Toward Neural Network Simulation of Variational Quantum Algorithms

Variational quantum algorithms (VQAs) utilize a hybrid quantum-classical architecture to recast problems of high-dimensional linear algebra as ones of stochastic optimization. Despite the promise of leveraging near- to intermediate-term quantum resources to accelerate this task, the computational advantage of VQAs over wholly classical algorithms has not been firmly established. For instance, while the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) has been developed to approximate low-lying eigenmodes of high-dimensional sparse linear operators, analogous classical optimization algorithms exist in the variational Monte Carlo (VMC) literature, utilizing neural networks in place of quantum circuits to represent quantum states. In this paper we ask if classical stochastic optimization algorithms can be constructed paralleling other VQAs, focusing on the example of the variational quantum linear solver (VQLS). We find that such a construction can be applied to the VQLS, yielding a paradigm that could theoretically extend to other VQAs of similar form.Comment: To appear at the workshop on AI for Science: Progress and Promises at NeurIPS 202

Exploring Alternatives to Out-of-School Suspension in Kentucky: A quasi-experimental study examining the effectiveness of Community service work

This paper addresses the ineffective and often negative impacts that various forms of disciplinary measures have on students (e.g. out-of-school suspension, in-school suspension, and placement in alternative schools) then discusses community service as a viable alternative to these programs. Data from 17 middle and high schools in Kentucky that implemented community service in lieu of suspension are compared to data from 17 control schools to explore whether or not community service programs are effective in reducing school suspensions. The findings illustrate that community service programs are effective in reducing the amount of out-of-school suspensions in those schools that use community service programs. Therefore, the authors suggest that implementing community service works as a viable alternative to in-school or out-of-school suspensions has the potential to improve academic performance and conduct within public school settings

Prevalence of mental health disorders in adult minority ethnic populations in England: A systematic review

The aim of this project, commissioned by the Department of Health in England, was to undertake a systematic review of the survey literature that has estimated the prevalence of mental health disorders among adults from minority ethnic groups in England. Findings about the estimated prevalence of different mental health disorders, and about the extent and nature of the available survey evidence, are to be used to inform the design of a sampling strategy aimed at boosting the sample of people from minority ethnic groups in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) due in 2021

Depression, anxiety, pain and quality of life in people living with chronic hepatitis C: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) can develop extrahepatic conditions which may have a significant impact on life expectancy and quality of life. We conducted a systematic review to assess the causal relationship between HCV and extrahepatic conditions and the impact of HCV upon health-related quality of life of people in the UK. / Methods: HCV advocacy groups identified conditions that they thought most important to research, and the perspectives of various stakeholders informed the scope of the review. A comprehensive literature search of a range of electronic databases and websites was undertaken. Screening, quality assessment and data extraction were conducted using specialist software. The key criterion for inclusion in a synthesis was a study’s testing of the association between HCV and either quality of life or conditions specified as important by advocacy groups: depression, anxiety or painful conditions. Other criteria relating to study populations, measures and matching of study groups were also applied. Two reviewers assessed included studies, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer where necessary. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using standardised appraisal tools. Metaanalyses were performed. Based on the consistency and sufficiency of research evidence, the findings were graded as strong, promising, tentative or inconclusive. / Results: 71 studies were included in the review’s syntheses. All studies were judged to be at a moderate or high risk of bias. Only two UK studies met our inclusion criteria. / Quality of life: Evidence from 22 studies indicates that people with HCV have worse quality of life than ‘general’ or ‘healthy’ populations; meta-analysis of nine studies indicated\ud that the physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS) domains of quality of life on the Health-Related Quality of Life Scale were both statistically and clinically worse among HCV-infected people (PCS: MD 5.54, 95% CI 3.73-7.35, MCS: MD 3.81, 95% CI 1.97-5.64). Evidence from seven included studies suggests that people co-infected with HCV and HIV have worse quality of life than individuals with HIV only; metaanalysis of five studies indicated that both the physical and mental health domains of quality of life were significantly worse among people who were co-infected (PCS: MD 2.57, 95% CI 1.08-4.06, MCS: MD 1.88, 95% CI 0.06-3.69). / Depression and anxiety: Evidence from 22 studies indicates that depression and anxiety are more severe, and depression is more common among people with HCV compared to those without it. Meta-analysis of 12 studies identified the severity of depression in people with HCV to be significantly greater than in those without HCV (Mean difference 0.98, 95% CI 0.43-1.53). Meta-analysis of nine studies identified the severity of clinical anxiety to be significantly greater among people with HCV (Mean difference 0.47, 95% CI 0.09-0.86). Meta-analysis of seven studies identified participants with HCV to be approximately three times more likely to be depressed compared to those without HCV (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.62-4.74). No statistically significant evidence that anxiety is more common among people with HCV was found. / Pain: Evidence was appraised from 26 studies on painful conditions. A meta-analysis of four studies indicates that people with HCV are 17% more likely to suffer from arthralgia than those without HCV (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.31). A meta-analysis of five studies suggested that people with HCV are significantly more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia; key differences across the studies in terms of the health status (co-morbidities) of HCV patients and comparison groups mean it is not possible to quantify the increased risk attributable to HCV. Other studies, including those on arthritis, were not amenable to meta-analysis. / Conclusions: Evidence suggests an association between HCV infection and depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, arthralgia and health-related quality of life. However, the evidence was graded as ‘promising’ or ‘tentative’ rather than ‘strong’. More high-quality research on the association between HCV and these conditions is needed

Polarization squeezing of intense pulses with a fiber Sagnac interferometer

We report on the generation of polarization squeezing of intense, short light pulses using an asymmetric fiber Sagnac interferometer. The Kerr nonlinearity of the fiber is exploited to produce independent amplitude squeezed pulses. The polarization squeezing properties of spatially overlapped amplitude squeezed and coherent states are discussed. The experimental results for a single amplitude squeezed beam are compared to the case of two phase-matched, spatially overlapped amplitude squeezed pulses. For the latter, noise variances of -3.4dB below shot noise in the S0 and the S1 and of -2.8dB in the S2 Stokes parameters were observed, which is comparable to the input squeezing magnitude. Polarization squeezing, that is squeezing relative to a corresponding polarization minimum uncertainty state, was generated in S1.Comment: v4: 2 small typos corrected v3: misc problems with Tex surmounted - mysteriously missing text returned to results - vol# for Korolkova et al. PRA v2: was a spelling change in author lis