Self-consistent many-body metrology

We investigate performing classical and quantum metrology and parameter estimation by using interacting trapped bosons, which we theoretically treat by a self-consistent many-body approach of the multiconfigurational Hartree type. Focusing on a tilted double-well geometry, we compare a self-consistently determined and monitored two-mode truncation, with dynamically changing orbitals, to the conventional two-mode approach of fixed orbitals, where only Fock space coefficients evolve in time. We demonstrate that, as a consequence, various metrological quantities associated to a concrete measurement such as the classical Fisher information and the maximum likelihood estimator are deeply affected by the orbitals' change during the quantum evolution. Self-consistency of the quantum many-body dynamics of interacting trapped ultracold gases thus fundamentally affects the attainable parameter estimation accuracy of a given metrological protocol.Comment: 6+5 pages, 4+1 figures; version as submitted to journa

Number-conserving solution for dynamical quantum backreaction in a Bose-Einstein condensate

We provide a number-conserving approach to the backreaction problem of small quantum fluctuations onto a classical background for the exactly soluble dynamical evolution of a Bose-Einstein condensate, experimentally realizable in the ultracold gas laboratory. A force density exerted on the gas particles which is of quantum origin is uniquely identified as the deviation from the classical Eulerian force density. The backreaction equations are then explored for the specific example of a finite size uniform density condensate initially at rest. By assuming that the condensate starts from a non-interacting regime, and in its ground state, we fix a well-defined initial vacuum condition, which is driven out-of-equilibrium by instantaneously turning on the interactions. The assumption of this initial vacuum accounts for the ambiguity in choosing a vacuum state for interacting condensates, which is due to phase diffusion and the ensuing condensate collapse. As a major finding, we reveal that the time evolution of the condensate cloud leads to condensate density corrections that cannot in general be disentangled from the quantum depletion in measurements probing the power spectrum of the total density. Furthermore, while the condensate is initially at rest, quantum fluctuations give rise to a nontrivial condensate flux, from which we demonstrate that the quantum force density attenuates the classical Eulerian force. Finally, the knowledge of the particle density as a function of time for a condensate at rest determines, to order $N^0$, where $N$ is the total number of particles, the quantum force density, thus offering a viable route for obtaining experimentally accessible quantum backreaction effects.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Temperature of embryo culture for assisted reproduction

