A generative modeling approach for benchmarking and training shallow quantum circuits

Hybrid quantum-classical algorithms provide ways to use noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers for practical applications. Expanding the portfolio of such techniques, we propose a quantum circuit learning algorithm that can be used to assist the characterization of quantum devices and to train shallow circuits for generative tasks. The procedure leverages quantum hardware capabilities to its fullest extent by using native gates and their qubit connectivity. We demonstrate that our approach can learn an optimal preparation of the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, also known as "cat states". We further demonstrate that our approach can efficiently prepare approximate representations of coherent thermal states, wave functions that encode Boltzmann probabilities in their amplitudes. Finally, complementing proposals to characterize the power or usefulness of near-term quantum devices, such as IBM's quantum volume, we provide a new hardware-independent metric called the qBAS score. It is based on the performance yield in a specific sampling task on one of the canonical machine learning data sets known as Bars and Stripes. We show how entanglement is a key ingredient in encoding the patterns of this data set; an ideal benchmark for testing hardware starting at four qubits and up. We provide experimental results and evaluation of this metric to probe the trade off between several architectural circuit designs and circuit depths on an ion-trap quantum computer.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Minor revisions. As published in npj Quantum Informatio

Functional and Histologic Changes After Repeated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Rat Stroke Model

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is associated with enhancement or weakening of the NMDA receptor activity and change of the cortical blood flow. Therefore, repeated tDCS of the brain with cerebrovascular injury will induce the functional and histologic changes. Sixty-one Sprague-Dawley rats with cerebrovascular injury were used. Twenty rats died during the experimental course. The 41 rats that survived were allocated to the exercise group, the anodal stimulation group, the cathodal stimulation group, or the control group according to the initial motor function. Two-week treatment schedules started from 2 days postoperatively. Garcia, modified foot fault, and rota-rod performance scores were checked at 2, 9, and 16 days postoperatively. After the experiments, rats were sacrificed for the evaluation of histologic changes (changes of the white matter axon and infarct volume). The anodal stimulation and exercise groups showed improvement of Garcia's and modified foot fault scores at 16 days postoperatively. No significant change of the infarct volume happened after exercise and tDCS. Neuronal axons at the internal capsule of infarct hemispheres showed better preserved axons in the anodal stimulation group. From these results, repeated tDCS might have a neuroprotective effect on neuronal axons in rat stroke model

Water quality monitoring, control and management (WQMCM) framework using collaborative wireless sensor networks

Improving water quality is of global concern, with agricultural practices being the major contributors to reduced water quality. The reuse of nutrient-rich drainage water can be a valuable strategy to gain economic-environmental benefits. However, currently the tools and techniques to allow this do not exist. Therefore, we have proposed a framework, WQMCM, which utilises increasingly common local farm-scale networks across a catchment, adding provision for collaborative information sharing. Using this framework, individual sub-networks can learn their environment and predict the impact of catchment events on their locality, allowing dynamic decision making for local irrigation strategies. Since resource constraints of network nodes (e.g. power consumption, computing power etc.) require a simplified predictive model for discharges, therefore low-dimensional model parameters are derived from the existing National Resource Conservation Method (NRCS), utilising real-time field values. Evaluation of the predictive models, developed using M5 decision trees, demonstrates accuracy of 84-94% compared with the traditional NRCS curve number model. The discharge volume and response time model was tested to perform with 6% relative root mean square error (RRMSE), even for a small training set of around 100 samples; however the discharge response time model required a minimum of 300 training samples to show reasonable performance with 16% RRMS

The Relationship between Lower-Body Strength and Power, and Load Carriage Tasks: A Critical Review

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(6): 1001-1022, 2019. The purpose of this review was to critically appraise articles that have investigated the association between lower-body strength and power during load carriage in tactical personnel. Literature databases were searched with specific search terms, yielding 921 articles. Additional studies found from article reference lists were also assessed for eligibility. Out of these articles, 16 met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were critically appraised. Articles were assessed by the Downs and Black evaluation tool with inter-rater agreement determined by Cohen’s kappa and final results graded according to the Kennelly quality grading system. Of the 940 identified articles, 16 studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review. The average score of the eligible articles was 58%, considered to be of fair quality by the Kennelly grading system. The strength and volume of evidence reviewed suggests that: measures of lower-body strength and power can predict load carriage performance and appear to be important physical factors for load carriage ability, and that load carriage tasks negatively impact the performance of leg strength and power. Together these findings suggest that leg strength and power should be important considerations for tactical personnel training and assessment, as well as managing the impact of load carriage on tactical performance

