Acetazolamide As A Valuable Addition to Acute Heart Failure?

Consider IV Acetazolamide in addition to standard IV loop diuretic therapy in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure.1.

Efficient and Robust Parameter Optimization of the Unitary Coupled-Cluster Ansatz.

The variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) framework has been instrumental in advancing near-term quantum algorithms. However, parameter optimization remains a significant bottleneck for VQE, requiring a large number of measurements for successful algorithm execution. In this paper, we propose sequential optimization with approximate parabola (SOAP) as an efficient and robust optimizer specifically designed for parameter optimization of the unitary coupled-cluster ansatz on quantum computers. SOAP leverages sequential optimization and approximates the energy landscape as quadratic functions, minimizing the number of energy evaluations required to optimize each parameter. To capture parameter correlations, SOAP incorporates the average direction from previous iterations into the optimization direction set. Numerical benchmark studies on molecular systems demonstrate that SOAP achieves significantly faster convergence and greater robustness to noise compared with traditional optimization methods. Furthermore, numerical simulations of up to 20 qubits reveal that SOAP scales well with the number of parameters in the ansatz. The exceptional performance of SOAP is further validated through experiments on a superconducting quantum computer using a 2-qubit model system.

High-pressure induces topology boosting thermoelectric performance of Bi2Te3.

Decoupling conductivity(σ)and Seebeck coefficient(S)by electronic topological transitions (ETT) under high pressure (2-4 GPa) is a promising method for bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) to optimize thermoelectric (TE) performance. However, theScannot dramatically increase with increasingσwhen ETT occurs in Bi2Te3, which impedes optimizing TE performance by utilizing ETT in Bi2Te3. A new strategy of enhanced ETT by combining lattice distortions and high pressure is proposed in this work. The lattice distortions in Bi2Te3were introduced by high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) treatment to generate surplus dislocations. Thein-situmeasurements ofσandSat HPHT in Bi2Te3with lattice distortions show an enhanced ETT effect at 2 GPa, which causes decoupleσandSwith an anomalous increase in its|S|about 22%. The ETT effect causes the figure of merit (ZT) of Bi2Te3can be improved to 0.275 at 1.50-2.62 GPa, 460 K, it is more than 62% compared with 0.79 GPa, at 450 K. The excellent TE performance of Bi2Te3arising from the lattice distortions can result in local non-hydrostatic pressure which enhances ETT under high pressure. This work provides a new strategy to enhance ETT to decoupleσandS, and search for better TE materials from the pressure dimension in the future.

The Synthesis and Characterisation of the High-Hardness Magnetic Material Mn2N0.86.

High-quality P6322 Mn2N0.86 samples were synthesised using a high-pressure metathesis reaction, and the properties of the material were investigated. The measurements revealed that the Vickers hardness was 7.47 GPa, which is less than that predicted by commonly used theoretical models. At low air pressure, Mn2N0.86 and MnO coexist at 500 to 600 °C, and by excluding air, we succeeded in producing Mn4N by heating Mn2N0.86 in nitrogen atmosphere; we carefully studied this process with thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). This gives a hint that to control temperature, air pressure and gas concentration might be an effective way to prepare fine Mn-N-O catalysis. Magnetic measurements indicated that ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism coexist within Mn2N0.86 at room temperature and that these magnetic properties are induced by nitrogen vacancies. Ab intio simulation was used to probe the nature of the magnetism in greater detail. The research contributes to the available data and the understanding of Mn2N0.86 and suggests ways to control the formation of materials based on Mn2N0.86.

Computational Method for Evaluating the Thermoelectric Power Factor for Organic Materials Modeled by the Holstein Model: A Time-Dependent Density Matrix Renormalization Group Formalism.

Organic/polymeric materials are of emerging importance for thermoelectric conversion. The soft nature of these materials implies strong electron-phonon coupling, often leading to carrier localization. This poses great challenges for the conventional Boltzmann transport description based on relaxation time approximation and band structure calculations. In this work, combining the Kubo formula with the finite-temperature time-dependent density matrix renormalization group (FT-TD-DMRG) in the grand canonical ensemble, we developed a nearly exact algorithm to calculate the thermoelectric power factor PF = α2 σ, where α is the Seebeck coefficient and σ is the electrical conductivity, and apply the algorithm to Holstein Hamiltonian with electron-phonon coupling to model organic materials. Our algorithm can provide a unified description covering the weak coupling limit described by the bandlike Boltzmann transport to the strong coupling hopping limit.

Migraine relief in 20 minutes using eyedrops?

One randomized crossover trial demonstrated the effectiveness of this simple, affordable treatment for patients with acute migraine pain.

