GHSR (dGHSR) gene were obtained. A total of 19, 8, 43, and 48 SNPs identified in 2751, 1358, 3671, and 3567 bp of the chicken GHRL (cGHRL), chicken GHSR (cGHSR), dGHRL, and dGHSR genes, respectively. Both cGHRL and dGHRL were expressed predominantly in the proventriculus, whereas the highest mRNA levels of cGHSR and dGHSR were detected in the breast muscle and pituitary. Association analysis showed that C-2047G, A-2355C, and A-2220C of the cGHRL gene were significantly associated with abdominal fat weight (AFW; P = .01), crude protein content of leg muscle (CPCLM; P = .02), and CPCLM (P = .0009), respectively. C-1459T of the cGHSR gene was also significantly associated with CPCLM (P = .0004). C-729T of dGHRL and A3427T of dGHSR were both significantly associated with subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT; P = .04). It was indicated by this study that the GHRL and GHSR genes were related to fat deposition in both chicken and duck

Macroscopic Quantum Phase Interference in Antiferromagnetic Particles

The tunnel splitting in biaxial antiferromagnetic particles is studied with a magnetic field applied along the hard anisotropy axis. We observe the oscillation of tunnel splitting as a function of the magnetic field due to the quantum phase interference of two tunneling paths of opposite windings. The oscillation is similar to the recent experimental result with Fe}$_8$\textrm{\ molecular clusters.}Comment: 8 pages, 2 postscript figures, to appear in J. Phys.: Condes. Matte

Depression and anxiety symptoms associated with internet gaming disorder before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly impacted aspects of human life globally. Playing videogames has been encouraged by several organizations to help individuals cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures. This longitudinal study was the first to examine gaming in the context of the pandemic and its association with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Methods: The sample comprised 1,778 children and adolescents (50.7% male) who were part of the Project of School Mental Health in Southwest China. Data were collected at two-time intervals: before the COVID-19 pandemic (October to November 2019 – [T1]) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (April to May 2020 – [T2]). Data were collected on perceived COVID-19 impacts, videogame use, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Cross-lagged panel models were computed to examine longitudinal relationships. Results: The results indicated that both videogame use and IGD increased significantly for adolescents at T2. The cross-lagged panel model results suggested that depressive and anxiety symptoms at T1 positively predicted IGD and videogame use at T2 (especially for boys), but not inversely. Perceived COVID-19 impacts mediated the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms at T1 and IGD at T2. Conclusion: Children and adolescents both increased videogame use at T2, but only adolescents significantly increased IGD severity at T2. The findings supported the compensatory hypothesis, and are consistent with the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model as individual responses to COVID-19 may function as a mediator between personal predisposing variables and IGD