148 research outputs found
Jaynes' MaxEnt, Steady State Flow Systems and the Maximum Entropy Production Principle
Jaynes' maximum entropy (MaxEnt) principle was recently used to give a
conditional, local derivation of the ``maximum entropy production'' (MEP)
principle, which states that a flow system with fixed flow(s) or gradient(s)
will converge to a steady state of maximum production of thermodynamic entropy
(R.K. Niven, Phys. Rev. E, in press). The analysis provides a steady state
analog of the MaxEnt formulation of equilibrium thermodynamics, applicable to
many complex flow systems at steady state. The present study examines the
classification of physical systems, with emphasis on the choice of constraints
in MaxEnt. The discussion clarifies the distinction between equilibrium, fluid
flow, source/sink, flow/reactive and other systems, leading into an appraisal
of the application of MaxEnt to steady state flow and reactive systems.Comment: 6 pages; paper for MaxEnt0
On Local Equivalence, Surface Code States and Matroids
Recently, Ji et al disproved the LU-LC conjecture and showed that the local
unitary and local Clifford equivalence classes of the stabilizer states are not
always the same. Despite the fact this settles the LU-LC conjecture, a
sufficient condition for stabilizer states that violate the LU-LC conjecture is
missing. In this paper, we investigate further the properties of stabilizer
states with respect to local equivalence. Our first result shows that there
exist infinitely many stabilizer states which violate the LU-LC conjecture. In
particular, we show that for all numbers of qubits , there exist
distance two stabilizer states which are counterexamples to the LU-LC
conjecture. We prove that for all odd , there exist stabilizer
states with distance greater than two which are LU equivalent but not LC
equivalent. Two important classes of stabilizer states that are of great
interest in quantum computation are the cluster states and stabilizer states of
the surface codes. To date, the status of these states with respect to the
LU-LC conjecture was not studied. We show that, under some minimal
restrictions, both these classes of states preclude any counterexamples. In
this context, we also show that the associated surface codes do not have any
encoded non-Clifford transversal gates. We characterize the CSS surface code
states in terms of a class of minor closed binary matroids. In addition to
making connection with an important open problem in binary matroid theory, this
characterization does in some cases provide an efficient test for CSS states
that are not counterexamples.Comment: LaTeX, 13 pages; Revised introduction, minor changes and corrections
mainly in section V
Maximum-Entropy Weighting of Multi-Component Earth Climate Models
A maximum entropy-based framework is presented for the synthesis of
projections from multiple Earth climate models. This identifies the most
representative (most probable) model from a set of climate models -- as defined
by specified constraints -- eliminating the need to calculate the entire set.
Two approaches are developed, based on individual climate models or ensembles
of models, subject to a single cost (energy) constraint or competing
cost-benefit constraints. A finite-time limit on the minimum cost of modifying
a model synthesis framework, at finite rates of change, is also reported.Comment: Inspired by discussions at the Mathematical and Statistical
Approaches to Climate Modelling and Prediction workshop, Isaac Newton
Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge, UK, 11 Aug. to 22 Dec. 2010.
Accepted for publication in Climate Dynamics, 8 August 201
Absence of singular superconducting fluctuation corrections to thermal conductivity
We evaluate the superconducting fluctuation corrections to thermal
conductivity in the normal state which diverge as T approaches T_c. We find
zero total contribution for one, two and three-dimensional superconductors for
arbitrary impurity concentration. The method used is diagrammatic many-body
theory, and all contributions -- Aslamazov-Larkin (AL), Maki-Thompson (MT), and
density-of-states (DOS) -- are considered. The AL contribution is convergent,
whilst the divergences of the DOS and MT diagrams exactly cancel.Comment: 4 pages text; 2 figure
Randomized controlled trial of oral antifungal treatment for severe asthma with fungal sensitization: The Fungal Asthma Sensitization Trial (FAST) study
Long term (5 Year) safety of bronchial thermoplasty: Asthma Intervention Research (AIR) trial
<b>Background:</b>
Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic procedure that improves asthma control by reducing excess airway smooth muscle. Treated patients have been followed out to 5 years to evaluate long-term safety of this procedure.
<br></br>
<br></br>
<b>Methods:</b>
Patients enrolled in the Asthma Intervention Research Trial were on inhaled corticosteroids ≥200 μg beclomethasone or equivalent + long-acting-beta2-agonists and demonstrated worsening of asthma on long-acting-β2-agonist withdrawal. Following initial evaluation at 1 year, subjects were invited to participate in a 4 year safety study. Adverse events (AEs) and spirometry data were used to assess long-term safety out to 5 years post-BT.
<br></br>
<br></br>
<b>Results:</b>
45 of 52 treated and 24 of 49 control group subjects participated in long-term follow-up of 5 years and 3 years respectively. The rate of respiratory adverse events (AEs/subject) was stable in years 2 to 5 following BT (1.2, 1.3, 1.2, and 1.1, respectively,). There was no increase in hospitalizations or emergency room visits for respiratory symptoms in Years 2, 3, 4, and 5 compared to Year 1. The FVC and FEV1 values showed no deterioration over the 5 year period in the BT group. Similar results were obtained for the Control group.
