Universal cost bound of quantum error mitigation based on quantum estimation theory

We present a unified approach to analyzing the cost of various quantum error mitigation methods on the basis of quantum estimation theory. By analyzing the quantum Fisher information matrix of a virtual quantum circuit that effectively represents the operations of quantum error mitigation methods, we derive for a generic layered quantum circuit under a wide class of Markovian noise that, unbiased estimation of an observable encounters an exponential growth with the circuit depth in the lower bound on the measurement cost. Under the global depolarizing noise, we in particular find that the bound can be asymptotically saturated by merely rescaling the measurement results. Moreover, we prove for random circuits with local noise that the cost grows exponentially also with the qubit count. Our numerical simulations support the observation that, even if the circuit has only linear connectivity, such as the brick-wall structure, each noise channel converges to the global depolarizing channel with its strength growing exponentially with the qubit count. This not only implies the exponential growth of cost both with the depth and qubit count, but also validates the rescaling technique for sufficiently deep quantum circuits. Our results contribute to the understanding of the physical limitations of quantum error mitigation and offer a new criterion for evaluating the performance of quantum error mitigation techniques.Comment: 7 + 14 pages, 10 figures. See also a related work by Takagi et al., which appears in the same arXiv posting as arXiv:2208.0917

Virtual quantum error detection

Quantum error correction and quantum error detection necessitate syndrome measurements to detect errors. Performing syndrome measurements for each stabilizer generator can be a significant overhead, considering the fact that the readout fidelity in the current quantum hardware is generally lower than gate fidelity. Here, by generalizing a quantum error mitigation method known as symmetry expansion, we propose a protocol called virtual quantum error detection (VQED). This method virtually allows for evaluating computation results corresponding to post-selected quantum states obtained through quantum error detection during circuit execution, without implementing syndrome measurements. Unlike conventional quantum error detection, which requires the implementation of Hadamard test circuits for each stabilizer generator, our VQED protocol can be performed with a constant depth shallow quantum circuit with an ancilla qubit, irrespective of the number of stabilizer generators. Furthermore, for some simple error models, the computation results obtained using VQED are robust against the noise that occurred during the operation of VQED, and our method is fully compatible with other error mitigation schemes, enabling further improvements in computation accuracy and facilitating high-fidelity quantum computing.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

A nationwide, multi-center, retrospective study of symptomatic small bowel stricture in patients with Crohn\u27s disease.

BACKGROUND:Small bowel stricture is one of the most common complications in patients with Crohn\u27s disease (CD). Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) is a minimally invasive treatment intended to avoid surgery; however, whether EBD prevents subsequent surgery remains unclear. We aimed to reveal the factors contributing to surgery in patients with small bowel stricture and the factors associated with subsequent surgery after initial EBD.METHODS:Data were retrospectively collected from surgically untreated CD patients who developed symptomatic small bowel stricture after 2008 when the use of balloon-assisted enteroscopy and maintenance therapy with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) became available.RESULTS:A total of 305 cases from 32 tertiary referral centers were enrolled. Cumulative surgery-free survival was 74.0% at 1 year, 54.4% at 5 years, and 44.3% at 10 years. The factors associated with avoiding surgery were non-stricturing, non-penetrating disease at onset, mild severity of symptoms, successful EBD, stricture length < 2 cm, and immunomodulator or anti-TNF added after onset of obstructive symptoms. In 95 cases with successful initial EBD, longer EBD interval was associated with lower risk of surgery. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that an EBD interval of ≤ 446 days predicted subsequent surgery, and the proportion of smokers was significantly high in patients who required frequent dilatation.CONCLUSIONS:In CD patients with symptomatic small bowel stricture, addition of immunomodulator or anti-TNF and smoking cessation may improve the outcome of symptomatic small bowel stricture, by avoiding frequent EBD and subsequent surgery after initial EBD

The Intention to Change the Negative Self and Self-Development in the Feelings of Self-Disgust <Research Article>

From research about self-development in adolescents, we found that feeling of self-disgust could be connected with the process of self- development (Mizuma, 2003). However, meta cognition could also affect feeling of self-development in self-disgust situations. Mizuma (2003) classified feelings of self-disgust into a number of categories. Matsumoto (2011) identified three categories about everyday meta-cognition. The purpose of this study was to examine the relations in the self-disgust and to determine the personal character are associated with the intention to change the negative self. Three hundred eighty seven students in a University were participated in this study. We found the acceptance of others was key element in this intention. Additionally we found self-control of mega cognition to be important. We discussed the character of individuals who have the intention to change the negative self comparing with those who do not

Endothelin B receptor-mediated encephalopathic events in mouse sepsis model

AbstractAimsWe evaluated whether pathophysiological events in the brain in sepsis are mediated by ET-1/ETB receptor axis.Main methodsWe prepared raw fecal fluid from soft stool of mice. Mice were randomly divided into three groups: pre-PBS+raw fecal fluid group (Sepsis, easy stool method (ESM) group); pre-BQ788+raw fecal fluid group (BQ group); and pre-BQ788+PBS group (PBS group). According to each experimental condition, PBS or BQ788 was intravenously injected into mice prior to intraperitoneal administration of fecal fluid or PBS. All groups of mice were sacrificed at 8h after administration, and then brain samples were prepared.Key findingsIn the ESM group, an increase of apoptotic neuroblasts was demonstrated in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, enhanced expression of c-FOS was observed in arginine-vasopressin-containing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, and various cytokines involving TNF-α were upregulated in the brain, compared with those in the PBS group. In the region corresponding to their findings, the number of reactive microglia and vascular leakage was markedly increased. BQ788 inhibited the induction of c-FOS expression, neuroblast apoptosis, cytokine upregulation and reactive microglia without affecting vascular leakage.SignificanceWe demonstrated that BQ788 could protect the brain from the following sepsis-associated pathophysiological output: neural cell death, inflammatory response and the Hans Selye's environmental stress reaction

Efficacy and safety of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with previous malignancy

Background: Abatacept (ABT) is known to lower infection risk than other biologics and is effective and safe in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there were inconsistent reports on the impact of ABT on malignancies which are more common in the elderly and strongly related to prognosis. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ABT in patients with RA with previous malignancy in clinical practice. Design: A multicenter, retrospective study. Methods: Patients who received ABT for RA in two hospitals in Yokohama until May 2022 were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a history of malignancy (no previous malignancy: NP group, previous malignancy: PM group). The collected parameters were compared between the groups using propensity score matching. Results: In this study, 312 patients were included, of whom 73 had previous malignancies when starting ABT. The age at ABT initiation was significantly higher in the PM group, the rate of methotrexate use was significantly lower in the PM group, and the Steinbrocker stage was significantly higher in the PM group. After matching these 3 factors, 68 patients were selected from each group. No significant differences in the ABT continuation rate, and malignancy incidence were observed between the two groups after ABT initiation. In addition to these factors, when matched for smoking history, interstitial lung disease, disease duration, sex, and inflammatory status, which are known risk factors for malignancy in RA, 40 patients were selected from each group. No significant differences in the ABT continuation rate, and malignancy incidence were observed between the two groups after ABT initiation. Conclusion: In our clinical practice, ABT was as effective and safe in patients with a history of malignancy as in those without