Entanglement-assisted quantum low-density parity-check codes

This article develops a general method for constructing entanglement-assisted quantum low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, which is based on combinatorial design theory. Explicit constructions are given for entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes with many desirable properties. These properties include the requirement of only one initial entanglement bit, high error-correction performance, high rates, and low decoding complexity. The proposed method produces several infinite families of codes with a wide variety of parameters and entanglement requirements. Our framework encompasses the previously known entanglement-assisted quantum LDPC codes having the best error-correction performance and many other codes with better block error rates in simulations over the depolarizing channel. We also determine important parameters of several well-known classes of quantum and classical LDPC codes for previously unsettled cases

Fatigue Performance of Asphalt Pavements Containing RAS and RAP

Rising oil and gas prices spurs development of methods and technologies for reducing fuel consumption and increased use of recycled materials. With increased environmental awareness, using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) in pavements have been gaining momentum nationally and globally. However, despite their advantages, there are national concerns associated with fatigue and low-temperature cracking potential of pavements when containing increased amounts of RAS and RAP. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the fatigue performance of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) containing RAS and RAP. Specifically, changes in fatigue resistance and cycles to fatigue failure with changes in the amount of RAS and RAP were examined using both flexural fatigue (four-point beam) and axial fatigue (cyclic direct tension) tests on laboratory compacted specimens. Effect of virgin binder grade on the fatigue performance was also examined. In addition, the effect of RAS and RAP in HMA on its creep compliance and dynamic modulus was investigated. These properties are used in the evaluation of fatigue resistance based on the axial cyclic direct tension test. For this purpose, eight fine surface course mixes (S4) with different types of asphalt binders (i.e., PG 64-22 OK and PG 70-28 OK) containing different amounts of RAS and RAP were designed and tested in the laboratory. The amount of RAS and RAP in HMA mixes varied, but the total amount of replaced binder was kept within certain specifications (i.e., RAP and/or RAS limited to 30% binder replacement). It was concluded that the fatigue life of asphalt mixes with a PG 64-22 OK binder increased with use of RAP or a blend of RAP and RAS. Using a blend of 5% RAP and 5% RAS in a mix led to the maximum increase in fatigue life. However, it was observed that the fatigue life of the mix decreased when 6% RAS was used compared to that of virgin mix with the same type of asphalt binder (PG 64-22). Also, it was found that when a PG 70-28 OK asphalt binder was used, use of RAP and/or RAS in a mix resulted in a decrease in fatigue life. Using 6% RAS resulted in the maximum decrease in fatigue life, compared to that of virgin mix with the same type of asphalt binder (PG 70-28 OK). Use of a polymer-modified asphalt binder (PG 70-28 OK) was found to be an effective way to increase the fatigue life of virgin mixes. More specifically, if RAP and/or RAS was used fatigue life was a concern. Furthermore, it was concluded that high coefficient of variation values of the cycles to failure found for four-point beam fatigue test show that the repeatability of this method was not very good. The dynamic modulus and creep compliance test results revealed that addition of RAP and/or RAS to asphalt mixes increased their stiffness, for cases in which PG 64-22 OK or PG 70-28 OK asphalt binders were used. This may result in a better rutting performance, but may lead to a mix with a higher low-temperature cracking potential versus the virgin mixes. Finally, it was found that indirect tensile strength (IDT) of the asphalt mixes increased with use of RAP and/or RAS compared to those of virgin mixes. Use of 6% RAS resulted in the maximum increase in IDT values. Also, a comprehensive survey was conducted among the state departments of transportation for gathering data on the current practices including the methods and specifications associated with the use of RAS and RAP in pavements. The results from this study can be used to develop/update guidelines/special provisions for design of HMA containing RAP and RAS in Oklahoma.Final report, October 2012-January 2015N

Atypical presentation of acute pancreatitis in a man with pancreatic insufficiency and cystic fibrosis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Whether acute pancreatitis can occur in pancreatically insufficient individuals with cystic fibrosis remains a matter of debate.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe a case of acute pancreatitis occurring in a 52-year-old Caucasian Australian man with moderately severe cystic fibrosis lung disease and pancreatic insufficiency. An inflammatory mass within the head of his pancreas was confirmed using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and pancreatic biopsy, but serum amylase and lipase remained normal throughout the acute phase of his illness. His symptoms and the pancreatic mass resolved following the insertion of a biliary stent and the introduction of ursodeoxycholic acid.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our case report highlights the potential for acute pancreatitis to occur in patients with pancreatic insufficiency and cystic fibrosis. We further demonstrate that conventional biochemical markers that are normally assessed to confirm the diagnosis may not be of particular use. As patients with cystic fibrosis survive into their fourth and fifth decades of life, atypical presentations of acute pancreatitis may become more common.</p

Klinefelter syndrome comorbidities linked to increased X chromosome gene dosage and altered protein interactome activity