Serum concentration levels of 25(OH)D and injury reports in NCAA Division I football players

textVitamin D deficiency has been linked with many health problems. Early research demonstrated the importance of vitamin D for bone health, but it may also play a larger role than first reported in muscle health and function. Specifically, low vitamin D may hinder athletic performance, as such evaluation of serum vitamin D levels in high volume training athletes has merit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum levels of 25(OH)D in college athletes to determine how many had levels below the recommended values. Data from student-athletes who were attending a large university in the south included: serum vitamin D levels, demographics information, and injury reports. Mean serum vitamin D level for the group was 34.17 ng/mL ± 0.88. Average injury for the group was 1.3± 0.14. The mean value of serum vitamin D for Caucasian players was 38.3 ng/mL ± 1.33 with a range of 23-59 ng/mL. The mean value of serum vitamin D for African American players was 31.16 ng/mL ± 1.08 with a range of 16-52 ng/mL. African American players had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (p32 ng/ml). Players with one or more musculoskeletal injury or fracture had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (p<0.05) compared to players that had zero injuries. African American players had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (p<0.01) compared to Caucasian players. It is important for athletes to monitor serum vitamin D levels and adhere to a supplementation protocol when levels are insufficient.Kinesiology and Health Educatio

Evaluation of optimum scan chain parameter with respect to its power performance of CORTEXM0DS

Design-for-test (DFT) in an integrated circuit is one of essential parts in System-on-Chip. DFT enables testing and debugging of an integrated circuit before it is being produced in high volume. Due to increasing of functionality in advanced nodes of integrated circuit designs, DFT is imperative in reducing defect counts and improving performance of the integrated circuits before reaching the customers. Thus, many research have been done in DFT area in achieving an optimum performance of integrated circuits. Scan test is one of the DFT techniques that enable the integrated circuit design to be tested and debugged. However, due to additional components are being inserted to improve the controllability and observability, high power consumption and dissipation is expected. In this paper, an evaluation of optimum scan chain parameter with respect to its power performance of an integrated circuit will be performed. A block of a microcontroller unit, CORTEXM0DS will be used to where by the scan cells are inserted using DFT Compiler and TetraMAX ATPG from Synopsys. Scan chain from 2 to 20 chains with increment of 2 is simulated and the test power is obtained. The simulation result shows that scan chain with 16 chains count in the design contributed the highest test power of 15.5409 mW while scan chain with 10 chains count result in the lowest test power of 15.2842 mW. The optimum scan chain will also consider the number of test coverage and test pattern

Bond of Reinforcement with Normal-weight Fiber Reinforced Concrete

In reinforced concrete members, upon loading, tensile stresses from reinforcement to concrete transfer via bond. Proper bond between the two material guarantees safety of such members. This paper presents test results performed on Pull-out speci­mens for evaluation and comparison of bond strength behav­ior of Normal-weight Fiber Reinforced Concrete (NWFC). Test parameters included reinforcement size and fiber content. Three different reinforcement sizes (10, 16 and 20 mm) and four concrete mixes having fiber contents of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/m3 were used for current experimental work. In total, 36 Pull-out specimens were tested; although the size of specimens varied with reinforcement size, concrete cover to bar diam­eter ratio (c/db) remained constant. From the selected range of fiber content used in current experimental work, dosage of 40 kg/m3 was found to have positive effect on most of the concrete properties. Test results indicate decrease in ultimate bond strength with increasing bar size. The effect of fibers was not observed in enhancing the pre-crack performance of the test specimens, whereas the ultimate bond strength and post peak bond strength performance increased significantly. The ultimate bond strength is found to be strongly affected by the compressive strength rather than fiber volume