<br></br><br></br>
<b>Conclusions:</b>
The absence of clinical complications (based on AE reporting) and the maintenance of stable lung function (no deterioration of FVC and FEV1) over a 5-year period post-BT in this group of patients with moderate to severe asthma support the long-term safety of the procedure out to 5 years
Under the Skin of a Lion: Unique Evidence of Upper Paleolithic Exploitation and Use of Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Spain)
ABSTRACT: Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly sustained by the archaeological record. In the present paper, we analyze unique evidence of patterned anthropic modification and skeletal representation of fossil remains of cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain). This site is one of the few that provides Pleistocene examples of lion exploitation by humans. Our archaeozoological study suggests that lion-specialized pelt exploitation and use might have been related to ritual activities during the Middle Magdalenian period (ca. 14800 cal BC). Moreover, the specimens also represent the southernmost European and the latest evidence of cave lion exploitation in Iberia. Therefore, the study seeks to provide alternative explanations for lion extinction in Eurasia and argues for a role of hunting as a factor to take into account
Synapse loss in the prefrontal cortex is associated with cognitive decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Management of patients with advanced prostate cancer—metastatic and/or castration-resistant prostate cancer: report of the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) 2022
Background: Innovations in imaging and molecular characterisation together with novel treatment options have improved outcomes in advanced prostate cancer. However, we still lack high-level evidence in many areas relevant to making management decisions in daily clinical practise. The 2022 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC 2022) addressed some questions in these areas to supplement guidelines that mostly are based on level 1 evidence.
Objective: To present the voting results of the APCCC 2022.
Design, setting, and participants: The experts voted on controversial questions where high- level evidence is mostly lacking: locally advanced prostate cancer; biochemical recurrence after local treatment; metastatic hormone-sensitive, non-metastatic, and metastatic castration- resistant prostate cancer; oligometastatic prostate cancer; and managing side effects of hormonal therapy. A panel of 105 international prostate cancer experts voted on the consensus questions.
Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The panel voted on 198 pre-defined questions, which were developed by 117 voting and non-voting panel members prior to the conference following a modified Delphi process. A total of 116 questions on metastatic and/or castration- resistant prostate cancer are discussed in this manuscript. In 2022, the voting was done by a web-based survey because of COVID-19 restrictions. Results and limitations: The voting reflects the expert opinion of these panellists and did not incorporate a standard literature review or formal meta-analysis. The answer options for the consensus questions received varying degrees of support from panellists, as reflected in this article and the detailed voting results are reported in the supplementary material. We report here on topics in metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and oligometastatic and oligoprogressive prostate cancer.
Conclusions: These voting results in four specific areas from a panel of experts in advanced prostate cancer can help clinicians and patients navigate controversial areas of management for which high-level evidence is scant or conflicting and can help research funders and policy makers identify information gaps and consider what areas to explore further. However, diagnostic and treatment decisions always have to be individualised based on patient characteristics, including the extent and location of disease, prior treatment(s), co-morbidities, patient preferences, and treatment recommendations and should also incorporate current and emerging clinical evidence and logistic and economic factors. Enrolment in clinical trials is strongly encouraged. Importantly, APCCC 2022 once again identified important gaps where there is non-consensus and that merit evaluation in specifically designed trials.
Patient summary: The Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) provides a forum to discuss and debate current diagnostic and treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The conference aims to share the knowledge of international experts in prostate cancer with healthcare providers worldwide. At each APCCC, an expert panel votes on pre-defined questions that target the most clinically relevant areas of advanced prostate cancer treatment for which there are gaps in knowledge. The results of the voting provide a practical guide to help clinicians discuss therapeutic options with patients and their relatives as part of shared and multidisciplinary decision-making. This report focuses on the advanced setting, covering metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and both non-metastatic and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Twitter summary: Report of the results of APCCC 2022 for the following topics: mHSPC, nmCRPC, mCRPC, and oligometastatic prostate cancer.
Take-home message: At APCCC 2022, clinically important questions in the management of advanced prostate cancer management were identified and discussed, and experts voted on pre-defined consensus questions. The report of the results for metastatic and/or castration- resistant prostate cancer is summarised here
The mediating role of physical self-concept on relations between biological maturity status and physical activity in adolescent females
The current study examined the mediating role of physical self-concept on relations between biological maturity status and self-reported physical activity in adolescent British females. Biological maturity status, physical self-concept and physical activity were assessed in 407 female British year 7-9 pupils (M age = 13.2 years, SD = 1.0). Participants completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (Kowalski, Crocker, & Donen, 2004) and the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perceptions Profile (Whitehead, 1995). Percentage of predicted adult height attained at measurement was used as an estimate of biological maturity status. Structural equation modelling using maximum likelihood estimation and bootstrapping procedures revealed that perceptions of sports competence, body attractiveness and physical self-worth mediated an inverse relation between maturity status and physical activity. The results provide partial support for Petersen and Taylor's (1980) Mediated Effects Model of Psychological and Behavioural Adaptation to Puberty within the context of physical activity
- …