Correction: Synthesis and characterization of a strong ferromagnetic and high hardness intermetallic compound Fe2B.

Correction for 'Synthesis and characterization of a strong ferromagnetic and high hardness intermetallic compound Fe2B' by Xingbin Zhao et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 27425-27432, DOI: 10.1039/D0CP03380D.

Revealing the Unusual Boron-Pinned Layered Substructure in Superconducting Hard Molybdenum Semiboride.

Improving the poor electrical conductivity of hard materials is important, as it will benefit their application. High-hardness metallic Mo2B was synthesized by high-pressure and high-temperature methods. Temperature-dependent resistivity measurements suggested that Mo2B has excellent metallic conductivity properties and is a weakly coupled superconductor with a T c of 6.0 K. The Vickers hardness of the metal-rich molybdenum semiboride reaches 16.5 GPa, exceeding the hardness of MoB and MoB2. The results showed that a proper boron concentration can improve the mechanical properties, not necessarily a high boron concentration. First-principles calculations revealed that the pinning effect of light elements is related to hardness. The high hardness of boron-pinned layered Mo2B demonstrated that the design of high-hardness conductive materials should be based on the structure formed by light elements rather than high-concentration light elements.

Synthesis and characterization of a strong ferromagnetic and high hardness intermetallic compound Fe2B.

Magnetic materials attract great attention due to their fundamental importance and practical application. However, the relatively inferior mechanical properties of traditional magnetic materials limit their application in a harsh environment. In this work, we report an outstanding magnetic material that exhibits both fantastic mechanical and excellent magnetic properties, CuAl2-type Fe2B, synthesized by the high pressure and high temperature method. The magnetic saturation of Fe2B is 156.9 emu g-1 at room temperature and its Vickers hardness is 12.4 GPa which outclasses those of traditional magnetic materials. It exhibits good conductivity with a resistivity of 5.6 × 10-7 Ω m. Fe2B is a promising strong ferromagnetic material with high hardness, which makes it a good candidate for multifunction applications in a harsh environment. The high hardness of Fe2B originates from the Fe-B bond framework, and the strong ferromagnetism is mainly attributed to the large number of unpaired Fe 3d electrons. The competition of Fe 3d electrons to fall into Fe-B bonds or Fe-Fe bonds is the main factor for its magnetism and hardness. This work bridges the chasm between strong ferromagnetism and high hardness communities.

Role of TM-TM Connection Induced by Opposite d-Electron States on the Hardness of Transition-Metal (TM = Cr, W) Mononitrides.

Recent reports exposed an astonishing factor of high hardness that the connection between transition-metal (TM) atoms could enhance hardness, which is in contrast to the usual understanding that TM-TM will weaken hardness as the source of metallicity. It is surprising that there are two opposite mechanical characteristics in the one TM-TM bond. To uncover the intrinsic reason, we studied two appropriate mononitrides, CrN and WN, with the same light-element (LE) content and valence electron concentration. The two high-quality compounds were synthesized by a new metathesis under high pressure, and the Vickers hardness is 13.0 GPa for CrN and 20.0 GPa for WN. Combined with theoretical calculations, we found that the strong correlation of d electrons in TM-TM could seriously affect hardness. Thus, we make the complementary suggestions of the previous hardness factors that the antibonding d-electron state in TM-TM near the Fermi level should be avoided and a strong d covalent coupling in TM-TM is very beneficial for high hardness. Our results are very important for the further design of high-hardness and multifunctional TM and LE compounds.

Double-zigzag boron chain-enhanced Vickers hardness and manganese bilayers-induced high d-electron mobility in Mn3B4.

The D7b-type structure Mn3B4 was fabricated by high-temperature and high-pressure (HPHT) methods. Hardness examination yielded an asymptotic Vickers hardness of 16.3 GPa, which is much higher than that of Mn2B and MnB2. First principle calculations and XPS results demonstrated that double zigzag boron chains form a strong covalent skeletons, which enhances this structure's integrity with high hardness. Considering that the hardensses of MnB and Mn3B4 are higher than those of Mn2B and MnB2, zigzag and double zigzag boron backbones are superior to isolated boron and graphite-like boron layer backbones for achieving higher hardness. This situation also states that a higher boron content is not the sole factor for the higher hardness in the low boron content transition metal borides. Futhermore, the co-presence of metallic manganese bilayers contribute to the high d-electron mobility and generate electrical conductivity and antiferromagnetism in Mn3B4 which provide us with a new structure prototype to design general-purpose high hardness materials.

