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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Communication Power of a Noisy Qubit

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):080803. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.080803.

ABSTRACT

A fundamental limitation of quantum communication is that a single qubit can carry at most one bit of classical information. For an important class of quantum communication channels, known as entanglement breaking, this limitation holds even if the sender and receiver share entangled particles. But does this mean that, for the purpose of communicating classical messages, a noisy entanglement-breaking qubit channel can be replaced by a noisy bit channel? Here we answer the question in the negative. We introduce a game, similar to the Monty Hall problem in classical statistics, where a sender assists a receiver in finding a valuable item (the “prize”) hidden in one of four possible boxes, while avoiding a hazardous item (the “bomb”) hidden in one of the remaining three boxes. We show that no classical strategy using a noisy bit channel can ensure that the bomb is avoided, even if the sender and receiver share arbitrary amounts of randomness. In contrast, communication of a qubit through a class of noisy entanglement-breaking channels, which we call quantum not channels, allows the players to deterministically avoid the bomb and to find the prize with a guaranteed nonzero probability. Our findings show that the communication of classical messages through a noisy entanglement-breaking qubit channel assisted by quantum entanglement cannot, in general, be simulated by communication through a noisy bit channel assisted by classical correlations.

PMID:40085885 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.080803

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Constraints on Axions from Patchy Screening of the Cosmic Microwave Background

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):081001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081001.

ABSTRACT

The resonant conversion of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons into axions within large-scale structure induces an anisotropic spectral distortion in CMB temperature maps. Applying state-of-the-art foreground cleaning techniques to Planck CMB observations, we construct maps of axion-induced “patchy screening” of the CMB. We cross-correlate these maps with data from the unWISE galaxy survey and find no evidence of axions. We constrain the axion-photon coupling, g_{aγγ}≲2×10^{-12} GeV^{-1}, at the 95% confidence level for axion masses in the range 10^{-13} eV≲m_{a}≲10^{-12} eV. These constraints are competitive with the tightest astrophysical axion limits in this mass range and are inferred from robust population-level statistics, which makes them complementary to existing searches that rely on modeling of individual systems.

PMID:40085882 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081001

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Calibrating the Medium Effects of Light Clusters in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):082304. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.082304.

ABSTRACT

We propose a Bayesian inference estimation of in-medium modification of the cluster self-energies from light nuclei multiplicities measured in selected samples of central ^{136,124}Xe+^{124,112}Sn collisions with the INDRA apparatus. The data are interpreted with a relativistic quasiparticle cluster approach in the mean-field approximation without any prior assumption on the thermal parameters of the model. An excellent reproduction is obtained for H and He isotope multiplicities, and compatible posterior distributions are found for the unknown thermal parameters. We conclude that the cluster-σ-meson coupling is temperature dependent, becoming weaker when the temperature increases, in agreement with microscopic quantum statistical calculations. This implies a faster decrease of the light cluster abundances with temperature than previously estimated.

PMID:40085878 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.082304

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

First Determination of the Spin-Parity of Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+,0} Baryons

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):081901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081901.

ABSTRACT

The Ξ_{b}^{0(-)}→Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)}(→D^{+(0)}Λ)π^{-} decay chains are observed, and the spin-parity of Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)} baryons is determined for the first time. The measurement is performed using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb^{-1}, recorded by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018. The spin-parity of the Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)} baryons is determined to be 3/2^{+} with a significance of more than 6.5σ (3.5σ) compared to all other tested hypotheses. The up-down asymmetries of the Ξ_{b}^{0(-)}→Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)}π^{-} transitions are measured to be -0.92±0.10±0.05 (-0.92±0.16±0.22), consistent with maximal parity violation, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. These results support the hypothesis that the Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)} baryons correspond to the first D-wave λ-mode excitation of the Ξ_{c} flavor triplet.

PMID:40085858 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081901

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Dual-Baseline Search for Active-to-Sterile Neutrino Oscillations in NOvA

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):081804. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081804.

