Footprints of Axion-Like Particle in Pulsar Timing Array Data and JWST Observations

Very recently Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) collaborations have independently reported the evidence for a stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB), which can unveil the formation of primordial seeds of inhomogeneities in the early universe. With the SGWB parameters inferred from PTAs data, we can make a prediction of the Primordial Black Hole (PBH) clusters from the domain walls of axion-like particles (ALPs). These primordial seeds can naturally provide a solution to the early Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) formation indicated by James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Besides, the mass of ALP is also constrained, $m_a \sim 10^{-15}-10^{-14}$ eV, within the reach of upcoming cavity experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Probing Supersymmetry Breaking Scale with Atomic Clocks

The supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking mechanism generally predicts the existence of the sgoldstinos, which can play the role of wave-like dark matter. Due to the ubiquitous coupling to the electromagnetic fields, the light scalar sgoldstino dark matter can lead to the variance of the fine-structure constant. With the precise atomic clock data, we find the SUSY breaking scale $\sqrt{F}$ can be probed up to the GUT scale in the sgoldstino mass range of $10^{-22}$ eV $<m_\phi <$ $4\times10^{-7}$ eV.Comment: 5 page

Analytical vectorial structure of non-paraxial four-petal Gaussian beams in the far field

The analytical vectorial structure of non-paraxial four-petal Gaussian beams(FPGBs) in the far field has been studied based on vector angular spectrum method and stationary phase method. In terms of analytical electromagnetic representations of the TE and TM terms, the energy flux distributions of the TE term, the TM term, and the whole beam are derived in the far field, respectively. According to our investigation, the FPGBs can evolve into a number of small petals in the far field. The number of the petals is determined by the order of input beam. The physical pictures of the FPGBs are well illustrated from the vectorial structure, which is beneficial to strengthen the understanding of vectorial properties of the FPGBs

Dynamic Stiffness Method for Vibrations of Ship Structures

Initiated by the objective to address the dynamics of ship structures other than conventional finite element method, a dynamic stiffness method (DSM) is proposed systematically including that for three types of element models. A DSM element accounting for both in-plane and bending vibrations in flat rectangular plates is developed, which makes it possible for modeling wave conversion across junctions in built-up plates. In addition, a DSM element for stiffened plates is formulated, which considers all possible vibrations in plates and beams, i.e., bending, torsion, and extension motions. The third type of DSM plate element takes fluid loading into account, which is induced by vibrating plate. Finally, the proposed DSM method is extended to address vibration transmission in a built-up plate structure, which demonstrates the great potentials of DSM in application to more practical and more general engineering fields

Short-term effects of intravenous batroxobin in treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a propensity score-matched study

BackgroundSudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) can cause great panic in patients. Whether it is advantageous to add intravenous batroxobin in the treatment of SSNHL remains to be determined. This study aimed to compare the short-term efficacy of therapy combined with intravenous batroxobin and that without intravenous batroxobin in SSNHL patients.MethodsThis retrospective study harvested the data of SSNHL patients hospitalized in our department from January 2008 to April 2021. The hearing levels on the admitted day (before treatment) and the discharge day were considered pre-treatment hearing and post-treatment hearing, respectively. The hearing gain was the difference value of pre-treatment hearing and post-treatment hearing. We used Siegel's criteria and the Chinese Medical Association of Otolaryngology (CMAO) criteria to evaluate hearing recovery. The complete recovery rate, overall effective rate, and hearing gain at each frequency were considered outcomes. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to balance the baseline characteristics between the batroxobin group and the non-batroxobin group. Sensitivity analysis was carried out in flat-type and total-deafness SSNHL patients.ResultsDuring the study period, 657 patients with SSNHL were admitted to our department. Among them, a total of 274 patients met the enrolled criteria of our study. After PSM, 162 patients (81 in each group) were included in the analysis. Once the hospitalized treatment was completed, the patients would be discharged the next day. Logistic regression analysis of the propensity score-matched cohort indicated that both the complete recovery rates [Siegel's criteria, OR: 0.734, 95% CI: 0.368–1.466, p = 0.381; CMAO criteria, OR: 0.879, 95% CI: 0.435–1.777, p = 0.720] and the overall effective rates [Siegel's criteria and CMAO criteria, OR: 0.741, 95% CI: 0.399–1.378, p = 0.344] were not significantly different between the two treatment groups. Sensitivity analysis has shown similar results. For flat-type and total-deafness SSNHL patients, no significant difference was found in post-treatment hearing gain at each frequency between the two groups after PSM.ConclusionThere was no significant difference in short-term hearing outcomes between treatment with batroxobin and treatment without batroxobin in SSNHL patients by Siegel's and CMAO criteria after PSM. Future studies for better therapy regimens of SSNHL are still needed

Vectorial structure of a hard-edged-diffracted four-petal Gaussian beam in the far field

Based on the vector angular spectrum method and the stationary phase method and the fact that a circular aperture function can be expanded into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, the analytical vectorial structure of a four-petal Gaussian beam (FPGB) diffracted by a circular aperture is derived in the far field. The energy flux distributions and the diffraction effect introduced by the aperture are studied and illustrated graphically. Moreover, the influence of the f-parameter and the truncation parameter on the nonparaxiality is demonstrated in detail. In addition, the analytical formulas obtained in this paper can degenerate into un-apertured case when the truncation parameter tends to infinity. This work is beneficial to strengthen the understanding of vectorial properties of the FPGB diffracted by a circular aperture