Hydrogen-Induced High-Temperature Superconductivity in Two-Dimensional Materials: The Example of Hydrogenated Monolayer MgB_{2}

Hydrogen-based compounds under ultrahigh pressure, such as the polyhydrides H_{3}S and LaH_{10}, superconduct through the conventional electron-phonon coupling mechanism to attain the record critical temperatures known to date. Here we exploit the intrinsic advantages of hydrogen to strongly enhance phonon-mediated superconductivity in a completely different system, namely, a two-dimensional material with hydrogen adatoms. We find that van Hove singularities in the electronic structure, originating from atomiclike hydrogen states, lead to a strong increase of the electronic density of states at the Fermi level, and thus of the electron-phonon coupling. Additionally, the emergence of high-frequency hydrogen-related phonon modes in this system boosts the electron-phonon coupling further. As a concrete example, we demonstrate the effect of hydrogen adatoms on the superconducting properties of monolayer MgB_{2}, by solving the fully anisotropic Eliashberg equations, in conjunction with a first-principles description of the electronic and vibrational states, and their coupling. We show that hydrogenation leads to a high critical temperature of 67 K, which can be boosted to over 100 K by biaxial tensile strain.

Free surfaces recast superconductivity in few-monolayer MgB2: Combined first-principles and ARPES demonstration

Two-dimensional materials are known to harbour properties very different from those of their bulk counterparts. Recent years have seen the rise of atomically thin superconductors, with a caveat that superconductivity is strongly depleted unless enhanced by specific substrates, intercalants or adatoms. Surprisingly, the role in superconductivity of electronic states originating from simple free surfaces of two-dimensional materials has remained elusive to date. Here, based on first-principles calculations, anisotropic Eliashberg theory, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we show that surface states in few-monolayer MgB2 make a major contribution to the superconducting gap spectrum and density of states, clearly distinct from the widely known, bulk-like σ- and π-gaps. As a proof of principle, we predict and measure the gap opening on the magnesium-based surface band up to a critical temperature as high as ~30 K for merely six monolayers thick MgB2. These findings establish free surfaces as an unavoidable ingredient in understanding and further tailoring of superconductivity in atomically thin materials.

Structural and electronic properties of defects at grain boundaries in CuInSe2

We report on a first-principles study of the structural and electronic properties of a Σ3 (112) grain boundary model in CuInSe₂. The study focuses on a coherent, stoichiometry preserving, cation-Se terminated grain boundary, addressing the properties of the grain boundary as such, as well as the effect of well known defects in CuInSe₂. We show that in spite of its apparent simplicity, such a grain boundary exhibits a very rich phenomenology, providing an explanation for several of the experimentally observed properties of grain boundaries in CuInSe₂ thin films. In particular, we show that the combined effect of Cu vacancies and cation antisites can result in the observed Cu depletion with no In enrichment at the grain boundaries. Furthermore, Cu vacancies are unlikely to produce a hole barrier at the grain boundaries, but Na may indeed have such an effect. We find that Na-on-Cu defects will tend to form abundantly at the grain boundaries, and can provide a mechanism for the carrier depletion and/or type inversion experimentally reported.

Native point defects in CuIn(1-x)Ga(x)Se2: hybrid density functional calculations predict the origin of p- and n-type conductivity

We have performed a first-principles study of the p- and n-type conductivity in CuIn(1-x)Ga(x)Se2 due to native point defects, based on the HSE06 hybrid functional. Band alignment shows that the band gap becomes larger with x due to the increasing conduction band minimum, rendering it hard to establish n-type conductivity in CuGaSe2. From the defect formation energies, we find that In/GaCu is a shallow donor, while V(Cu), V(In/Ga) and Cu(In/Ga) act as shallow acceptors. Using the total charge neutrality of ionized defects and intrinsic charge carriers to determine the Fermi level, we show that under In-rich growth conditions InCu causes strongly n-type conductivity in CuInSe2. Under increasingly In-poor growth conditions, the conductivity type in CuInSe2 alters to p-type and compensation of the acceptors by In(Cu) reduces, as also observed in photoluminescence experiments. In CuGaSe2, the native acceptors pin the Fermi level far away from the conduction band minimum, thus inhibiting n-type conductivity. On the other hand, CuGaSe2 shows strong p-type conductivity under a wide range of Ga-poor growth conditions. Maximal p-type conductivity in CuIn(1-x)Ga(x)Se2 is reached under In/Ga-poor growth conditions, in agreement with charge concentration measurements on samples with In/Ga-poor stoichiometry, and is primarily due to the dominant acceptor Cu(In/Ga).

Local Observation of Field Polarity Dependent Flux Pinning by Magnetic Dipoles

A scanning Hall probe microscope is used to study flux pinning in a thin superconducting Pb film covering a square array of single-domain Co dots with in-plane magnetization. We show that single flux quanta of opposite sign thread the superconducting film below T(c) at the opposite poles of these dipoles. Depending on the polarity of the applied field, flux lines are attracted to a specific pole of the dipoles, due to the direct interaction with the vortexlike structures induced by the local stray field.

Malignant myoepithelioma of the breast. Case report with immunohistochemical study

Malignant myoepitheliomas of the breast are rare. We report a case of spindle cell malignant myoepithelioma studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The malignant myoepithelial cells stained positively for cytokeratins, smooth muscle actin and vimentin, but not for epithelial membrane antigen. The tumor showed a focal positivity for S100 protein. A short review of the morphology and immunohistochemistry of cases reported in the international literature is given in a table. Morphologically malignant myoepitheliomas can be subdivided into spindle cell malignant myoepitheliomas and malignant adenomyoepitheliomas.