ABSTRACT

We report a search for neutrino oscillations to sterile neutrinos under a model with three active and one sterile neutrinos (3+1 model). This analysis uses the NOvA detectors exposed to the NuMI beam, running in neutrino mode. The data exposure, 13.6×10^{20} protons on target, doubles that previously analyzed by NOvA, and the analysis is the first to use ν_{μ} charged-current interactions in conjunction with neutral-current interactions. Neutrino samples in the near and far detectors are fitted simultaneously, enabling the search to be carried out over a Δm_{41}^{2} range extending 2 (3) orders of magnitude above (below) 1 eV^{2}. NOvA finds no evidence for active-to-sterile neutrino oscillations under the 3+1 model at 90% confidence level. New limits are reported in multiple regions of parameter space, excluding some regions currently allowed by IceCube at 90% confidence level. We additionally set the most stringent limits for anomalous ν_{τ} appearance for Δm_{41}^{2}≤3 eV^{2}.

PMID:40085856 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081804

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Association between adherence to patient blood management recommendations and postoperative complications in hip and knee arthroplasty

Anesthesiology. 2025 Mar 14. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005450. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patient blood management (PBM) is a set of evidence-based practices that reduces the need for blood transfusions. However, its impact on relevant clinical outcomes remains unclear. We evaluated the association between adherence to guideline-recommended PBM care and 30-day postoperative complications in patients undergoing primary total knee and hip arthroplasty. Secondary outcomes included the length of hospital stay and red blood cell utilization.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study including patients from 43 hospitals. The PBM clinical pathway comprised nine major guideline-recommended interventions, and adherence was assessed using a composite quality indicator. Multilevel multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the associations between PBM adherence and outcomes at the patient level while accounting for hospital characteristics and hospital variation.

RESULTS: A total of 30926 patients who underwent primary total knee or hip arthroplasty between 2016 and 2022 at 43 hospitals were included. Of these, 1335 (4.3%) had 30-day postoperative complications. The median adherence to the PBM clinical pathway was 60.%. Higher PBM adherence was associated with fewer 30-day postoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32 to 0.58; p < 0.001), including 65% lower odds of major adverse cardiac events and 45% lower odds of infection. Additionally, higher adherence was associated with shorter hospital stays (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.77; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.79; p < 0.001) and reduced transfusion rates (adjusted odds ratio, 0.11; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.14; p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses confirmed these associations.

CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the PBM clinical pathway was associated with improved outcomes. While causality cannot be established, these findings support the potential effectiveness of PBM in reducing postoperative complications and its efficiency in shortening hospital stays, beyond minimizing blood transfusions, in patients undergoing knee and hip arthroplasty.

PMID:40085850 | DOI:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005450

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Contactless Sleep Monitoring for the Detection of Exacerbations in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Protocol for a Longitudinal Observational Study

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Mar 14;14:e63230. doi: 10.2196/63230.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are one of the main causes of mortality, and early detection of exacerbations is thus essential. Telemedicine solutions have shown promising results for the detection of exacerbations in COPD and have increasingly been used. However, the effect of telemedicine is divergent. According to several studies, respiration rate (RR) increases before, during, and after an exacerbation and the change is measurable with several contactless devices. Despite this, RR is rarely measured, and telemedicine solutions only use wearable devices for measuring RR, even though wearable respiratory monitoring devices have been associated with certain drawbacks. Contactless devices are often used during sleep, as measurements conducted during sleep minimize the risk of disturbance from physical activities. However, the potential of measuring RR and heart rate (HR) during sleep for the detection of exacerbations in COPD remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this observational study is to investigate whether contactless measurement of RR, HR, and sleep stages can be used to detect exacerbations in people with COPD.

METHODS: An observational study including 50 participants with COPD will be conducted. The participants reside in Aalborg municipality, located in the North Denmark Region. Participants will use a contactless monitor (Sleepiz One+) near their bed during sleep for a period of 4 months. After data collection, descriptive statistics will be used to identify any extremes or variations in RR, HR, or sleep stages in the nights preceding an exacerbation. Correlation analysis will be performed to evaluate the relationship between the number of exacerbations and extremes or variations in RR, HR, or sleep stages. Finally, qualitative interviews will be conducted with 12 participants to explore their experiences of sleeping with the monitor nearby.

