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From recent observational data two significant directions have been made in the field of theoretical cosmology recently. First, we are now able to make use of present observations, such as the Planck and BICEP2 data, to examine theoretical predictions from the standard inflationary ACDM which were made decades of years ago. Second, we can search for new cosmological signatures as a way to explore physics beyond the standard cosmic paradigm. In particular, a subset of early universe models admit a nonsingular bouncing solution that attempts to address the issue of the big bang singularity. These models have achieved a series of considerable developments in recent years, in particular in their perturbative frameworks, which made brand-new predictions of cosmological signatures that could be visible in current and forthcoming observations. Herein we present two representative paradigms of early universe physics. The first is the reputed new matter （or matter-ekpyrotic） bounce scenario in which the universe starts with a matter-dominated contraction phase and transitions into an ekpyrotic phase. In the setting of this paradigm, we have proposed some possible mechanisms of generating a red tilt for primordial curvature perturbations and confront the general predictions with recent cosmological observations. The second is the matter-bounce inflation scenario which can be viewed as an extension of inflationary cosmology with a matter contraction before inflation. We present a class of possible model constructions and review the implications on the current CMB experiments. Lastly a review of significant achievements of these paradigms beyond the inflationary ACDM model is made, which is expected to shed new light on the future direction of observational cosmology.

In our previous work, the concept of critical region in a generalized Aubry–André model (Ganeshan–Pixley–Das Sarma’s model) has been established. In this work, we find that the critical region can be realized in a one-dimensional flat band lattice with a quasi-periodic potential. It is found that the above flat band lattice model can be reduced to an effective Ganeshan–Pixley–Das Sarma’s model. Depending on various parameter ranges, the effective quasi-periodic potential may be bounded or unbounded. In these two cases, the Lyapunov exponent, mobility edge, and critical indices of localized length are obtained exactly. In this flat band model, the localized-extended, localized-critical and critical-extended transitions can coexist. Furthermore, we find that near the transitions between the bound and unbounded cases, the derivative of Lyapunov exponent of localized states with respect to energy is discontinuous. At the end, the localized states in bounded and unbounded cases can be distinguished from each other by Avila’s acceleration.

In this paper, we develop an appropriate set of hydrodynamic equations for a U(N) invariant superfluid that couple the dynamics of superflow and magnetization. In the special case when both the superfluid and normal velocities are zero, the hydrodynamic equations reduce to a generalized version of Landau–Lifshitz equation for ferromagnetism with U(N) symmetry. When both velocities are non-zero, there appears couplings between the superflow and magnetization dynamics, and the superfluid velocity no longer satisfies the irrotational condition. On the other hand, the magnitude of magnetization is no longer a constant of motion as was the case for the standard Landau–Lifshitz theory. In comparison with the simple superfluid, the first and second sounds are modified by a non-zero magnetization through various thermodynamic functions. For U(2) invariant superfluid, we get both (zero-) sound wave and a spin wave at zero temperature. It is found that the dispersion of spin wave is always quadratic, which is consistent with microscopic analysis. In the appendix, we show that the hydrodynamic equation for a U(N) invariant superfluid can be obtained from the general hydrodynamic equation with arbitrary internal symmetries.

A bstract In this article, we present an emergent universe scenario that can be derived from DHOST cosmology. The universe starts asymptotically Minkowski in the far past just like the regular Galileon Genesis, but evolves to a radiation dominated period at the late stage, and therefore, the universe has a graceful exit which is absent in the regular Galileon Genesis. We analyze the behavior of cosmological perturbations and show that both the scalar and tensor modes are free from the gradient instability problem. We further analyze the primordial scalar spectrum generated in various situations and discuss whether a scale invariance can be achieved.

N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) is one of the most common RNA modifications in eukaryotes, mainly in messenger RNA (mRNA). Increasing evidence shows that m 6 A methylation modification acts an essential role in various physiological and pathological bioprocesses. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, are known to participate in regulating cell differentiation, angiogenesis, immune response, inflammatory response and carcinogenesis. m 6 A regulators, such as METTL3, ALKBH5 and IGF2BP1 have been reported to execute a m 6 A-dependent modification of ncRNAs involved in carcinogenesis. Meanwhile, ncRNAs can target or modulate m 6 A regulators to influence cancer development. In this review, we provide an insight into the interplay between m 6 A modification and ncRNAs in cancer.

In this work, we investigate the bound states in the continuum (BIC) of a one-dimensional spin-1 flat band system. It is found that, when the potential is sufficiently strong, there exists an effective attractive potential well surrounded by infinitely high self-sustained barriers. Consequently, there exist some BIC in the effective potential well. These bound states are protected by the infinitely high potential barriers, which could not decay into the continuum. Taking a long-ranged Coulomb potential and a short-ranged exponential potential as two examples, the bound state energies are obtained. For a Coulomb potential, there exists a series of critical potential strengths, near which the bound state energy can go to infinity. For a sufficiently strong exponential potential, there exist two different bound states with a same number of wave function nodes. The existence of BIC protected by the self-sustained potential barriers is quite a universal phenomenon in the flat band system under a strong potential. A necessary condition for the existence of BIC is that the maximum of potential is larger than two times band gap.

