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Quantum information processing promises to revolutionise computing; quantum algorithms have been discovered that address common tasks significantly more efficiently than their classical counterparts. For a physical system to be a viable quantum computer it must be possible to initialise its quantum state, to realise a set of universal quantum logic gates, including at least one multi-qubit gate, and to make measurements of qubit states. Molecular Electron Spin Qubits (MESQs) have been proposed to fulfil these criteria, as their bottom-up synthesis should facilitate tuning properties as desired and the reproducible production of multi-MESQ structures. Here we explore how to perform a two-qubit entangling gate on a multi-MESQ system, and how to read out the state via quantum state tomography. We propose methods of accomplishing both procedures using multifrequency pulse Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and apply them to a model MESQ structure consisting of two nitroxide spin centres. Our results confirm the methodological principles and shed light on the experimental hurdles which must be overcome to realise a demonstration of controlled entanglement on this system.

BackgroundClozapine is the only drug licensed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) but the real-world clinical and cost-effectiveness of community initiation of clozapine is unclear.AimsThe aim was to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of community initiation of clozapine.MethodThis was a naturalistic study of community patients recommended for clozapine treatment.ResultsOf 158 patients recommended for clozapine treatment, 88 (56%) patients agreed to clozapine initiation and, of these, 58 (66%) were successfully established on clozapine. The success rate for community initiation was 65.4%; which was not significantly different from that for in-patient initiation (58.82%, χ2(1,88) = 0.47, P = 0.49). Following clozapine initiation, there was a significant reduction in median out-patient visits over 1 year (from 24.00 (interquartile range (IQR) = 14.00–41.00) to 13.00 visits (IQR = 5.00–24.00), P < 0.001), and 2 years (from 47.50 visits (IQR = 24.75–71.00) to 22.00 (IQR = 11.00–42.00), P < 0.001), and a 74.71% decrease in psychiatric hospital bed days (z = −2.50, P = 0.01). Service-use costs decreased (1 year: –£963/patient (P < 0.001); 2 years: –£1598.10/patient (P < 0.001). Subanalyses for community-only initiation also showed significant cost reductions (1 year: –£827.40/patient (P < 0.001); 2 year: –£1668.50/patient (P < 0.001) relative to costs prior to starting clozapine. Relative to before initiation, symptom severity was improved in patients taking clozapine at discharge (median Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score: initial visit: 80 (IQR = 71.00–104.00); discharge visit 50.5 (IQR = 44.75–75.00), P < 0.001) and at 2 year follow-up (Health of Nation Outcome Scales total score median initial visit: 13.00 (IQR = 9.00–15.00); 2 year follow-up: 8.00 (IQR = 3.00–13.00), P = 0.023).ConclusionsThese findings indicate that community initiation of clozapine is feasible and is associated with significant reductions in costs, service use and symptom severity.

Background Mobile health apps promoting health and well-being have substantial potential but low uptake and engagement. Barriers common to addiction treatment app uptake and engagement include poor access to mobile technology, Wi-Fi, or mobile data, plus low motivation among non–treatment-seeking users to cut down or quit. Working with people who used substances, we had previously designed and published an app to support recovery from alcohol and other drug problems. The app, which is available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play, is called SURE Recovery. Objective The aim of this paper is to undertake a qualitative study to ascertain end users’ views and experiences of the SURE Recovery app, including how it might be improved, and present the findings on uptake and engagement to assist other researchers and app developers working on similar apps for people experiencing alcohol and other drug problems. Methods Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 people (n=12, 60%, men and n=8, 40%, women aged 25-63 years; all identifying as White British) who had varied patterns of using the app. The audio recordings were transcribed, and the data were coded and analyzed through Iterative Categorization. Results Analyses identified three main factors relevant to uptake (discoverability of the app, personal relevance, and expectations and motivations) and three main factors relevant to engagement (the appeal and relevance of specific features, perceived benefits, and the need for improvements). The findings on uptake and engagement were largely consistent with our own earlier developmental work and with other published literature. However, we additionally found that uptake was strongly affected by first impressions, including trust and personal recommendations; that users were attracted to the app by their need for support and curiosity but had relatively modest expectations; that engagement increased if the app made users feel positive; and that people were unlikely to download, or engage with, the app if they could not relate to, or identify with, aspects of its content. Conclusions Incorporating end-user views into app design and having a network of supportive partners (ie, credible organizations and individuals who will champion the app) seem to increase uptake and engagement among people experiencing alcohol and other drug problems. Although better digital literacy and access to devices and mobile data are needed if addiction recovery apps are to reach their full potential, we should not evaluate them based only on observable changes in substance use behaviors. How using an app makes a person feel is more transient and difficult to quantify but also relevant to uptake and engagement.

We present a new technique, light-induced triplet–triplet electron resonance spectroscopy (LITTER), which measures the dipolar interaction between two photoexcited triplet states, enabling both the distance and angular distributions between the two triplet moieties to be determined on a nanometer scale. This is demonstrated for a model bis-porphyrin peptide that renders dipolar traces with strong orientation selection effects. Using simulations and density functional theory calculations, we extract distance distributions and relative orientations of the porphyrin moieties, allowing the dominant conformation of the peptide in a frozen solution to be identified. LITTER removes the requirement of current light-induced electron spin resonance pulse dipolar spectroscopy techniques to have a permanent paramagnetic moiety, becoming more suitable for in-cell applications and facilitating access to distance determination in unmodified macromolecular systems containing photoexcitable moieties. LITTER also has the potential to enable direct comparison with Förster resonance energy transfer and combination with microscopy inside cells.

In March 2020, the ‘Everyone In’ initiative was introduced by the UK government as a public health response to COVID-19. This initiative sought to temporarily accommodate people experiencing rough sleeping in hotels in all local authority areas throughout England. In London, ‘Everyone In’ involved the procurement of vacant accommodation in over 100 hotels and temporarily re-housed approximately 2000 individuals. A rapid qualitative study was undertaken within two hotels to explore experiences of the initiative from the perspective of people accommodated in the hotels. This article describes how standard qualitative methods were adapted and implemented to complete the study whilst meeting COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The research involved a longitudinal design of a two-stage qualitative interview that sought to capture residents’ experience of ‘Everyone In’ at two points in time (while in the hotel and when residents had left the hotel). Adapted qualitative methods were employed by a team of 13 researchers. These adaptations included socially distanced leaflet dropping, telephone-based participant recruitment, a remote, multistage, longitudinal qualitative telephone interviewing and rapid framework analysis. 35 hotel residents were recruited into the study (two subsequently withdrew participation). A total of 299 (of a possible 330) short interviews were completed by 33 participants (26 male and 7 female) as part of the multi-stage, longitudinal design of the study. This study indicates that adapted qualitative research methods employed during a pandemic can be successfully applied to obtain insights and experiences (of individuals and groups) otherwise difficult to reach and/or complex to understand.