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) is the most common male sex chromosome aneuploidy. Diagnosis and clinical supervision remain a challenge due to varying phenotypic presentation and insufficient characterization of the syndrome. Here we combine health data-driven epidemiology and molecular level systems biology to improve the understanding of KS and the molecular interplay influencing its comorbidities. In total, 78 overrepresented KS comorbidities were identified using in- and out-patient registry data from the entire Danish population covering 6.8 million individuals. The comorbidities extracted included both clinically well-known (e.g. infertility and osteoporosis) and still less established KS comorbidities (e.g. pituitary gland hypofunction and dental caries). Several systems biology approaches were applied to identify key molecular players underlying KS comorbidities: Identification of co-expressed modules as well as central hubs and gene dosage perturbed protein complexes in a KS comorbidity network build from known disease proteins and their protein–protein interactions. The systems biology approaches together pointed to novel aspects of KS disease phenotypes including perturbed Jak-STAT pathway, dysregulated genes important for disturbed immune system (IL4), energy balance (POMC and LEP) and erythropoietin signalling in KS. We present an extended epidemiological study that links KS comorbidities to the molecular level and identify potential causal players in the disease biology underlying the identified comorbidities

Entanglement-assisted quantum low-density parity-check codes

This paper develops a general method for constructing entanglement-assisted quantum low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, which is based on combinatorial design theory. Explicit constructions are given for entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes (EAQECCs) with many desirable properties. These properties include the requirement of only one initial entanglement bit, high error correction performance, high rates, and low decoding complexity. The proposed method produces infinitely many new codes with a wide variety of parameters and entanglement requirements. Our framework encompasses various codes including the previously known entanglement-assisted quantum LDPC codes having the best error correction performance and many new codes with better block error rates in simulations over the depolarizing channel. We also determine important parameters of several well-known classes of quantum and classical LDPC codes for previously unsettled cases.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. Final version appearing in Physical Review

Estimating heritability and genetic correlations from large health datasets in the absence of genetic data

Typically, estimating genetic parameters, such as disease heritability and between-disease genetic correlations, demands large datasets containing all relevant phenotypic measures and detailed knowledge of family relationships or, alternatively, genotypic and phenotypic data for numerous unrelated individuals. Here, we suggest an alternative, efficient estimation approach through the construction of two disease metrics from large health datasets: temporal disease prevalence curves and low-dimensional disease embeddings. We present eleven thousand heritability estimates corresponding to five study types: twins, traditional family studies, health records-based family studies, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and polygenic risk scores. We also compute over six hundred thousand estimates of genetic, environmental and phenotypic correlations. Furthermore, we find that: (1) disease curve shapes cluster into five general patterns; (2) early-onset diseases tend to have lower prevalence than late-onset diseases (Spearmans rho = 0.32, p amp;lt; 10(-16)); and (3) the disease onset age and heritability are negatively correlated (rho = -0.46, p amp;lt; 10(-16)).Funding Agencies|DARPA Big Mechanism program under ARO [W911NF1410333]; National Institutes of HealthUnited States Department of Health &amp; Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA [R01HL122712, 1P50MH094267, U01HL108634-01]; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)King Abdullah University of Science &amp; Technology [FCC/1/1976-18-01, FCC/1/1976-23-01, FCC/1/1976-25-01, FCC/1/1976-26-01, FCS/1/4102-02-01]</p

Estimating heritability and genetic correlations from large health datasets in the absence of genetic data.

Typically, estimating genetic parameters, such as disease heritability and between-disease genetic correlations, demands large datasets containing all relevant phenotypic measures and detailed knowledge of family relationships or, alternatively, genotypic and phenotypic data for numerous unrelated individuals. Here, we suggest an alternative, efficient estimation approach through the construction of two disease metrics from large health datasets: temporal disease prevalence curves and low-dimensional disease embeddings. We present eleven thousand heritability estimates corresponding to five study types: twins, traditional family studies, health records-based family studies, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and polygenic risk scores. We also compute over six hundred thousand estimates of genetic, environmental and phenotypic correlations. Furthermore, we find that: (1) disease curve shapes cluster into five general patterns; (2) early-onset diseases tend to have lower prevalence than late-onset diseases (Spearman\u27s ρ = 0.32, p \u3c 1

Exploring the evidence base for national and regional policy interventions to combat resistance

The effectiveness of existing policies to control antimicrobial resistance is not yet fully understood. A strengthened evidence base is needed to inform effective policy interventions across countries with different income levels and the human health and animal sectors. We examine three policy domains—responsible use, surveillance, and infection prevention and control—and consider which will be the most effective at national and regional levels. Many complexities exist in the implementation of such policies across sectors and in varying political and regulatory environments. Therefore, we make recommendations for policy action, calling for comprehensive policy assessments, using standardised frameworks, of cost-effectiveness and generalisability. Such assessments are especially important in low-income and middle-income countries, and in the animal and environmental sectors. We also advocate a One Health approach that will enable the development of sensitive policies, accommodating the needs of each sector involved, and addressing concerns of specific countries and regions