In utero perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure causes low body weights of fetal rats: A mechanism study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study is to investigate the mechanism of perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced low body weight of fetus by analysis of glucocorticoid metabolizing enzyme 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 and gene expression profiling of the placenta after in utero PFOS exposure. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams were gavaged with 0, 5, and 20 mg/kg body weight PFOS daily from gestational day 12-18. On gestational day 18, pregnant dams were euthanized, placentas, and fetuses were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body weights of fetuses and placentas were measured, the corticosterone levels in fetal serum, and 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 as well as the placental gene profiling were analyzed. RESULTS: 20 mg/kg PFOS significantly reduced fetal body weight and placental weight. Both 5 and 20 mg/kg PFOS increased fetal serum corticosterone levels. PFOS potently inhibited placental 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 activity. Of 21,910 genes, 45 genes were significantly downregulated ≥2 fold by 20 mg/kg PFOS, including extracellular matrix (Slpi and Pi16), growth factors and hormones (Trh and Pdf), ion transporters (Aqp1, S100a4, and Abp1), signal transducers (Kap and Ampd3), and structural constituents (A2m and Des). CONCLUSIONS: PFOS exposure may alter placental development and function, causing intrauterine growth restriction via inhibiting placental 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2.

Deficiency of CDKN1A or both CDKN1A and CDKN1B affects the pubertal development of mouse Leydig cells.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21(Cip1) (CDKN1A) and p27(Kip1) (CDKN1B) are expressed in Leydig cells. Previously, we reported that Cdkn1b knockout in the mouse led to increased Leydig cell proliferative capacity and lower steroidogenesis. However, the relative importance of CDKN1A and CDKN1B in these regulations was unclear. In the present study, we examined the relative importance of CDKN1A and CDKN1B in regulation of Leydig cell proliferation and steroidogenesis by whole-body knockout of CDKN1A (Cdkn1a(-/-)) and CDKN1A/CDKN1B double knockout (DBKO). The cell number, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation rate, steroidogenesis, and steroidogenic enzyme mRNA levels and activities of Leydig cells were compared among wild-type (WT), Cdkn1a(-/-), and DBKO mice. Relative to WT mice, Leydig cell number per testis was doubled in the DBKO and unchanged in the Cdkn1a(-/-) mice. Testicular testosterone levels and mRNA levels for luteinizing hormone receptor (Lhcgr), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (Cyp11a1), 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (Cyp17a1), and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (Hsd17b3) and their respective proteins were significantly lower in the DBKO mice. However, testicular testosterone level was unchanged in the Cdkn1a(-/-) mice, although Lhcgr mRNA levels were significantly lower relative to those in the WT control. We conclude that Cdkn1a(-/-) did not increase Leydig cell numbers (although a defect of Leydig cell function was noted), whereas DBKO caused a significant increase of Leydig cell numbers but a decrease of steroidogenesis.

Alterations of gene profiles in Leydig-cell-regenerating adult rat testis after ethane dimethane sulfonate-treatment.

Only occupying about 1%-5% of total testicular cells, the adult Leydig cell (ALC) is a unique endocrine cell that produces androgens. Rat Leydig cells regenerate after these cells in the testis are eliminated with ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS). In this study, we have characterized Leydig cell regeneration and messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNA) profiles of EDS treated rat testes. Serum testosterone, testicular gene profiling and some steroidogenesis-related proteins were analyzed at 7, 21, 35 and 90 days after EDS treatment. Testicular testosterone levels declined to undetectable levels until 7 days after treatment and then started to recover. Seven days after treatment, 81 mRNAs were down-regulated greater than or equal to two-fold, with 48 becoming undetectable. These genes increased their expression 21 days and completely returned to normal levels 90 days after treatment. The undetectable genes include steroidogenic pathway proteins: steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, Scarb1, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp1b1 and Cyp2a1. Seven days after treatment, there were 89 mRNAs up-regulated two-fold or more including Pkib. These up-regulated mRNAs returned to normal 90 days after treatment. Cyp2a1 did not start to recover until 35 days after treatment, indicating that this gene is only expressed in ALCs not in the precursor cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and semi-quantitative immunohistochemical staining using tissue array confirmed the changes of several randomly picked genes and their proteins.

Mono-carbonyl curcumin analogues as 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 inhibitors.

A series of structurally novel mono-carbonyl curcumin analogues have been synthesized and biologically evaluated to test their inhibitory potencies and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) on human and rat 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform (11ß-HSD1) activities. 11ß-HSD1 selective inhibitors have been discovered and compound A10 is discovered as a very potent with an IC50 value of 97 nM without inhibiting 11ß-HSD2.

