Completely-Positive Non-Markovian Decoherence

We propose an effective Hamiltonian approach to investigate decoherence of a quantum system in a non-Markovian reservoir, naturally imposing the complete positivity on the reduced dynamics of the system. The formalism is based on the notion of an effective reservoir, i.e., certain collective degrees of freedom in the reservoir that are responsible for the decoherence. As examples for completely positive decoherence, we present three typical decoherence processes for a qubit such as dephasing, depolarizing, and amplitude-damping. The effects of the non-Markovian decoherence are compared to the Markovian decoherence.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Test-Time Mixup Augmentation for Data and Class-Dependent Uncertainty Estimation in Deep Learning Image Classification

Uncertainty estimation of the trained deep learning networks is valuable for optimizing learning efficiency and evaluating the reliability of network predictions. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating uncertainty in deep learning image classification using test-time mixup augmentation (TTMA). To improve the ability to distinguish correct and incorrect predictions in existing aleatoric uncertainty, we introduce the TTMA data uncertainty (TTMA-DU) by applying mixup augmentation to test data and measuring the entropy of the predicted label histogram. In addition to TTMA-DU, we propose the TTMA class-dependent uncertainty (TTMA-CDU), which captures aleatoric uncertainty specific to individual classes and provides insight into class confusion and class similarity within the trained network. We validate our proposed methods on the ISIC-18 skin lesion diagnosis dataset and the CIFAR-100 real-world image classification dataset. Our experiments show that (1) TTMA-DU more effectively differentiates correct and incorrect predictions compared to existing uncertainty measures due to mixup perturbation, and (2) TTMA-CDU provides information on class confusion and class similarity for both datasets

Role of many-body entanglement in decoherence processes

A pure state decoheres into a mixed state as it entangles with an environment. When an entangled two-mode system is embedded in a thermal environment, however, each mode may not be entangled with its environment by their simple linear interaction. We consider an exactly solvable model to study the dynamics of a total system, which is composed of an entangled two-mode system and a thermal environment, and also an array of infinite beam splitters. It is shown that many-body entanglement of the system and the environment plays a crucial role in the process of disentangling the system.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

1,4-Bis[4-(tert-butyl­diphenyl­silyl)buta-1,3-diyn­yl]benzene

The title centrosymmetric mol­ecule, C46H42Si2, is composed of a central benzene ring with buta-1,3-diynyl chains at positions 1 and 4. These chains are terminated by tert-butyl­diphenyl­silyl groups, hence the molecule is dumbbell in shape. The mol­ecules are connected via C—H⋯π inter­actions in the structure, so forming an undulating two-dimensional network in the bc plane. There is also a weak π–π inter­action involving centrosymmetrically related phenyl rings with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.8359 (11) Å

Acceptability of Treatments and Services for Individuals with Hoarding Behaviors

Objective To explore the acceptability of currently available treatments and services for individuals who self-report hoarding behaviors. Method Between 10/2013 and 8/2014, participants were invited to complete an online survey that provided them descriptions of eleven treatments and services for hoarding behaviors and asked them to evaluate their acceptability using quantitative (0 [not at all acceptable]−10 [completely acceptable]) Likert scale ratings. The a priori definition of acceptability for a given resource was an average Likert scale score of six or greater. Two well-validated self-report measures assessed hoarding symptom severity: the Saving Inventory-Revised and the Clutter Image Rating Scale. Results Two hundred and seventy two participants who self-reported having hoarding behaviors completed the questionnaire. Analyses focused on the 73% of responders (n=203) who reported clinically significant hoarding behaviors (i.e., Saving Inventory-Revised scores of ≥40). The three most acceptable treatments were individual cognitive behavioral therapy (6.2±3.1 on the Likert scale), professional organizing service (6.1±3.2), and use of a self-help book (6.0±3.0). Conclusion In this sample of individuals with self-reported clinically significant hoarding behaviors (n=203), only 3 out of 11 treatments and services for hoarding were deemed acceptable using an a priori score. While needing replication, these findings indicate the need to design more acceptable treatments and services to engage clients and maximize treatment outcomes for hoarding disorder

Statin use and risk of liver cancer : Evidence from two population-based studies

The analysis of UK Biobank has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 34374. We acknowledge collaboration with the Research Applications and Data Management Team lead by Ms Katie Wilde, University of Aberdeen in conducting our study. KTT is supported by the Vietnam International Education Cooperation Department. Access to PCCIU data was provided by Queen's University Belfast and the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen. Access to the UK Biobank was funded by a Cancer Research UK Population Research Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded to ÚCMcM.Peer reviewedPostprin

IDOL regulates systemic energy balance through control of neuronal VLDLR expression.

Liver X receptors limit cellular lipid uptake by stimulating the transcription of Inducible Degrader of the LDL Receptor (IDOL), an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets lipoprotein receptors for degradation. The function of IDOL in systemic metabolism is incompletely understood. Here we show that loss of IDOL in mice protects against the development of diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction by altering food intake and thermogenesis. Unexpectedly, analysis of tissue-specific knockout mice revealed that IDOL affects energy balance, not through its actions in peripheral metabolic tissues (liver, adipose, endothelium, intestine, skeletal muscle), but by controlling lipoprotein receptor abundance in neurons. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the hypothalamus demonstrated that IDOL deletion altered gene expression linked to control of metabolism. Finally, we identify VLDLR rather than LDLR as the primary mediator of IDOL effects on energy balance. These studies identify a role for the neuronal IDOL-VLDLR pathway in metabolic homeostasis and diet-induced obesity

The cascade of care for latent tuberculosis infection in congregate settings:a national cohort 1 analysis, Korea, 2017-18

BACKGROUND: In 2017, Korea implemented a nationwide project to screen and treat latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in high-risk for transmission public congregate settings. We aimed to assess programme success using a cascade of care framework. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a cohort study of people from three congregate settings screened between March 2017 and December 2018: (1) first-grade high school students, (2) employees of educational institutions, (3) employees of social welfare facilities. We report percentages of participants with LTBI completing each step in the cascade of care model. Poisson regression models were used to determine factors associated with not visiting clinics, not initiating treatment, and not completing treatment. RESULTS: Among the 96,439 participants who had a positive interferon-gamma release assay result, the percentage visiting clinics for further assessment, to initiate treatment, and who then completed treatment were 50.7, 34.7, and 28.9%, respectively. Compared to those aged 20-34 years, individuals aged < 20 years and aged ≥ 65 years were less likely to visit clinics, though more likely to complete treatment once initiated. Using public health centres rather than private hospitals was associated with people "not initiating treatment" (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 3.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.95-3.86). Nine-month isoniazid monotherapy therapy was associated with "not completing treatment," compared to 3-month isoniazid and rifampin therapy (aRR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.16-1.41). CONCLUSION: Among participants with LTBI from three congregate settings, less than one third completed treatment. Age, treatment centre, and initial regimen were important determinants of losses to care through the cascade