ARB might be superior to ACEI for treatment of hypertensive COVID-19 patients.

The administration of ACEI/ARB (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/Angiotension II receptor blockers) in COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) patients with hypertension exhibits a lower risk of mortality compared with ACEI/ARB non-users. In this context, an important question arises: is ACEI or ARB more suitable for the treatment of hypertensive COVID-19 patients? Taken into consideration the following four rationales, ARB may offer a more significant benefit than ACEI for the short-term treatment of hypertensive COVID-19 patients: 1. ACEI has no inhibition on non-ACE-mediated Ang II production under infection conditions, whereas ARB can function properly regardless of how Ang II is produced; 2.

Predicted boron-carbide compounds: a first-principles study.

By using developed particle swarm optimization algorithm on crystal structural prediction, we have explored the possible crystal structures of B-C system. Their structures, stability, elastic properties, electronic structure, and chemical bonding have been investigated by first-principles calculations with density functional theory. The results show that all the predicted structures are mechanically and dynamically stable.

[Effects of soil compaction stress on the growth and nitrogen metabolism of cucumber roots].

Taking cucumber cultivar 'Jinchun 4' as test material, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of soil compaction stress on cucumber root growth, respiration rate, activity, and nitrogen metabolism at different development stages. Two treatment were installed, i. e.

Phase stability and elastic properties of chromium borides with various stoichiometries.

Phase stability is important to the application of materials. By first-principles calculations, we establish the phase stability of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. Moreover, the phases of CrB3 and CrB4 have been predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm.