Simulating correlated materials on present-day quantum hardware remains challenging due to limited quantum resources. Quantum embedding methods offer a promising route by reducing computational complexity through the mapping of bulk systems onto effective impurity models, allowing more feasible simulations on pre- and early-fault-tolerant quantum devices. This work develops a quantum-classical embedding framework based on the ghost Gutzwiller approximation to enable quantum-enhanced simulations of ground-state properties and spectral functions of correlated electron systems. Circuit complexity is analyzed using an adaptive variational quantum algorithm on a statevector simulator, applied to the infinite-dimensional Hubbard model with increasing ghost mode numbers from 3 to 5, resulting in circuit depths growing from 16 to 104. Noise effects are examined using a realistic error model, revealing significant impact on the spectral weight of the Hubbard bands. To mitigate these effects, the Iceberg quantum error detection code is employed, achieving up to 40% error reduction in simulations. Finally, the accuracy of the density matrix estimation and the derived spectral function is benchmarked on IBM and Quantinuum quantum hardware, featuring distinct qubit-connectivity and employing multiple levels of error mitigation techniques.
Optimizing setpoints in non-residential buildings is complex due to multiple competing objectives, such as: energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and cost. This paper presents a multi-objective optimization framework integrated with an ontology-based digital twin for building operation optimization. Using the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II, the framework balances thermal discomfort, CO2 levels, and energy costs, using semantic ontology models for building topology definition and component constraints. Applied to a hospital case study, the approach reduced thermal discomfort by 92%, quantified using kelvin-hours, and reduced operational energy costs associated with space heating and ventilation-related electricity consumption by 48%, relative to baseline operation. These results were obtained using a comfort-focused optimal strategy with 73 decision variables selected from the Pareto front. Robustness was confirmed for previously unseen operational periods that exhibited variations in dynamic factors, such as occupancy and weather conditions. Sensitivity analysis identified space temperature setpoints as primary optimization drivers, followed by supplied air temperature. This scalable framework supports building management system recommissioning by mapping results to controllers, suitable for diverse non-residential buildings.
Of the three otolithic organs found in frogs, the sacculus is known to possess acute sensitivity to seismic vibrations. Simple models of otolith function suggest that increasing size of an otolith should improve vibratory sensitivity. In the first part of this paper, we provide a short review of the existing literature pertaining to the vibratory sensitivity of the otolithic organs in frogs. Given parallels in other vertebrate groups, we hypothesized that fossorial frogs would have larger saccular otoconial masses (‘otoliths’) than non-burrowing species, used for the detection of ground vibrations. In the second part of this paper, we tested this hypothesis by measuring otolith volumes in 15 species of frogs, based on CT reconstructions. Larger species tended to have larger otoliths. The fossorial frog Hemisus guineensis had the largest otoliths relative to skull size of all species examined, followed by a non-fossorial species, Ptychadena delphina. The otoliths of two other fossorial specialists were not notably enlarged, however, and volumes were relatively small in some semi-fossorial species. Pronounced sexual dimorphism was noted in the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis, in which males have larger saccular otoliths than females in absolute terms, despite their smaller body size. Otoconial dissolution represents a problem for studies which involve the examination of preserved specimens, but with this caveat in mind, we conclude that factors other than fossoriality might drive expansion of the saccular otoliths in frogs.
Green supply chain integration has recently gained significant attention in the sustainability discourse. Adding to the efforts of previous literature, this paper offers a comprehensive review of the current literature and systematically highlights the methodological gaps as well as the contributions. The paper specifically investigates the bibliometric and systematic method reviews through journals, cited papers, authors, countries, author’s keywords, and methodological choices among others, and proposes future research directions to advance green supply chain scholarship. 68 papers were extracted from Web of Science and Scopus. The review employed both bibliometric (using R studio) and systematic methodological approaches to the analyses. The findings revealed inconsistency in Green Supply Chain Integration (GSCI) and performance relationship, arising from measurement variations. Hence, the GSCI-performance nexus remains inconclusive. We argue that the Supply Chain Integration (SCI)-performance paradox is grounded in the incongruity between the dimensions of SCI and its respective performance outcomes. The implications and avenues for future research are also discussed.
Models describing dark matter as a novel particle often predict that its annihilation or decay into Standard Model particles could produce a detectable neutrino flux in regions of high dark matter density, such as the Galactic Center. In this work, we search for these neutrinos using $\sim$9 years of IceCube-DeepCore data with an event selection optimized for energies between 15 GeV to 200 GeV. We considered several annihilation and decay channels and dark matter masses ranging from 15 GeV up to 8 TeV. No significant deviation from the background expectation from atmospheric neutrinos and muons was found. The most significant result was found for a dark matter mass of 201.6 GeV annihilating into a pair of $b\bar{b}$ quarks assuming the Navarro-Frenk-White halo profile with a post-trial significance of $1.08 \;σ$. We present upper limits on the thermally-averaged annihilation cross-section of the order of $10^{-24} \mathrm{cm}^3 \mathrm{s}^{-1}$, as well as lower limits on the dark matter decay lifetime up to $10^{26} \mathrm{s}$ for dark matter masses between 5 GeV up to 8 TeV. These results strengthen the current IceCube limits on dark matter masses above 20 GeV and provide an order of magnitude improvement at lower masses. In addition, they represent the strongest constraints from any neutrino telescope on GeV-scale dark matter and are among the world-leading limits for several dark matter scenarios.