BACKGROUND: 'Infertility' is defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. One in six couples experience a delay in becoming pregnant. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of the assisted reproductive techniques used to enable couples to achieve a live birth. One of the processes involved in IVF is embryo culture in an incubator, where a stable environment is created and maintained. The incubators are set at approximately 37°C, which is based on the human core body temperature, although several studies have shown that this temperature may in fact be lower in the female reproductive tract and that this could be beneficial. In this review we have included randomised controlled trials which compared different temperatures of embryo culture. OBJECTIVES: To assess different temperatures of embryo culture for human assisted reproduction, which may lead to higher live birth rates. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases and trial registers: the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility (CGF) Group Specialised Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Central Register of Studies Online, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, clinicaltrials.gov, The World Health Organization International Trials Registry Platform search portal, DARE, Web of Knowledge, OpenGrey, LILACS database, PubMed and Google Scholar. Furthermore, we manually searched the references of relevant articles and contacted experts in the field to obtain additional data. We did not restrict the search by language or publication status. We performed the last search on 6 March 2019. SELECTION CRITERIA: Two review authors independently screened the titles and abstracts of articles retrieved by the search. Full texts of potentially eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were obtained and screened. We included all RCTs which compared different temperatures of embryo culture in IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with a minimum difference in temperature between the two incubators of ≥ 0.5°C. The search process is shown in the PRISMA flow chart. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trial eligibility and risk of bias and extracted data from the included studies; the third review author resolved any disagreements. We contacted trial authors to provide additional data. The primary review outcomes were live birth and miscarriage. Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, multiple pregnancy and adverse events were secondary outcomes. All extracted data were dichotomous outcomes, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) on an intention-to-treat basis. We assessed the overall quality of the evidence for the main comparisons using GRADE methods. MAIN RESULTS: We included three RCTs, with a total of 563 women, that compared incubation of embryos at 37.0°C or 37.1°C with a lower incubator temperature (37.0°C versus 36.6°C, 37.1°C versus 36.0°C, 37.0° versus 36.5°C). Live birth, miscarriage, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy and multiple pregnancy were reported. After additional information from the authors, we confirmed one study as having no adverse events; the other two studies did not report adverse events. We did not perform a meta-analysis as there were not enough studies included per outcome. Live birth was not graded since there were no data of interest available. The evidence for the primary outcome, miscarriage, was of very low quality. The evidence for the secondary outcomes, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy and multiple pregnancy was also of very low quality. We downgraded the evidence because of high risk of bias (for performance bias) and imprecision due to limited included studies and wide CIs.Only one study reported the primary outcome, live birth (n = 52). They performed randomisation at the level of oocytes and not per woman, and used a paired design whereby two embryos, one from 36.0°C and one from 37.0°C, were transferred. The data from this study were not interpretable in a meaningful way and therefore not presented. Only one study reported miscarriage. We are uncertain whether incubation at a lower temperature decreases the miscarriage (odds ratio (OR) 0.90, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.55; 1 study, N = 412; very low-quality evidence).Of the two studies that reported clinical pregnancy, only one of them performed randomisation per woman. We are uncertain whether a lower temperature improves clinical pregnancy compared to 37°C for embryo incubation (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.60; 1 study, N = 412; very low-quality evidence). For the outcome, ongoing pregnancy, we are uncertain if a lower temperature is better than 37°C (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.62; 1 study, N = 412; very low quality-evidence). Multiple pregnancy was reported by two studies, one of which used a paired design, which made it impossible to report the data per temperature. We are uncertain if a temperature lower than 37°C reduces multiple pregnancy (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.07; 1 study, N = 412; very low-quality evidence). There was insufficient evidence to make a conclusion regarding adverse events, as no studies reported data suitable for analysis. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review evaluated different temperatures for embryo culture during IVF. There is a lack of evidence for the majority of outcomes in this review. Based on very low-quality evidence, we are uncertain if incubating at a lower temperature than 37°C improves pregnancy outcomes. More RCTs are needed for comparing different temperatures of embryo culture which require reporting of clinical outcomes as live birth, miscarriage, clinical pregnancy and adverse events

Association of ABCB1, 5-HT3B receptor and CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms with ondansetron and metoclopramide antiemetic response in Indonesian cancer patients treated with highly emetogenic chemotherapy.

Our study shows that in Indonesian cancer patients treated with highly cytostatic emetogenic, carriership of the CTG haplotype of the ABCB1 gene is related to an increased risk of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Approximate Homomorphisms of Ternary Semigroups

A mapping $f:(G_1,[ ]_1)\to (G_2,[ ]_2)$ between ternary semigroups will be called a ternary homomorphism if $f([xyz]_1)=[f(x)f(y)f(z)]_2$. In this paper, we prove the generalized Hyers--Ulam--Rassias stability of mappings of commutative semigroups into Banach spaces. In addition, we establish the superstability of ternary homomorphisms into Banach algebras endowed with multiplicative norms.Comment: 10 page

The effect of warmth acclimation on behaviour, thermophysiology and perception

Public and commercial buildings tend to overheat and considerable energy is consumed by air-conditioning and ventilation. However, many occupants remain unsatisfied and consequently exhibit thermoregulatory behaviour (TRB), e.g. opening windows or controlling the air-conditioning. This, in turn, might negatively influence the building energy use. This paper hypothesizes that warmth acclimation influences thermophysiology, perception and TRB in a warm environment. Therefore, the effect of warmth acclimation on TRB, physiology and perception is investigated. Twelve participants underwent a so-called SWITCH protocol before and after warmth acclimation (7 days, 6h/day, about 33 degrees C, about 22% RH). During SWITCH, the participants chose between a warm (37 degrees C) and a cold (17 degrees C) condition. TRB was determined by the number of switches and the time spent in a specific condition. Mean skin temperature was recorded to assess behavioural thresholds. Thermal comfort and sensation were indicated on visual analogue scales (VAS). After acclimation, the upper critical behavioural threshold significantly increased from 35.2 +/- 0.6 to 35.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C (p0.05) and the range of mean skin temperatures at which no behaviour occurred significantly widened (3.6 +/- 0.7 to 4.2 +/- 0.6;