Beta-decay study within multi-reference density functional theory and beyond

Pioneering study of Gamow-Teller (GT) and Fermi matrix elements (MEs) using no-core-configuration-interaction formalism rooted in multi-reference density functional theory is presented. After successful test performed for 6He -> 6Li beta-decay, the model is applied to compute MEs in the sd- and pf-shell T=1/2 mirror nuclei. The calculated GT MEs and the isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to the Fermi branch are found to be in a very good agreement with shell-model predictions in spite of fundamental differences between these models concerning model space, treatment of correlations or inclusion of a core. This result indirectly supports the two-body current based scenarios behind the quenching of axial-vector coupling constant.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Mirror and triplet displacement energies within nuclear DFT : Numerical stability

Isospin-symmetry-violating class II and III contact terms are introduced into the Skyrme energy density functional to account for charge dependence of the strong nuclear interaction. The two new coupling constants are adjusted to available experimental data on triplet and mirror displacement energies, respectively. We present preliminary results of the fit, focusing on its numerical stability with respect to the basis size.Peer reviewe

Isospin-symmetry breaking in masses of N similar or equal to Z nuclei

Effects of the isospin-symmetry breaking (ISB) beyond mean-field Coulomb terms are systematically studied in nuclear masses near the N = Z line. The Coulomb exchange contributions are calculated exactly. We use extended Skyrme energy density functionals (EDFs) with proton-neutron-mixed densities, to which we add new terms breaking the isospin symmetry. Two parameters associated with the new terms are determined by fitting mirror and triplet displacement energies (MDEs and TDEs) of isospin multiplets. The new EDFs reproduce MDEs for the T = 1/2 doublets and T= 1 triplets, and TDEs for the T= 1 triplets. Relative strengths of the obtained isospin-symmetry-breaking terms are not consistent with the differences in the NN scattering lengths, a(nn), a(pp), and a(np). Based on low-energy experimental data, it seems thus impossible to delineate the strong-force ISB effects from beyond-mean-field Coulomb-energy corrections. (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Effects of glycol-split low molecular weight heparin on placental, endothelial, and anti-inflammatory pathways relevant to preeclampsia

The authors thank the donors, the Research Centre for Women’s and Infants’ Health BioBank program, the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and the MSH/University Health Network Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology for the human specimens used in this study.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Resource frugal optimizer for quantum machine learning

Quantum-enhanced data science, also known as quantum machine learning (QML), is of growing interest as an application of near-term quantum computers. Variational QML algorithms have the potential to solve practical problems on real hardware, particularly when involving quantum data. However, training these algorithms can be challenging and calls for tailored optimization procedures. Specifically, QML applications can require a large shot-count overhead due to the large datasets involved. In this work, we advocate for simultaneous random sampling over both the dataset as well as the measurement operators that define the loss function. We consider a highly general loss function that encompasses many QML applications, and we show how to construct an unbiased estimator of its gradient. This allows us to propose a shot-frugal gradient descent optimizer called Refoqus (REsource Frugal Optimizer for QUantum Stochastic gradient descent). Our numerics indicate that Refoqus can save several orders of magnitude in shot cost, even relative to optimizers that sample over measurement operators alone.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures - extra quantum autoencoder results adde

Resource frugal optimizer for quantum machine learning

Quantum-enhanced data science, also known as quantum machine learning (QML), is of growing interest as an application of near-term quantum computers. Variational QML algorithms have the potential to solve practical problems on real hardware, particularly when involving quantum data. However, training these algorithms can be challenging and calls for tailored optimization procedures. Specifically, QML applications can require a large shot-count overhead due to the large datasets involved. In this work, we advocate for simultaneous random sampling over both the dataset as well as the measurement operators that define the loss function. We consider a highly general loss function that encompasses many QML applications, and we show how to construct an unbiased estimator of its gradient. This allows us to propose a shot-frugal gradient descent optimizer called Refoqus (REsource Frugal Optimizer for QUantum Stochastic gradient descent). Our numerics indicate that Refoqus can save several orders of magnitude in shot cost, even relative to optimizers that sample over measurement operators alone.Algorithms and the Foundations of Software technolog

Solution of the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov equations in the Cartesian deformed harmonic-oscillator basis. (VIII) HFODD (v2.73y) : A new version of the program

