All Pure Fermionic Non-Gaussian States Are Magic States for Matchgate Computations

Magic states were introduced in the context of Clifford circuits as a resource that elevates classically simulatable computations to quantum universal capability, while maintaining the same gate set. Here we study magic states in the context of matchgate (MG) circuits, where the notion becomes more subtle, as MGs are subject to locality constraints. Nevertheless a similar picture of gate-gadget constructions applies, and we show that every pure fermionic state which is non-Gaussian, i.e., which cannot be generated by MGs from a computational basis state, is a magic state for MG computations. This result has significance for prospective quantum computing implementation in view of the fact that MG circuit evolutions coincide with the quantum physical evolution of noninteracting fermions.

When is a randomised controlled trial health equity relevant? Development and validation of a conceptual framework

BACKGROUND

Randomised controlled trials can provide evidence relevant to assessing the equity impact of an intervention, but such information is often poorly reported. We describe a conceptual framework to identify health equity-relevant randomised trials with the aim of improving the design and reporting of such trials.

METHODS

An interdisciplinary and international research team engaged in an iterative consensus building process to develop and refine the conceptual framework via face-to-face meetings, teleconferences and email correspondence, including findings from a validation exercise whereby two independent reviewers used the emerging framework to classify a sample of randomised trials.

RESULTS

A randomised trial can usefully be classified as 'health equity relevant' if it assesses the effects of an intervention on the health or its determinants of either individuals or a population who experience ill health due to disadvantage defined across one or more social determinants of health. Health equity-relevant randomised trials can either exclusively focus on a single population or collect data potentially useful for assessing differential effects of the intervention across multiple populations experiencing different levels or types of social disadvantage. Trials that are not classified as 'health equity relevant' may nevertheless provide information that is indirectly relevant to assessing equity impact, including information about individual level variation unrelated to social disadvantage and potentially useful in secondary modelling studies.

CONCLUSION

The conceptual framework may be used to design and report randomised trials. The framework could also be used for other study designs to contribute to the evidence base for improved health equity.

Reporting of sex and gender in randomized controlled trials in Canada: a cross-sectional methods study

BACKGROUND

Accurate reporting on sex and gender in health research is integral to ensuring that health interventions are safe and effective. In Canada and internationally, governments, research organizations, journal editors, and health agencies have called for more inclusive research, provision of sex-disaggregated data, and the integration of sex and gender analysis throughout the research process. Sex and gender analysis is generally defined as an approach for considering how and why different subpopulations (e.g., of diverse genders, ages, and social locations) may experience health conditions and interventions in different or similar ways.The objective of this study was to assess the extent and nature of reporting about sex and/or gender, including whether sex and gender analysis (SGA) was carried out in a sample of Canadian randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with human participants.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE from 01 January 2013 to 23 July 2014 using a validated filter for identification of RCTs, combined with terms related to Canada. Two reviewers screened the search results to identify the first 100 RCTs that were either identified in the trial publication as funded by a Canadian organization or which had a first or last author based in Canada. Data were independently extracted by two people from 10% of the RCTs during an initial training period; once agreement was reached on this sample, the remainder of the data extraction was completed by one person and verified by a second.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1433 records. We screened 256 records to identify 100 RCTs which met our eligibility criteria. The median sample size of the RCTs was 107 participants (range 12-6085). While 98% of studies described the demographic composition of their participants by sex, only 6% conducted a subgroup analysis across sex and 4% reported sex-disaggregated data. No article defined "sex" and/or "gender." No publication carried out a comprehensive sex and gender analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight poor uptake of sex and gender considerations in the Canadian RCT context and underscore the need for better articulated guidance on sex and gender analysis to improve reporting of evidence, inform policy development, and guide future research.

Roundworm granuloma of the anterior abdominal wall

A case of migration of a gravid female roundworm into the peritoneal cavity is reported. The presenting feature, a lump in the anterior abdominal wall, has not previously been documented. Fertilized ova of the worm were found in miliary peritoneal granulomata, and showed development up to the eight-cell stage.

Patterns of acute renal failure in leptospirosis

The renal profile was studied in 61 patients having leptospirosis. Leptospira-induced acute renal failure conformed to one of two distinct clinical patterns, either oliguric on non-oliguric renal failure. The prognosis was excellent in the latter variety of renal failure and mortality was confined to patients with oliguric renal failure, where severe glomerular and widespread tubulo-interstitial lesions were invariably present. These patients had unfavourable prognostic features during life, such as prolonged oliguria and anuria, absence of a diruetic phase, persistent elevations in BUN and persistently low urea excretion. The prognostic significance of the age of the patients, hypotension and jaundice in relation to the occurrence and type of acute renal failure have been discussed. Retrospective observations indicate that both a vasculotoxic or haemorrhagic state and oliguric acute renal failure are important causes for mortality in human leptospiral infections.

Pleural empyema due to ruptured amoebic liver abscess

Thirty-one cases of empyema due to ruptured amoebic liver abscess treated by either intercostal tube drainage or decortication are presented. On account of the rapid development of a thick membrane, intercostal drainage was successful only in the cases which were seen early. The poor general condition of the patient was the cause of death in 4 of the 5 fatal cases.