56 research outputs found
Solving Quantum Ground-State Problems with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Quantum ground-state problems are computationally hard problems; for general
many-body Hamiltonians, there is no classical or quantum algorithm known to be
able to solve them efficiently. Nevertheless, if a trial wavefunction
approximating the ground state is available, as often happens for many problems
in physics and chemistry, a quantum computer could employ this trial
wavefunction to project the ground state by means of the phase estimation
algorithm (PEA). We performed an experimental realization of this idea by
implementing a variational-wavefunction approach to solve the ground-state
problem of the Heisenberg spin model with an NMR quantum simulator. Our
iterative phase estimation procedure yields a high accuracy for the
eigenenergies (to the 10^-5 decimal digit). The ground-state fidelity was
distilled to be more than 80%, and the singlet-to-triplet switching near the
critical field is reliably captured. This result shows that quantum simulators
can better leverage classical trial wavefunctions than classical computers.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figure
Testing for hereditary thrombophilia: a retrospective analysis of testing referred to a national laboratory
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Predisposition to venous thrombosis may be assessed through testing for defects and/or deficiencies of a number of hereditary factors. There is potential for confusion about which of these tests are appropriate in which settings. At least one set of recommendations has been published to guide such testing, but it is unclear how widely these have been disseminated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a retrospective analysis of laboratory orders and results at a national referral laboratory to gain insight into physicians' ordering practices, specifically comparing them against the ordering practices recommended by a 2002 College of American Pathologists (CAP) consensus conference on thrombophilia testing. Measurements included absolute and relative ordering volumes and positivity rates from approximately 200,000 thrombophilia tests performed from September 2005 through August 2006 at a national reference laboratory. Quality control data were used to estimate the proportion of samples that may have been affected by anticoagulant therapy. A sample of ordering laboratories was surveyed in order to assess potential measurement bias.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Total antigen assays for protein C, protein S and antithrombin were ordered almost as frequently as functional assays for these analytes. The DNA test for factor V Leiden was ordered much more often than the corresponding functional assay. In addition, relative positivity rates coupled with elevations in prothrombin time (PT) in many of these patients suggest that these tests are often ordered in the setting of oral anticoagulant therapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this real-world setting, testing for inherited thrombophilia is frequently at odds with the recommendations of the CAP consensus conference. There is a need for wider dissemination of concise thrombophilia testing guidelines.</p
Computing: Quantum to classical and back
Quantum mechanics can simulate a classical system evolving in (and towards) thermal equilibrium. This finding adds a further ingredient to the story of what problems a computer â classical or quantum â could possibly master.
Introductio
Usefulness of combining admission brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) plus hospital discharge bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in predicting 90Â days cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute heart failure
Quantum Monte Carlo simulation of a particular class of non-stoquastic Hamiltonians in quantum annealing
The influence of parasites on the retention of long-term partnerships in the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa
- âŠ