We describe the new version (v2.73y) of the code hfodd which solves the nuclear Skyrme HartreeFock or Skyrme HartreeFockBogolyubov problem by using the Cartesian deformed harmonic-oscillator basis. In the new version, we have implemented the following new features: (i) full protonneutron mixing in the particlehole channel for Skyrme functionals, (ii) the Gogny force in both particlehole and particleparticle channels, (iii) linear multi-constraint method at finite temperature, (iv) fission toolkit including the constraint on the number of particles in the neck between two fragments, calculation of the interaction energy between fragments, and calculation of the nuclear and Coulomb energy of each fragment, (v) the new version 200d of the code hfbtho, together with an enhanced interface between hfbtho and hfodd, (vi) parallel capabilities, significantly extended by adding several restart options for large-scale jobs, (vii) the Lipkin translational energy correction method with pairing, (viii) higher-order Lipkin particle-number corrections, (ix) interface to a program plotting single-particle energies or Routhians, (x) strong-force isospin-symmetry-breaking terms, and (xi) the Augmented Lagrangian Method for calculations with 3D constraints on angular momentum and isospin. Finally, an important bug related to the calculation of the entropy at finite temperature and several other little significant errors of the previous published version were corrected. Program summary Title of the program:hfodd (v2.73y) Program Files doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/3b28fs62wc.1 Licensing provisions: GPL v3 Programming language: FORTRAN-90 Journal reference of previous version: N. Schunck, J. Dobaczewski, J. McDonnell, W. Satula, J. Sheikh, A. Staszczak, M. Stoitsov, and P. Toivanen, Comput. Phys. Comm. 183 (2012) 166-192. Does the new version supersede the previous one: Yes Nature of problem: The nuclear mean field and an analysis of its symmetries in realistic cases are the main ingredients of a description of nuclear states. For the density functional generated by a zero-range velocity-dependent Skyrme interaction, the nuclear mean field is quasilocal. This allows for an effective and fast solution of the self-consistent HartreeFock equations, even for heavy nuclei, and for various nucleonic (n-particle n-hole) configurations, deformations, excitation energies, or angular momenta. Similarly, the local particleparticle density functional, generated by a zero-range interaction, allows for a simple implementation of pairing effects within the HartreeFockBogolyubov method. For finite-range interactions, like Coulomb, Yukawa, or Gogny interaction, the nuclear mean field becomes nonlocal, but using the spatial separability of the deformed harmonic-oscillator basis in three Cartesian directions, the self-consistent calculations can be efficiently performed. Solution method: The program uses the Cartesian harmonic oscillator basis to expand single-particle or single-quasiparticle wave functions of neutrons and protons interacting by means of the Skyrme or Gogny effective interactions and zero-range or finite-range pairing interactions. The expansion coefficients are determined by the iterative diagonalization of the mean-field Hamiltonians or Routhians which depend non-linearly on the local or nonlocal neutron, proton, or mixed protonneutron densities. Suitable constraints are used to obtain states corresponding to a given configuration, deformation or angular momentum. The method of solution has been presented in: J. Dobaczewski and J. Dudek, Comput. Phys. Comm. 102 (1997) 166. Summary of revisions: 1.Full proton-neutron mixing in the particlehole channel for Skyrme functionals was implemented. 2.The Gogny force was implemented in both particle-hole and particle-particle channels. 3.Linear multi-constraint method based on the cranking approximation of the QRPA matrix was extended at finite temperature. 4.Fission toolkit includes the constraint on the number of particles in the neck between two fragments, calculation of the interaction energy between fragments, and calculation of the nuclear and Coulomb energy of each fragment. 5.The HFBTHO module was updated to version 200d, and an enhanced interface between HFBTHO and HFODD was implemented. 6.Parallel capabilities were significantly extended by adding several restart options for large-scale jobs. 7.The Lipkin translational energy correction method with pairing was implemented. 8.Higher-order Lipkin particle-number corrections were implemented. 9.Interface to a program plotting single-particle energies or Routhians was added. 10.Strong-force isospin-symmetry-breaking terms were implemented. 11.The Augmented Lagrangian Method for calculations with 3D constraints on angular momentum and isospin was implemented. 12.An important bug related to the calculation of the entropy at finite temperature and several other little significant errors of the previous published version were corrected. Unusual features of the program: The user must have access to (i) the LAPACK subroutines zhpev, zhpevx, zheevr, or zheevd, which diagonalize complex hermitian matrices, (ii) the LAPACK subroutines dgetri and dgetrf which invert arbitrary real matrices, (iii) the LAPACK subroutines dsyevd, dsytrf and dsytri which compute eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of real symmetric matrices and (iv) the LINPACK subroutines zgedi and zgeco, which invert arbitrary complex matrices and calculate determinants, (v) the BLAS routines dcopy, dscal, dgeem and dgemv for double-precision linear algebra and zcopy, zdscal, zgeem and zgemv for complex linear algebra, or provide another set of subroutines that can perform such tasks. The BLAS and LAPACK subroutines can be obtained from the Netlib Repository at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville: http://netlib2.cs.utk.edu/. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Calcium–phosphate metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and parameters of calcium–phosphate metabolism at different periods of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients, residents of Poland (49°–50°, N), were enrolled in the study, i.e. 15 immediately after the diagnosis of RRMS, 15 at the early stage and 15 at the advanced stage of RRMS. The results were compared to values obtained in 20 age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Lower serum concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and ionised calcium were found in patients compared to the control group. In patients with the disease duration of 5–6 years, concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and ionised calcium were lower than in patients in the earlier period of RRMS. The inverse and clearer direction of changes was found in parathormone serum concentration in patients compared to the controls. In patients with a longer disease duration, a significantly lower 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration was found in female patients compared to male patients. In patients, more frequent 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and unsaturated fatty acids’ supplementation was observed compared to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: In RRMS patients, calcium–phosphate metabolism is disturbed which increases during disease progression

