Three-dimensionality of space and the quantum bit: an information-theoretic approach

It is sometimes pointed out as a curiosity that the state space of quantum two-level systems, i.e. the qubit, and actual physical space are both three-dimensional and Euclidean. In this paper, we suggest an information-theoretic analysis of this relationship, by proving a particular mathematical result: suppose that physics takes place in d spatial dimensions, and that some events happen probabilistically (not assuming quantum theory in any way). Furthermore, suppose there are systems that carry "minimal amounts of direction information", interacting via some continuous reversible time evolution. We prove that this uniquely determines spatial dimension d=3 and quantum theory on two qubits (including entanglement and unitary time evolution), and that it allows observers to infer local spatial geometry from probability measurements.Comment: 13 + 22 pages, 9 figures. v4: some clarifications, in particular in Section V / Appendix C (added Example 39

Net‐Zero CO 2 Germany - A Retrospect From the Year 2050

Germany 2050: For the first time Germany reached a balance between its sources of anthropogenic CO2 to the atmosphere and newly created anthropogenic sinks. This backcasting study presents a fictional future in which this goal was achieved by avoiding (∼645 Mt CO2), reducing (∼50 Mt CO2) and removing (∼60 Mt CO2) carbon emissions. This meant substantial transformation of the energy system, increasing energy efficiency, sector coupling, and electrification, energy storage solutions including synthetic energy carriers, sector-specific solutions for industry, transport, and agriculture, as well as natural-sink enhancement and technological carbon dioxide options. All of the above was necessary to achieve a net-zero CO2 system for Germany by 2050

Rule-Based Models of the Interplay between Genetic and Environmental Factors in Childhood Allergy

Peer reviewe

26th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2017): Part 3 - Meeting Abstracts - Antwerp, Belgium. 15–20 July 2017

This work was produced as part of the activities of FAPESP Research,\ud Disseminations and Innovation Center for Neuromathematics (grant\ud 2013/07699-0, S. Paulo Research Foundation). NLK is supported by a\ud FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship (grant 2016/03855-5). ACR is partially\ud supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Dose Escalation of Antidepressants in Unipolar Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: As many patients with unipolar depression do not respond sufficiently to initial antidepressant monotherapy, a dose increase of the current administered antidepressant (dose escalation, high-dose treatment) is frequently carried out as next treatment measure. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis which included all double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a dose increase of antidepressants directly to continuation of standard-dose treatment in unipolar depressive patients who were non-responders to standard-dose pharmacotherapy. A mean change in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) total score was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were response rates and discontinuation rates due to any reason, inefficacy, and adverse effects. Hedges g and risk ratios were calculated as effect sizes. Results: Seven double-blind RCTs (8 study arms) representing 1,208 participants were included. Fluoxetine (N [number of studies] = 2, n [number of patients] = 448), sertraline (N = 2, n = 272), paroxetine (N = 2, n = 146), duloxetine (N = 1, n = 255), and maprotiline (N = 1, n = 87) were investigated. Dose escalation was not more efficacious in HAM-D total score reduction than maintaining standard-dose treatment, neither for the pooled antidepressant group (N = 7, n = 999; Hedges g = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.20 to 0.12; p = 0.63) nor the individual antidepressants. No differences could be determined for response rates, all-cause discontinuation, and drop-outs due to inefficacy. Significantly more patients in the dose escalation group dropped out due to adverse effects than in the standard-dose continuation group. The metaregressions indicate no influence of baseline symptom severity or amounts of dose increments on effect sizes. Conclusions: According to our meta-analytic findings, dose escalation after initial non-response to standard-dose pharmacotherapy cannot be regarded as general evidence-based treatment option in unipolar depression. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Base

