sQUlearn \unicode{x2013} A Python Library for Quantum Machine Learning

sQUlearn introduces a user-friendly, NISQ-ready Python library for quantum machine learning (QML), designed for seamless integration with classical machine learning tools like scikit-learn. The library's dual-layer architecture serves both QML researchers and practitioners, enabling efficient prototyping, experimentation, and pipelining. sQUlearn provides a comprehensive toolset that includes both quantum kernel methods and quantum neural networks, along with features like customizable data encoding strategies, automated execution handling, and specialized kernel regularization techniques. By focusing on NISQ-compatibility and end-to-end automation, sQUlearn aims to bridge the gap between current quantum computing capabilities and practical machine learning applications.Comment: 10+5 pages, 5+3 figure

Deep Learning for Crack-Like Object Detection

Cracks are common defects on surfaces of man-made structures such as pavements, bridges, walls of nuclear power plants, ceilings of tunnels, etc. Timely discovering and repairing of the cracks are of great significance and importance for keeping healthy infrastructures and preventing further damages. Traditionally, the cracking inspection was conducted manually which was labor-intensive, time-consuming and costly. For example, statistics from the Central Intelligence Agency show that the world’s road network length has reached 64,285,009 km, of which the United States has 6,586,610 km. It is a huge cost to maintain and upgrade such an immense road network. Thus, fully automatic crack detection has received increasing attention. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the deep learning technique has achieved great success and has been viewed as the most promising way for crack detection. Based on deep learning, this research has solved four important issues existing in crack-like object detection. First, the noise problem caused by the textured background is solved by using a deep classification network to remove the non-crack region before conducting crack detection. Second, the computational efficiency is highly improved. Third, the crack localization accuracy is improved. Fourth, the proposed model is very stable and can be used to deal with a wide range of crack detection tasks. In addition, this research performs a preliminary study about the future AI system, which provides a concept that has potential to realize fully automatic crack detection without human’s intervention

Economic Growth across Space and Time: subprovincial Evidence from Mainland China

We present a new composite leading indicator of economic activity in mainland China, estimated using a dynamic factor model. Our leading indicator is constructed from three series: exports, a real estate climate index, and the Shanghai Stock Exchange index. These series are found to share a common, unobservable element from which our indicator can be identified. This indicator is then incorporated into out-of-sample one-step-ahead forecasts of Chinese GDP growth. Recursive out-of-sample accuracy tests indicate that the small scale factor model approach leads to successful representation of the sample data and provides an appropriate tool for forecasting Chinese business conditions.Regional Economic Growth, China

An Intelligent Approach Using Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Flow in People

The goal of this study is to estimate the state of consciousness known as Flow, which is associated with an optimal experience and can indicate a person’s efficiency in both personal and professional settings. To predict Flow, we employ artificial intelligence techniques using a set of variables not directly connected with its construct. We analyse a significant amount of data from psychological tests that measure various personality traits. Data mining techniques support conclusions drawn from the psychological study. We apply linear regression, regression tree, random forest, support vector machine, and artificial neural networks. The results show that the multilayer perceptron network is the best estimator, with an MSE of 0.007122 and an accuracy of 88.58%. Our approach offers a novel perspective on the relationship between personality and the state of consciousness known as Flow

Predicting Epileptic Seizures: A Comprehensive Study of ML and DL Algorithms

Epilepsy, a complex neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures, presents a formidable diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in healthcare. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are indispensable tools for detecting epileptic activity within the brain. Leveraging recent advancements in machine learning (ML) and deep learning(DL), Data Analytics our study investigates the effectiveness of various ML and DL algorithms for epilepsy detection using processed EEG data. Through a comprehensive literature review, we selected prominent ML and DL techniques such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Random Forest (RF) classifiers, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, CNNs, etc.  Our systematic experimentation and evaluation, conducted on a dataset sourced from the UCI Machine Learning Repository, demonstrates notable results achieved by the models exhibiting robust predictive capabilities. This research significantly contributes to advancing the field of epilepsy prediction, offering insights into the efficacy of diverse ML and DL models for seizure detection. The implications of these findings hold promise for refining epilepsy management strategies, ultimately enhancing patient care and quality of life. This underscores the imperative for interdisciplinary collaboration between neuroscience, AI, and healthcare to address the complex challenges posed by epilepsy.&nbsp

3D Remote Sensing Applications in Forest Ecology: Composition, Structure and Function

Dear Colleagues, The composition, structure and function of forest ecosystems are the key features characterizing their ecological properties, and can thus be crucially shaped and changed by various biotic and abiotic factors on multiple spatial scales. The magnitude and extent of these changes in recent decades calls for enhanced mitigation and adaption measures. Remote sensing data and methods are the main complementary sources of up-to-date synoptic and objective information of forest ecology. Due to the inherent 3D nature of forest ecosystems, the analysis of 3D sources of remote sensing data is considered to be most appropriate for recreating the forest’s compositional, structural and functional dynamics. In this Special Issue of Forests, we published a set of state-of-the-art scientific works including experimental studies, methodological developments and model validations, all dealing with the general topic of 3D remote sensing-assisted applications in forest ecology. We showed applications in forest ecology from a broad collection of method and sensor combinations, including fusion schemes. All in all, the studies and their focuses are as broad as a forest’s ecology or the field of remote sensing and, thus, reflect the very diverse usages and directions toward which future research and practice will be directed

Enhancing Credit Card Fraud Detection: An Ensemble Machine Learning Approach

In the era of digital advancements, the escalation of credit card fraud necessitates the development of robust and efficient fraud detection systems. This paper delves into the application of machine learning models, specifically focusing on ensemble methods, to enhance credit card fraud detection. Through an extensive review of existing literature, we identified limitations in current fraud detection technologies, including issues like data imbalance, concept drift, false positives/negatives, limited generalisability, and challenges in real-time processing. To address some of these shortcomings, we propose a novel ensemble model that integrates a Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), Bagging, and Boosting classifiers. This ensemble model tackles the dataset imbalance problem associated with most credit card datasets by implementing under-sampling and the Synthetic Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) on some machine learning algorithms. The evaluation of the model utilises a dataset comprising transaction records from European credit card holders, providing a realistic scenario for assessment. The methodology of the proposed model encompasses data pre-processing, feature engineering, model selection, and evaluation, with Google Colab computational capabilities facilitating efficient model training and testing. Comparative analysis between the proposed ensemble model, traditional machine learning methods, and individual classifiers reveals the superior performance of the ensemble in mitigating challenges associated with credit card fraud detection. Across accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score metrics, the ensemble outperforms existing models. This paper underscores the efficacy of ensemble methods as a valuable tool in the battle against fraudulent transactions. The findings presented lay the groundwork for future advancements in the development of more resilient and adaptive fraud detection systems, which will become crucial as credit card fraud techniques continue to evolve