High-precision mass measurements and production of neutron-deficient isotopes using heavy-ion beams at IGISOL

An upgraded ion-guide system for the production of neutron-deficient isotopes with heavy-ion beams has been commissioned at the IGISOL facility with an Ar-36 beam on a Ni-nat target. It was used together with the JYFLTRAP double Penning trap to measure the masses of Zr-82, Nb-84, Mo-86, Tc-88, and Ru-89 ground states and the isomeric state Tc-88(m). Of these, Ru-89 and Tc-88(m) weremeasured for the first time. The precision of measurements of Zr-82, Nb-84, and Tc-88 was significantly improved. The literature value for Mo-86 was verified. The measured states in Tc-88 were compared to shell-model calculations and additional constraints on the spins and level scheme were obtained. The masses of Mo-82 and Ru-86 have been predicted using the measured masses of their mirror partners and theoretical mirror displacement energies, resulting in more tightly bound nuclei with smaller atomic mass uncertainties than reported in the literature.Peer reviewe

Krüppel-Like Factor 6 Expression Changes during Trophoblast Syncytialization and Transactivates ßhCG and PSG Placental Genes

BACKGROUND: Krüppel-like factor-6 (KLF6) is a widely expressed member of the Sp1/KLF family of transcriptional regulators involved in differentiation, cell cycle control and proliferation in several cell systems. Even though the highest expression level of KLF6 has been detected in human and mice placenta, its function in trophoblast physiology is still unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Herein, we explored KLF6 expression and sub-cellular distribution in human trophoblast cells differentiating into the syncytial pathway, and its role in the regulation of genes associated with placental development and pregnancy maintenance. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that KLF6 is expressed throughout human cytotrophoblast differentiation showing no evident modifications in its nuclear and cytoplasmic localization pattern. KLF6 transcript and protein peaked early during the syncytialization process as determined by qRT-PCR and western blot assays. Overexpression of KLF6 in trophoblast-derived JEG-3 cells showed a preferential nuclear signal correlating with enhanced expression of human β-chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) and pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) genes. Moreover, KLF6 transactivated βhCG5, PSG5 and PSG3 gene promoters. Deletion of KLF6 Zn-finger DNA binding domain or mutation of the consensus KLF6 binding site abolished transactivation of the PSG5 promoter. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Results are consistent with KLF6 playing a role as transcriptional regulator of relevant genes for placental differentiation and physiology such as βhCG and PSG, in agreement with an early and transient increase of KLF6 expression during trophoblast syncytialization