Systèmes de monitoring et de feedback en psychothérapie

Im Rahmen der Psychotherapieforschung wurden mehrere elektronisch gestützte Monitoring- und FeedbackSysteme entwickelt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit sollen zwei Methoden vorgestellt werden, die sich vor allem durch eine unterschiedliche engmaschige Betrachtung des Therapieverlaufes, im Umfang der Funktionalitäten und im theoretischen Hintergrund unterscheiden: Zuerst wird das wöchentlich auszufüllende Hand-held-basierte Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) vorgestellt, dessen Effektivität von allen verfügbaren Monitoring- und Feedback-Systemen am umfangreichsten untersucht und publiziert wurde. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse dieser Studien werden im Hinblick auf die positiven Auswirkungen auf das Ergebnis der Psychotherapie und der Therapiedauer dargelegt und diskutiert. Des Weiteren wird das internet-basierte Synergetic Navigation System (SNS) am Beispiel eines Therapieprozessbogens (TPB) erörtert, welcher auf der Theorie der Synergetik, der Selbstorganisation nichtlinearer Systeme, beruht und den Therapieverlauf täglich durch eine Selbsteinschätzung des Patienten evaluiert. Die mittels des SNS verfügbaren umfangreichen Zeitreihenanalysen werden vorgestellt. Abschließend werden sowohl Hinweise auf diejenigen Punkte gegeben, die einer Implementierung von Monitoring- und Feedback-Systemen in der psychotherapeutischen Routineversorgung gegenwärtig noch entgegenstehen als auch zukünftige Forschungsansätze aufgezeigt.Schlüsselwörter Psychotherapie; Feedback; Therapieprozessmonitoring; Qualitätssicherung; nichtlinearer Psychotherapieverlauf.Several electronically assisted monitoring and feedback systems have been developed in the context of psychotherapy research. The purpose of this paper is to present three methods that differ mainly in their ways of observing the progress of therapy at closely-spaced time intervals, in their scope of functionalities and in their theoretical background: the handheld-based Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) completed weekly is presented first. Of all the available monitoring and feedback systems, this is the one whose effectiveness has been studied and published most compre-hensively. The most important results of these studies are explai-ned and discussed with regard to their positive effects on the outcome ofthe psychotherapy and on the duration oftherapy. Next the Internet-based Synergetic Navigation System (SNS) is examined, taking as an example a Therapy Process Questionnaire (TPQ) which is based on the theory of synergetics, the self-organization of nonlinear systems, and evaluates the progress of therapy daily via the patient’s self-assessment. The extensive time series analyses available through the use ofthe SNS are presented. In conclusion, information is given about those points that currently still stand in the way of implementing monitoring and feedback systems in routine psychotherapeutic care, and future research strategies are also indicated.Keywords Psychotherapy; feedback; therapy process monitoring; quality assurance; non-linear psychotherapy progress.Plusieurs systèmes de monitoring et de feedback utilisant des logiciels informatiques ont été élaborés pour garantir la qualité des traitements psychothérapeutiques. En suivant systématiquement le déroulement du traitement, le thérapeute mais aussi le patient peuvent recevoir un retour sur celui-ci, alors même qu’il est encore en cours. Ces informations peuvent être utilisées pour mieux ajuster la psychothérapie aux besoins du patient.Dans le présent travail, nous présentons deux systèmes de monitoring et de feedback : l’Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45), qui permet d’évaluer une fois par semaine le déroulement de la thérapie, et le Synergetic Navigation System (SNS), qui utilise l’Internet.Concernant l’OQ-45, des études de type aléatoire-sous contrôle menées auprès de plus de 4000 patients et de plus de 200 thérapeutes, ont démontré que ce sont avant tout les patients de type potentiellement non-responder qui bénéficient de ce système. En ce qui concerne les patients pour lesquels l’OQ-45, administré en début de traitement, faisait prédire un échec thérapeutique, la thérapie a réussi pour un nombre nettement plus élevé que celui trouvé dans le groupe de contrôle, pour lequel le thérapeute ne disposait d’aucun feedback.Le Synergetic Navigation System (SNS), qui utilise l’Internet, est fondé sur la théorie des synergies, de l’auto-organisation des systèmes non linéaires ; il permet d’évaluer le déroulement de la thérapie sur la base d’une évaluation de soi que le patient doit effectuer au quotidien. Des analyses très détaillées des séries acquises par le biais du SNS sont présentées dans le présent travail.Les deux systèmes de monitoring et de feedback présentés contribuent considérablement à améliorer la qualité des traitements psychothérapeutiques et permettent d’acquérir des données qui intéresseront sans doute les chercheurs. En plus d’aider à mieux comprendre comment les thérapies agissent, ces systèmes rendent possible la construction de ponts vers la pratique, le monitoring des processus thérapeutiques améliorant nettement les résultats des traitements.Un point important en rapport avec l’implémentation de systèmes de ce type dans le cadre de l’offre psychothérapeutique de base demeure ouvert: les patients ne sont pas tous suffisamment motivés pour remplir les questionnaires (hebdomadaires ou quotidiens). Il est possible de contrer ce problème en menant à intervalles réguliers des entretiens avec eux, jusqu’au moment où ils se rendent compte que leur propre thérapie n’est pas sans rapport avec les contenus des questionnaires

International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology / Antipsychotic Augmentation of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder : An Update Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Background: Many patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder do not respond adequately to serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Augmentation with antipsychotic drugs can be beneficial in this regard. However, since new relevant randomized controlled trials evaluating new antipsychotics were conducted, a recalculation of the effect sizes appears necessary. Methods: We meta-analyzed all double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials comparing augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors with antipsychotics to placebo supplementation in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. The primary outcome was mean change in the Yale-Brown ObsessiveCompulsive Scale total score. Secondary outcomes were obsessions, compulsions, response rates, and attrition rates. The data collection process was conducted independently by 2 authors. Hedgess g and risks ratios were calculated as effect sizes. In preplanned meta-regressions, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses, we examined the robustness of the results and explored reasons for potential heterogeneity. Results: Altogether, 14 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (n=491) investigating quetiapine (N=4, n=142), risperidone (N=4, n=132), aripiprazole (N=2, n=79), olanzapine (N=2, n=70), paliperidone (N=1, n=34), and haloperidol (N=1, n=34) were incorporated. Augmentation with antipsychotics was significantly more efficacious than placebo in Yale-Brown ObsessiveCompulsive Scale total reduction (N=14, n=478; Hedgess g=-0.64, 95% CI: -0.87 to -0.41; P=<.01). Aripiprazole (Hedgess g=-1.35), haloperidol (Hedgess g=-0.82), and risperidone (Hedgess g=-0.59) significantly outperformed placebo. Antipsychotics were superior to placebo in treating obsessions, compulsions, and achieving response. There was no between-group difference concerning all-cause discontinuation. The nonsignificant meta-regressions suggest no influence of the antipsychotic dose or baseline symptom severity on the meta-analytic results. Conclusions: According to our findings, antipsychotic augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be regarded as an evidence-based measure in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.(VLID)458101