SAPPHIRE: Search for exotic parity-violation interactions with quantum spin amplifiers

Quantum sensing provides sensitive tabletop tools to search for exotic spin-dependent interactions beyond the Standard Model, which has attracted great attention in theories and experiments. Here we develop a technique based on quantum Spin Amplifier for Particle PHysIcs REsearch (SAPPHIRE) to resonantly search for exotic interactions, specifically parity-odd spin-spin interactions. The present technique effectively amplifies the pseudomagnetic field generated by exotic interactions by a factor of about 200 while being insensitive to spurious external magnetic fields. Our studies, using such a quantum amplification technique, open the doors to exploring the parity-violation interactions mediated by Z' bosons in the challenging parameter space (force range between 3 mm and 0.1 km) and set the most stringent constraints on Z'-mediated electron-neutron couplings, significantly improving previous limits by up to five orders of magnitude. Moreover, our bounds on Z'-mediated couplings between nucleons reaches into a hitherto unexplored parameter space (force range below 1 m), complementing the existing astrophysical and laboratory studies.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Novel cancerization marker, TP53, and its role in distinguishing normal tissue adjacent to cancerous tissue from normal tissue adjacent to benign tissue

Foundation of Xiamen Science and Technology Bureau [3502Z20104032, 3502Z20100002]; Medical innovation Foundation of Fujian Health Department [2011-CXB-38]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province [2010J05137, 2012J01414]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [81272445, 61100106]Background: The histopathological and molecular heterogeneity of normal tissue adjacent to cancerous tissue (NTAC) and normal tissue adjacent to benign tissue (NTAB), and the availability of limited specimens make deciphering the mechanisms of carcinogenesis challenging. Our goal was to identify histogenetic biomarkers that could be reliably used to define a transforming fingerprint using RNA in situ hybridization. Methods: We evaluated 15 tumor-related RNA in situ hybridization biomarkers using tumor microarray and samples of seven tumor-adjacent normal tissues from 314 patients. Biomarkers were determined using comprehensive statistical methods (significance of support vector machine-based artificial intelligence and area under curve scoring of classification distribution). Results: TP53 was found to be a most reliable index (P 87%) for distinguishing NTAC from NTAB, according to the results of a significance panel (BCL10, BECN1, BRCA2, FITH, PTCH11 and TP53). Conclusions: The genetic alterations in TP53 between NTAC and NTAB may provide new insight into the field of cancerization and tumor transformation

Insomnia partially mediated the association between problematic Internet use and depression among secondary school students in China

This study aims to examine the mediating effects of insomnia on the associations between problematic Internet use, including Internet addiction (IA) and online social networking addiction (OSNA), and depression among adolescents. Methods A total of 1,015 secondary school students from Guangzhou in China participated in a cross-sectional survey. Levels of depression, insomnia, IA, and OSNA were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire, and Online Social Networking Addiction Scale, respectively. Logistic regression models were fit to test the associations between IA, OSNA, insomnia, and depression. The mediation effects of insomnia were tested using Baron and Kenny’s strategy. Results The prevalence of depression at moderate level or above (CES-D ≥ 21), insomnia, IA, and OSNA were 23.5%, 37.2%, 8.1%, and 25.5%, respectively. IA and OSNA were significantly associated with depression (IA: AOR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.71, 4.55; OSNA: AOR = 3.27, 95% CI: 2.33, 4.59) and insomnia (IA: AOR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.72, 4.65; OSNA: AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.61, 2.96), after adjusting for significant background factors. Furthermore, insomnia partially mediated 60.6% of the effect of IA on depression (Sobel Z = 3.562, p < .002) and 44.8% of the effect of OSNA on depression (Sobel Z = 3.919, p < .001), respectively. Discussion The high prevalence of IA and OSNA may be associated with increased risk of developing depression among adolescents, both through direct and indirect effects (via insomnia). Findings from this study indicated that it may be effective to develop and implement interventions that jointly consider the problematic Internet use, insomnia, and depression

Three-loop HTL QCD thermodynamics

The hard-thermal-loop perturbation theory (HTLpt) framework is used to calculate the thermodynamic functions of a quark-gluon plasma to three-loop order. This is the highest order accessible by finite temperature perturbation theory applied to a non-Abelian gauge theory before the high-temperature infrared catastrophe. All ultraviolet divergences are eliminated by renormalization of the vacuum, the HTL mass parameters, and the strong coupling constant. After choosing a prescription for the mass parameters, the three-loop results for the pressure and trace anomaly are found to be in very good agreement with recent lattice data down to $T \sim 2-3\,T_c$, which are temperatures accessible by current and forthcoming heavy-ion collision experiments.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figures; corresponds with published version in JHE

Efficacy and safety of CalliSpheres drug-eluting beads for bronchial arterial chemoembolization for refractory non-small-cell lung cancer and its impact on quality of life: A multicenter prospective study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to prospectively observe the efficacy and safety of CalliSpheres drug-eluting beads bronchial arterial chemoembolization (DEB-BACE) for refractory non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe interventional therapy plan was as follows: 300–500 μm CalliSpheres drug-loaded microspheres were loaded with epirubicin, and then slow embolization of tumor supplying artery was performed after microcatheter superselection. Chest enhanced computed tomography and related hematological examination were reviewed after 2 months of DEB-BACE, and the tumor response after the first interventional therapy was evaluated using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. The overall survival (OS) of patients was determined, and the quality of life and the incidence rate of adverse reactions were observed.ResultsFrom January 2019 to January 2021, 43 patients with refractory NSCLC were enrolled. The patients were followed up until June 2022. All 43 patients underwent DEB-BACE 1.79 ± 0.69 times on average. The 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month survival rates were 100%, 86.0%, 41.9%, and 11.8%, respectively. The median OS was 11.5 months. After the first interventional treatment, cough and wheezing significantly improved in 31 patients, hemoptysis was effectively controlled in 12 patients, and superior vena cava compression disappeared in 2 patients after 2 times of treatment. The general health status of the patients after treatment significantly improved compared with that before treatment, including the improvement in physical and emotional functions. Fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, and insomnia improved significantly after treatment. No serious adverse events, such as spinal cord injury and cerebral embolism, were observed during the perioperative period. The main adverse reaction after DEB-BACE was chest pain (13/43, grade 1) followed by fever (10/43, grade 1–2), which was significantly relieved within 3–5 days after symptomatic treatment. Other adverse reactions included irritating cough, nausea and vomiting, and bone marrow suppression, and the incidence was less than 20%.ConclusionsDEB-BACE was effective and safe in treating refractory NSCLC, which could significantly improve patients’ quality of life and was worthy of clinical promotion and application