Effects of luteinizing hormone and androgen on the development of rat progenitor Leydig cells in vitro and in vivo.

Progenitor Leydig cells are derived from stem cells. The proliferation and differentiation of progenitor Leydig cells significantly contributes to Leydig cell number during puberty. However, the regulation of these processes remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to determine whether luteinizing hormone (LH) or androgen contributes to the proliferation and differentiation of progenitor Leydig cells. Fourteen-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated for 7 days with NalGlu, which is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, to reduce the secretion of LH in the pituitary and thus, androgen in the testis. Rats were co-administered with LH or 7α-methyl-nortestosterone (MENT), which is an androgen resistant to metabolism by 5α-reductase 1 in progenitor Leydig cells, and the subsequent effects of LH or androgen were measured. (3)H-Thymidine was also intravenously injected into rats to study thymidine incorporation in progenitor Leydig cells. Progenitor Leydig cells were examined. NalGlu administration reduced progenitor Leydig cell proliferation by 83%. In addition, LH or MENT treatment restored Leydig cell proliferative capacity to 73% or 50% of control, respectively. The messenger RNA levels of proliferation-related genes were measured using real-time PCR. The expression levels of Igf1, Lifr, Pdgfra, Bcl2, Ccnd3 and Pcna were upregulated by MENT, and those of Pdgfra, Ccnd3 and Pcna were upregulated by LH. Both LH and MENT stimulated the differentiation of progenitor Leydig cells in vitro. We concluded that both LH and MENT were involved in regulating the development of progenitor Leydig cells.

The increased number of Leydig cells by di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate comes from the differentiation of stem cells into Leydig cell lineage in the adult rat testis.

The objective of the present study is to determine whether di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure at adulthood increases rat Leydig cell number and to investigate the possible mechanism. 90-day-old Long-Evans rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, and were gavaged with the corn oil (control) or 10 or 750 mg/kg DEHP daily for 7 days, and then received an intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg ethane dimethanesulfonate (EDS) to eliminate Leydig cells. Serum testosterone concentrations were assessed by RIA, and the mRNA levels of Leydig cell genes were measured by qPCR. EDS eliminated all Leydig cells in the control testis on day 4 post-EDS, as judged by undetectable serum testosterone level and no 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase positive (3ß-HSD(pos)) cells in the interstitium. However, in DEHP-treated groups, there were detectable serum testosterone concentrations and some oval-shaped 3ß-HSD(pos) cells in the interstitium. These 3ß-HSD(pos) cells were not stained by the antibody against 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11ß-HSD1), a marker for Leydig cells at a more advanced stage. The disappearance of mRNAs of Leydig cell biomarkers including Lhcgr, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Insl3 and Hsd11b1 in the control testis was observed on day 4 post-EDS. However, there were detectable concentrations of Lhcgr, Cyp11a1 and Cyp17a1 mRNAs but undetectable concentrations of Insl3, Hsd17b3 and Hsd11b1 in the DEHP-treated testes, indicating that these 3ß-HSD(pos) cells were newly formed progenitor Leydig cells. The mRNA level for nestin (Nes, biomarker for stem Leydig cells) was significantly increased in the control testis on day 4 post-EDS, but not in the DEHP treated testes, suggesting that these nestin positive stem cells were differentiated into progenitor Leydig cells in the DEHP-treated testes. The present study suggests that DEHP increases the differentiation of stem cells into progenitor Leydig cells.

Microfabricated surface ion trap on a high-finesse optical mirror.

A novel approach to optics integration in ion traps is demonstrated based on a surface electrode ion trap that is microfabricated on top of a dielectric mirror. Additional optical losses due to fabrication are found to be as low as 80 ppm for light at 422 nm. The integrated mirror is used to demonstrate light collection from, and imaging of, a single Sr88(+) ion trapped 169±4 µm above the mirror.

Temperature dependence of electric field noise above gold surfaces.

Electric field noise from fluctuating patch potentials is a significant problem for a broad range of precision experiments, including trapped ion quantum computation and single spin detection. Recent results demonstrated strong suppression of this noise by cryogenic cooling, suggesting an underlying thermal process. We present measurements characterizing the temperature and frequency dependence of the noise from 7 to 100 K, using a single Sr+ ion trapped 75 mum above the surface of a gold plated surface electrode ion trap. The noise amplitude is observed to have an approximate 1/f spectrum around 1 MHz, and grows rapidly with temperature as T;{beta} for beta from 2 to 4. The data are consistent with microfabricated cantilever measurements of noncontact friction but do not extrapolate to the dc measurements with neutral atoms or contact potential probes.