In this work, a Josephson relation is generalized to a multi-component fermion superfluid. Superfluid density is expressed through a two-particle Green function for pairing states. When the system has only one gapless collective excitation mode, the Josephson relation is simplified, which is given in terms of the superfluid order parameters and the trace of two-particle normal Green function. In addition, it is found that the matrix elements of two-particle Green function is directly related to the matrix elements of the pairing fluctuations of superfluid order parameters. Furthermore, in the presence of inversion symmetry, the superfluid density is given in terms of the pairing fluctuation matrix. The results of the superfluid density in Haldane model show that the generalized Josephson relation can be also applied to a multi-band fermion superfluid in lattice.

Background N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) RNA methylation and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to act vital roles in multiple malignancies including gastric cancer (GC). However, there is little knowledge about how m 6 A modification of circRNAs contributes to GC progression. Methods The association of METTL14 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with GC was assessed by Western blot, Immunohistochemistry and public datasets. In vitro and vivo function experiments were conducted to investigate the role of METTL14 in GC. Furthermore, m 6 A-circRNA epitranscriptomic microarray was utilized to identify METTL14-mediated m 6 A modification of circRNAs, which were validated by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP), RT-qPCR and rescue experiments in GC cells. The sponge of circORC5 with miR-30c-2-3p was confirmed by luciferase gene report and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The expression, localization and prognosis of circORC5 in GC were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The effects of METTL14 and (or) circORC5 on miR-30c-2-3p-mediated AKT1S1 and EIF4B were estimated by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses. Results We found that METTL14 was downregulated in GC tissue samples and its low expression acted as a prognostic factor of poor survival in patients with GC. Ectopic expression of METTL14 markedly repressed growth and invasion of GC cells in vitro and in vivo , whereas knockdown of METTL14 harbored the opposite effects. Mechanically, m 6 A-circRNA epitranscriptomic microarray and Me-RIP identified circORC5 as the downstream target of METTL14. Silencing of METTL14 reduced the m 6 A level of circORC5, but increased circORC5 expression. Moreover, circORC5 could sponge miR-30c-2-3p, and reverse METTL14-caused upregulation of miR-30c-2-3p and downregulation of AKT1S1 and EIF4B. In addition, circORC5 possessed a negative correlation with miR-30c-2-3p and indicated a poor survival in GC. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that METTL14-mediated m 6 A modification of circORC5 suppresses gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-30c-2-3p/AKT1S1 axis.

In the singlet Majoron model, we study cosmological phase transitions (PTs) and their resulting gravitational waves (GWs), in the two-field phase space, without freezing any of the field directions. We first calculate the effective potential, at one loop and at finite temperature, of the Standard Model Higgs doublet together with one extra Higgs singlet. We make use of the public available Python package ‘CosmoTransitions’ to simulate the two-dimensional (2D) cosmological PTs and evaluate the gravitational waves generated by first-order PTs. With the full 2D simulation, we are able not only to confirm the PTs’ properties previously discussed in the literature, but also we find new patterns, such as strong first-order PTs tunneling from a vacuum located on one axis to another vacuum located on the second axis. The two-field phase space analysis presents a richer panel of cosmological PT patterns compared to analysis with a single-field approximation. The PTGW amplitudes turn out to be out of the reach for the space-borne gravitational wave interferometers such as LISA, DECIGO, BBO, TAIJI and TianQin when constraints from colliders physics are taken into account.

Background Diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is one of the most insidious complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which can seriously affect the ability to self‐monitoring of blood glucose and the quality of life in the elderly. Previous pathological studies of cognitive dysfunction have focused on neuronal dysfunction, characterized by extracellular beta‐amyloid deposition and intracellular tau hyperphosphorylation. In recent years, astrocytes have been recognized as a potential therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction and important participants in the central control of metabolism. The disorder of gut microbiota and their metabolites have been linked to a series of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The imbalance of intestinal flora has the effect of promoting the occurrence and deterioration of several diabetes‐related complications. Gut microbes and their metabolites can drive astrocyte activation. Aims We reviewed the pathological progress of DCD related to the “gut microbiota‐astrocyte” axis in terms of peripheral and central inflammation, intestinal and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, systemic and brain energy metabolism disorders to deepen the pathological research progress of DCD and explore the potential therapeutic targets. Conclusion “Gut microbiota‐astrocyte” axis, unique bidirectional crosstalk in the brain‐gut axis, mediates the intermediate pathological process of neurocognitive dysfunction secondary to metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus. The “gut microbiota‐astrocyte” axis is coupled to the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction secondary to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Gut microbes and astrocytes are critical factors in the gut‐brain axis, leading to diabetic cognitive dysfunction through peripheral and central inflammation, gut and blood–brain barriers (BBB), and systemic and brain energy metabolism. Gut microbiota and its metabolites are upstream drivers of astrocytic activation. The reactive astrocytes' morphology and function changes result in BBB injury, neuroinflammation, and brain energy metabolic disorder.