Phonon-Mediated High-Temperature Superconductivity in Few-Hydrogen Metal-Bonded Perovskite Al4H\rm {Al_4H} up to 54 K under Ambient Pressure

Multi-hydrogen lanthanum hydrides have shown the highest critical temperature $T_c$ at 250-260 K under 170-200 GPa. However, such high pressure is a great challenge for sample preparation and practical application. To address this challenge, we propose a novel design strategy for high-$T_c$ superconductors by constructing new few-hydrogen metal-bonded perovskite hydrides at ambient pressure, such as $\rm {Al_4H}$, with better ductility than the well-known multi-hydrogen, cuprate and iron-based superconductors. Based on the Migdal-Eliashberg theory, we predict that the structurally stable $\rm {Al_4H}$ has a favorable high $T_c$ up to 54 K under atmospheric pressure, similar to SmOFeAs.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Quantum Cloning Machines and the Applications

No-cloning theorem is fundamental for quantum mechanics and for quantum information science that states an unknown quantum state cannot be cloned perfectly. However, we can try to clone a quantum state approximately with the optimal fidelity, or instead, we can try to clone it perfectly with the largest probability. Thus various quantum cloning machines have been designed for different quantum information protocols. Specifically, quantum cloning machines can be designed to analyze the security of quantum key distribution protocols such as BB84 protocol, six-state protocol, B92 protocol and their generalizations. Some well-known quantum cloning machines include universal quantum cloning machine, phase-covariant cloning machine, the asymmetric quantum cloning machine and the probabilistic quantum cloning machine etc. In the past years, much progress has been made in studying quantum cloning machines and their applications and implementations, both theoretically and experimentally. In this review, we will give a complete description of those important developments about quantum cloning and some related topics. On the other hand, this review is self-consistent, and in particular, we try to present some detailed formulations so that further study can be taken based on those results.Comment: 98 pages, 12 figures, 400+ references. Physics Reports (published online

Average Density of States in Disordered Graphene systems

In this paper, the average density of states (ADOS) with a binary alloy disorder in disordered graphene systems are calculated based on the recursion method. We observe an obvious resonant peak caused by interactions with surrounding impurities and an anti-resonance dip in ADOS curves near the Dirac point. We also find that the resonance energy (Er) and the dip position are sensitive to the concentration of disorders (x) and their on-site potentials (v). An linear relation, not only holds when the impurity concentration is low but this relation can be further extended to high impurity concentration regime with certain constraints. We also calculate the ADOS with a finite density of vacancies and compare our results with the previous theoretical results.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

Diaqua­bis­(5-carb­oxy-2-propyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl­ato-κ2 N 3,O 4)cadmium(II) 3.5-hydrate

In the title complex, [Cd(C8H9N2O4)2(H2O)2]·3.5H2O, the CdII is coordinated by two water mol­ecules and N,O-chelated by two 5-carb­oxy-2-propyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl­ate anions in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The two imidazole rings are oriented to each other with a dihedral angle of 75.1 (2)°. Strong O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between protonated and deprotonated carboxyl­ate groups occur in the mol­ecular structure. In the crystal structure extensive O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds help to stabilize the three-dimensional supra­molecular framework. The propyl groups of anions are disordered over two sites with refined occupancies of 0.768 (6):0.232 (6) and 0.642 (8):0.358 (8)

Plasma Cathepsin S and Cystatin C Levels and Risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Randomized Population–Based Study

Background: Human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) lesions contain high levels of cathepsin S (CatS), but are deficient in its inhibitor, cystatin C. Whether plasma CatS and cystatin C levels are also altered in AAA patients remains unknown. Methods and Results: Plasma samples were collected from 476 male AAA patients and 200 age–matched male controls to determine CatS and cystatin C levels by ELISA. Student's t test demonstrated higher plasma levels of total, active, and pro–CatS in AAA patients than in controls (P<0.001). ROC curve analysis confirmed higher plasma total, active, and pro–CatS levels in AAA patients than in controls (P<0.001). Logistic regression suggested that plasma total (odds ratio [OR] = 1.332), active (OR = 1.21), and pro–CatS (OR = 1.25) levels were independent AAA risk factors that associated positively with AAA (P<0.001). Plasma cystatin C levels associated significantly, but negatively, with AAA (OR = 0.356, P<0.001). Univariate correlation demonstrated that plasma total and active CatS levels correlated positively with body–mass index, diastolic blood pressure, and aortic diameter, but negatively with the lowest ankle–brachial index (ABI). Plasma cystatin C levels also correlated negatively with the lowest ABI. Multivariate linear regression showed that plasma total, active, and pro–CatS levels correlated positively with aortic diameter and negatively with the lowest ABI, whereas plasma cystatin C levels correlated negatively with aortic diameter and the lowest ABI, after adjusting for common AAA risk factors. Conclusions: Correlation of plasma CatS and cystatin C with aortic diameter and the lowest ABI suggest these serological parameters as biomarkers for human peripheral arterial diseases and AAA