Causative role of Yersinia and other enteric pathogens in the appendicular syndrome

In 2,861 consecutive patients undergoing appendicectomy for clinically suspected appendicitis an enteric pathogen was isolated from the appendix in almost 7% using an optimal combination of culture media. The pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes 03 and 09 predominated (3.6%), followed by Campylobacter and nontyphoid Salmonella. The same pathogen was isolated from the stool in 72.5% of patients with a culture-positive appendix and in 84.1% of those positive for a pathogenic Yersinia. Conversely, no pathogenic Yersinia were isolated in 326 gynaecologic control patients, in whom a normal appendix was removed. No frank appendicitis but mesenteric adenitis and/or terminal ileitis were found in 62.3% of 138 patients with a culture positive appendix, and in 74.6% of those positive for a pathogenic Yersinia. Histologic findings available in 135 patients showed acute suppurative appendicitis in only six (4.5%) patients, and in only one of 73 (1.4%) positive for a pathogenic Yersinia. In contrast, 46.8% of a group of 345 culture-negative appendices showed acute inflammation. A positive stool culture in a patient with suspected appendicitis, if consistent with sonographic and clinical findings, should be taken as strong evidence against the presence of true appendicitis.

Hypoglycemia owing to inappropriate glucagon secretion treated with a continuous subcutaneous glucagon infusion system

A selective glucagon deficiency was documented in a 36-year-old female patient suffering from severe hypoglycemic attacks. The extremely low fasting plasma glucagon levels could not be stimulated by hypoglycemia. The increase in plasma glucagon during stimulation with arginine did not prevent hypoglycemia provoked by the simultaneous insulin secretion. Treatment consisting of a continuous sc glucagon infusion system resulted in correction of both postabsorptive and postprandial hypoglycemia. Further lowering of the glucose level during an arginine test could be the hallmark of this hypoglycemic syndrome characterized by an inappropriate glucagon secretion. This case report would indicate that epinephrine cannot prevent hypoglycemia when glucagon release is completely deficient.

Biochemical and histochemical analysis of steroid hormone binding sites in human primary breast cancer

Mammary carcinoma tissue from 514 primary breast cancer patients were all biochemically and histochemically analyzed for both estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors. The dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) method measured the ER and PR as defined by Scatchard analysis, ligand competition experiments and target organ specificity. The ligands, estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime-BSA-fluoresceine isothiocyanate and hydroxyprogesteronehemisuccinate-BSA-tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, used for histochemistry, did not bind to either ER or PR and were mainly bound to the membrane fraction of isolated breast cancer cells. Fluorescence was not specifically inhibited by estrogens or progestogens. In addition, "estrogenic" always coincided with "progestogenic" fluorescence. The binding of the fluoresceine compounds to tissue slides depended on the large steroid hormone substitution on the bovine serum albumin molecule. Clinical parameters, known to be related to ER and PR did not correlate with the histochemical results. The observations indicated the impossibility of specific steroid receptor detection by the histochemical method. Therefore, up to the present, evaluation of hormone dependency and prognosis in human breast cancer cannot be based on this approach.

Determination of free thyroid hormones and their binding proteins in a patient with severe hyperthyroidism (thyroid storm?) and thyroid encephalopathy

A patient with severe hyperthyroidism (thyroid storm?) and thyroid encephalopathy is described. During her illness only a slightly raised level of total thyroxine and a normal level of total triiodothyronine was found in contrast with very high levels of free thyroid hormones. Very low levels of thyroxine binding globulin, albumin and low levels of thyroxine binding prealbumin in contrast with nearly normal values of T3 resin uptake were observed. All parameters of thyroid function returned to normal after therapy.

T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a patient with invasive thymoma in remission with chemotherapy

This is a case report of a patient with invasive thymoma. Subsequently to radiotherapy and steroids, a combination chemotherapy of cis-platinum (CDDP) and doxorubicin was tested with good results. The patient later developed a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); morphologically and cytochemically a T-CLL with skin localizations, hepatomegaly, and a high leukocyte count.

Insulin allergy treated with human insulin (recombinant DNA)

Two insulin-dependent diabetic subjects treated with pork and beef insulin during a period of 6 mo developed severe local reactions. Both patients had an important allergic history (asthma, urticaria, drug reactions, rhinitis). Skin-testing revealed type I allergy to beef and pork insulin. Specific IgE-insulin binding was demonstrated with both insulins. After negative skin testing with NPH Lilly human insulin (recombinant DNA), treatment was started with this compound and remained successful during a period of 6-9 mo. In one patient a local reaction occurred when regular human insulin (recombinant DNA) was added to NPH in order to obtain better control. Skin testing with regular human insulin was positive, but not with NPH human insulin alone. The mechanism of this phenomenon remains unsolved.

Hypothyroidism and prolactin

Hypothyroidism-induced hyperprolactinemia, with or without clinical manifestations, is reported in a short case in addition to the results of basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced prolactin values in primary hypothyroidism. In comparison with an age- and sex-matched group, basal- (P less than 0.02) and TRH-induced (P less than 0.02) prolactin values are significantly increased in primary hypothyroidism. A review of the literature and the possible pathogenesis of hyperprolactinemia, amenorrhea and galactorrhea are discussed. No correlation could be found between maximal thyrotropin (TSH) and prolactin-increase values.

Familial cerebellar ataxia with hypogonadism

A brother and sister with congenital cerebellar ataxia, anosmia, oligophrenia, hypogonadism and anomalies of amino acid distribution are reported. Ties between the different symptoms are difficult to establish. It seems to be a new syndrome rather than a new disease. Once more these associations emphasize the need for metabolic and biochemical research in heredodegenerative diseases. The evolution of the disease in these cases might make it possible to classify and locate it more accurately.