RESULTS: Recruitment started at the end of April 2024. A total of 12 participants have been recruited, and the remaining participants are expected to be recruited during March and April 2025. Six out of 12 participants have completed the data collection and qualitative interview stages. Overall data collection is expected to be completed by September 2025. The results are expected to provide insight into the potential for identifying extremes or variations in RR, HR, or sleep stages in the days preceding an exacerbation. Additionally, the results are expected to assess the correlation between the number of exacerbations and extremes or variations in RR, HR, and sleep stages.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study may clarify the possibility of using a contactless monitor to detect exacerbations in COPD. Furthermore, the results may have the potential to improve the ability to predict exacerbations in the future.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/63230.

PMID:40085848 | DOI:10.2196/63230

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Experiences and Expectations of Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Older Adults Regarding eHealth Services: Qualitative Interview Study

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Mar 14;27:e64249. doi: 10.2196/64249.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The emergence of eHealth services could contribute to improving individuals’ quality of life by optimizing effective and efficient care. However, various challenges might limit some older adults’ use of eHealth services.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the perspectives of older adults (aged ≥65 years) of different backgrounds regarding eHealth services. We explored the experiences of Iranian immigrant and nonimmigrant older adults with eHealth services to identify their perceived challenges, emotions, and wishes. Immigrants face more challenges, and there is a need to understand their perspectives in addition to those of nonimmigrants. Iranians are one important immigrant group, as their number is limited and their specific needs are less well understood compared to those of the bigger immigrant groups.

METHODS: This study used a qualitative explorative research design. Semistructured interviews were conducted between February 2023 and May 2023. The participants were 25 older adults: nonimmigrants residing in cities (n=8, 32%), nonimmigrants residing in rural areas (n=9, 36%), and Iranian immigrants residing in cities (n=8, 32%). Data were analyzed through inductive and deductive content analysis and interpreted through self-determination theory.

RESULTS: Interacting with eHealth services was challenging for some older adults. They perceived several difficulties, with the most obvious ones being related to values and preferences, as some older adults did not value eHealth services (16/25, 64%), had insufficient digital skills (15/25, 60%), and experienced usability issues (15/25, 60%). The first two challenges were more pronounced among immigrants. In contrast, nonimmigrants from cities, being more familiar with the services, shared more usability issues. These identified challenges prevented older adults from satisfying their basic psychological needs of being competent and autonomous users and having a sense of belonging (aspects of self-determination theory), which were the main source of negative emotions. A common negative feeling was confusion (16/25, 64%) among those with limited experience using smart devices and those with poor self-reported digital skills. Conversely, older adults’ interaction with eHealth services generated positive emotions that were connected to the satisfaction of their basic psychological needs. Being interested in using eHealth services was a common feeling among most participants regardless of their background and was connected to satisfying their need for being competent and autonomous. The positive emotions could be supported by applying older adults’ needs to the design of eHealth services (10/25, 40%) and by supporting their digital skills (19/25, 76%).

CONCLUSIONS: Some older adults value eHealth services and see their added benefits. However, various challenges limit their use of these services. The analysis of older adults’ needs yielded several practical ideas that could improve the user-friendliness of the services and highlighted the importance of sufficient support services tailored to the cultural needs of specific groups of older adults.

PMID:40085846 | DOI:10.2196/64249

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Analyzing Online Search Trends for Kidney, Prostate, and Bladder Cancers in China: Infodemiology Study Using Baidu Search Data (2011-2023)

JMIR Cancer. 2025 Mar 14;11:e57414. doi: 10.2196/57414.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancers of the bladder, kidney, and prostate are the 3 major genitourinary cancers that significantly contribute to the global burden of disease (GBD) and continue to show increasing rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In mainland China, understanding the cancer burden on patients and their families is crucial; however, public awareness and concerns about these cancers, particularly from the patient’s perspective, remain predominantly focused on financial costs. A more comprehensive exploration of their needs and concerns has yet to be fully addressed.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze trends in online searches and user information-seeking behaviors related to bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers-encompassing descriptive terms (eg, “bladder cancer,” “kidney cancer,” “prostate cancer”) as well as related synonyms and variations-on both national and regional scales. This study leverages data from mainland China’s leading search engine to explore the implications of these search patterns for addressing user needs and improving health management.

