Constraining the position of the knee in the galactic cosmic ray spectrum with ultra-high-energy diffuse γ\gamma-rays

The diffuse $\gamma$-ray emission was measured up to $957$ TeV by the Tibet-AS$\gamma$ experiment recently. Assuming that it is produced by the hadronic interaction between cosmic ray nuclei and the interstellar medium, it requires that the cosmic ray nuclei should be accelerated well beyond PeV energies. Measurements of the cosmic ray spectra for different species show diverse results at present. The Tibet experiments showed that the spectrum of proton plus helium has an early knee below PeV. If this is correct, the diffuse $\gamma$-ray emission would suggest an additional component of Galactic cosmic rays above PeV energies. This second component may originate from a source population of so-called PeVatrons revealed by recent ultra-high energy $\gamma$-ray observations, and could contribute to the cosmic ray fluxes up to the energy of the second knee. On the other hand, the KASCADE measurement showed that the knee of protons is higher than PeV. In this case, the diffuse $\gamma$-rays observed by Tibet-AS$\gamma$ can be well accounted for by only one cosmic ray component. These two scenarious (ie. the Tibet and KASCADE knees) could be distinguished by the spectral structures of diffuse $\gamma$-rays and cosmic ray nuclei. Future measurements of spectra of individual nuclei by HERD and LHAASO experiments and diffuse $\gamma$-rays by LHAASO can jointly constrain these two scenarios.Comment: 9 pages,4 figures. accepted by Ap

Nearby SNR: a possible common origin to multi-messenger anomalies in spectra, ratios and anisotropy of cosmic rays

The multi-messenger anomalies, including spectral hardening or excess for nuclei, leptons, ratios of $\bar p/p$ and B/C, and anisotropic reversal, were observed in past years. AMS-02 experiment also revealed different spectral break for positron and electron at 284 GeV and beyond TeV respectively. It is natural to ask whether all those anomalies originate from one unified physical scenario. In this work, the spatially-dependent propagation (SDP) with a nearby SNR source is adopted to reproduce above mentioned anomalies. There possibly exists dense molecular cloud(DMC) around SNRs and the secondary particles can be produced by pp-collision or fragmentation between the accelerated primary cosmic rays and DMC. As a result, the spectral hardening for primary, secondary particles and ratios of $B/C$ and $\bar p/p$ can be well reproduced. Due to the energy loss at source age of 330 kyrs, the characteristic spectral break-off for primary electron is at about 1 TeV hinted from the measurements. The secondary positron and electron from charged pion take up $5\%$ energy from their mother particles, so the positron spectrum has a cut-off at $\sim$250 GeV. Therefore, the different spectral break for positron and electron together with other anomalies can be fulfilled in this unified physical scenario. More interesting is that we also obtain the featured structures as spectral break-off at 5 TV for secondary particles of Li, Be, B, which can be served to verify our model. We hope that those tagged structures can be observed by the new generation of space-borne experiment HERD in future.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figure

Statistically study the optimal local sources for cosmic ray nuclei and electron

The local sources, such as Geminga SNR, may play important role for the anomaly of proton, electron and anisotropy in the past works. In fact, there exists twelve SNRs around solar system within $1$ kpc. One question is that can other SNRs also possibly contribute the spectra of nuclei and electron and explain the special structure of anisotropy? In this work, under the spatial-dependent propagation, we systematically study the contribution of all local SNRs within 1 kpc around solar to the spectra of nuclei and electron, as well as the energy dependence of anisotropy. As a result, only Geminga, Monogem, and Vela SNRs have quantitive contribution to the nuclei and electron spectra and anisotropy. Here, Geminga SNR is the sole optimal candidate and Monogem SNR is controversial due to the tension of anisotropy between model calculation and observations. The Vela SNR contributes a new spectral structure beyond TeV energy, hinted by HESS, VERITAS, DAMPE and CALET measurements. More interesting is that the electron anisotropy satisfies the Fermi-LAT limit below TeV energy, but rises greatly and reaches $10\%$ at several TeV. This new structure will shed new light to check our model. We hope that the new structure of electron spectrum and anisotropy can be observed by space-borne DAMPE and HERD and ground-based HAWC and LHAASO experiments in the near future.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted by AP

The role of spinal GABAB receptors in cancer-induced bone pain in rats

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) remains a major challenge in advanced cancer patients due to our lack of understanding of its mechanisms. Previous studies have demonstrated the vital role of GABAB receptors (GABABRs) in regulating nociception and various neuropathic pain models have shown diminished activity of GABABRs. However, the role of spinal GABABRs in CIBP remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the specific cellular mechanisms of GABABRs in the development and maintenance of CIBP in rats. Our behavioral results show that both acute and chronic intrathecal treatment with baclofen, a GABABR agonist, significantly attenuated CIBP-induced mechanical allodynia and ambulatory pain. The expression levels of GABABRs were significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner and colocalized mostly with neuron and a minority with astrocyte and microglia. Chronic treatment with baclofen restored the expression of GABABRs and markedly inhibited the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and the cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway

The Impacts of Emission Control and Regional Transport on PM2.5 Ions and Carbon Components in Nanjing during the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games

Highly time-resolved measurements of water soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon concentrations in the particle diameter size range D-p <2.5 mu m (PM2.5) were performed at a downwind urban site in Nanjing in the western part of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in eastern China during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). In this study, we discuss the impacts of emission control in Nanjing and the surrounding areas during the YOG and regional/long-range transport on PM2.5 pollution in Nanjing. The average concentrations of NO3-, SO42-, NH4+ were 12.1 +/- 9.9, 16.5 +/- 9.2, 9.0 +/- 5.4 mu g m(-3) during the YOG, and increased 34.3%, 53.7%, 43.9% after the YOG, respectively. The control of construction or on-road soil dust and control of industry led to the decrease of Ca2+ concentration by 55% and SO2 concentration by 46%. However, SO42- concentrations remained at relatively high levels, suggesting a significant impact of regional pollution to secondary fine particles in Nanjing. Strong correlations between OC and EC were observed during and after the YOG. A higher percentage (41%) of secondary organic carbon in Nanjing during the YOG periods was consistent with high potential photochemistry and low contributions from coal combustion. Lagrangian dispersion modelling results proved that the city clusters along the Nanjing and Shanghai axis were the major source region for high PM2.5 pollution in upwind Nanjing. This work shows that short-term strict control measures could improve the air quality, especially that affected by the primary pollutants; however, regional collaborative control strategy across administrative borders in the YRD is needed for a substantial improvement of air quality.Peer reviewe