METHODS: The study analyzed Baidu Index search trends for bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers (from January 2011 to August 2023) at national and provincial levels. Search volume data were analyzed using the joinpoint regression model to calculate annual percentage changes (APCs) and average APCs (AAPCs), identifying shifts in public interest. User demand was assessed by categorizing the top 10 related terms weekly into 13 predefined topics, including diagnosis, treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine. Data visualization and statistical analyses were performed using Prism 9. Results revealed keyword trends, demographic distributions, and public information needs, offering insights into health communication and management strategies based on online information-seeking behavior.

RESULTS: Three cancer topics were analyzed using 39 search keywords, yielding a total Baidu Search Index (BSI) of 43,643,453. From 2011 to 2015, the overall APC was 15.2% (P<.05), followed by -2.8% from 2015 to 2021, and 8.9% from 2021 to 2023, with an AAPC of 4.9%. Bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers exhibited AAPCs of 2.8%, 3.9%, and 6.8%, respectively (P<.05). The age distribution of individuals searching for these cancer topics varied across the topics. Geographically, searches for cancer were predominantly conducted by people from East China, who accounted for approximately 30% of each cancer search query. Regarding user demand, the total BSI for relevant user demand terms from August 2022 to August 2023 was 676,526,998 out of 2,570,697,380 (15.74%), representing only a limited total cancer-related search volume.

CONCLUSIONS: Online searches and inquiries related to genitourinary cancers are on the rise. The depth of users’ information demands appears to be influenced by regional economic levels. Cancer treatment decision-making may often involve a family-centered approach. Insights from internet search data can help medical professionals better understand public interests and concerns, enabling them to provide more targeted and reliable health care services.

PMID:40085845 | DOI:10.2196/57414

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Associations Among Online Health Information Seeking Behavior, Online Health Information Perception, and Health Service Utilization: Cross-Sectional Study

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Mar 14;27:e66683. doi: 10.2196/66683.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Seeking online health information can empower individuals to better understand their health concerns, facilitating their ability to manage their health conditions more effectively. It has the potential to change the likelihood and frequency of health service usage. Although existing literature has demonstrated the prevalence of seeking online health information among different populations, the factors affecting online health information perception and discussions on the associations between seeking online health information and health service utilization are limited.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the associations between online health information seeking behavior and health service utilization, as well as the online health information perception delivery mechanism.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the Chinese General Social Survey, the first national representative survey conducted in mainland China. The independent variable was the online health information seeking behavior. The outcome variable was health service utilization by the respondents, and online health information perception was selected as the mediating variable in this analysis. Factor analysis was conducted to obtain online health information perception. Multiple regressions were performed to investigate the effect of online health information seeking behavior on physician visits. Bootstrap methods were conducted to test the mediation effects of online health information perception.

RESULTS: This analysis included 1475 cases. Among the participants, 939 (63.66%) sought online health information in the last 12 months. The mean age of the respondents was 46.72 (SD 15.86) years, and 794 (53.83%) were females. After controlling for other variables, individuals with online health information seeking behaviors showed 0.289 times more outpatient visits (P=.003), 0.131 times more traditional Chinese medicine outpatient visits (P=.01), and 0.158 times more Western medicine outpatient visits (P=.007) over the past year compared to those who did not seek health information online. Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed statistically significant effects of gender, age, and health status on physician visits. The total effect revealed that seeking online health information significantly influenced the total physician visits (β=0.290; P=.003), indicating a certain correlation between online health information seeking behavior and physician visits. Seeking online health information had a significant positive impact on the perception (β=0.265; P<.001). The mediation effects analysis identified that online health information perception led to a significant increase in physician visits with the increase in the online health information seeking behaviors (β=0.232; P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS: The online health information perception of an individual influences the effect online health information seeking has on the frequency of physician visits. The online health information seeking behavior impacts outpatient service utilization both directly and indirectly through online health information perception and significantly increases the frequency of clinic visits after controlling for other variables. Interventions can be explored to improve the health utilization of residents by increasing their online health information perception.

PMID:40085841 | DOI:10.2196/66683