Optimizing a Polynomial Function on a Quantum Simulator

Gradient descent method, as one of the major methods in numerical optimization, is the key ingredient in many machine learning algorithms. As one of the most fundamental way to solve the optimization problems, it promises the function value to move along the direction of steepest descent. For the vast resource consumption when dealing with high-dimensional problems, a quantum version of this iterative optimization algorithm has been proposed recently[arXiv:1612.01789]. Here, we develop this protocol and implement it on a quantum simulator with limited resource. Moreover, a prototypical experiment was shown with a 4-qubit Nuclear Magnetic Resonance quantum processor, demonstrating a optimization process of polynomial function iteratively. In each iteration, we achieved an average fidelity of 94\% compared with theoretical calculation via full-state tomography. In particular, the iterative point gradually converged to the local minimum. We apply our method to multidimensional scaling problem, further showing the potentially capability to yields an exponentially improvement compared with classical counterparts. With the onrushing tendency of quantum information, our work could provide a subroutine for the application of future practical quantum computers.Comment: 6+4 pages, 8 figure

Research collaboration between China and Denmark for development of systemic approaches to agro-ecological pest management without pesticides with focus on vegetable, fruit and berry crops. Proceedings and recommendations from two network workshops

This report is the result of a network project which was established to discuss the potential for collaboration on development of systemic approaches to pest management without pesticides between Chinese and Danish researchers. The focus is on systemic approaches rather than input substitution of synthetic chemicals with agents of natural origin, however, the latter is considered as an integrated tool for the development and design of systemic approaches. The discussions were, furthermore, limited to management of invertebrate pests as well as diseases, while other pests such as weeds have not been included in the discussions. The discussions took place at two workshops and were based on presentations of research from the two countries and field visits in China and Denmark. After the first workshop that took place in China, it was agreed that Chinese and Danish researchers in this particular field had mutual interests and priorities and that there was a potential for creating collaboration that could yield results beneficial for the agricultural/horticultural sectors in both countries. It was also agreed that in spite of the many differences between variation in climate and ecosystems, as well as in farming systems and their organization in China and Denmark, there were many similarities in the production of high-value crops in the two countries, such as vegetables, fruit and berries and, therefore, an obvious focus for joint research efforts. It was also agreed that joint research efforts could aim at specific crops as well as aiming at the development of specific research approaches. Based on the observations and the agreements of the first workshop, the second workshop, which took place in Denmark, focused more specifically on the development of a research framework with specified research questions/topics. Two groups were formed – one working with vegetables and one with fruit and berries working in parallel – both looking into what kind of research is needed for development of systemic approaches to pesticide-free pest management should include both well-known practices and new practices. Although the discussions in the two groups took separate routes and unfolded and described the research topics in each their way, there was a clear consistency between the outputs of the work of the two groups. Each had identified three main research themes that more or less followed the same line and has been merged into three specific recommendations on themes for collaboration, namely: 1) ‘Research to provide the biological foundation and understanding of mechanisms and interactions for development of non-chemical solutions and to improve efficiency of new and existing control methods for severe pest problems’. 2) Research in ‘How best to integrate multifunctional plants (and crops) and use diversification to create a more healthy and productive farming system which is resilient to pests?’ 3) Research in ‘How to design and integrate pest management in eco-functional cropping systems at field and farm/landscape level?

MicroRNAmediated regulation in biological systems with oscillatory behavior

As a class of small noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate stability or translation of mRNA transcripts. Some reports bring new insights into possible roles of microRNAs in modulating cell cycle. In this paper, we focus on the mechanism and effectiveness of microRNA-mediated regulation in the cell cycle. We first describe two specific regulatory circuits that incorporate base-pairing microRNAs and show their fine-tuning roles in the modulation of periodic behavior. Furthermore, we analyze the effects of miR369-3 on the modulation of the cell cycle, confirming that miR369-3 plays a role in shortening the period of the cell cycle. These results are consistent with experimental observations

Bistability and Oscillations in Gene Regulation Mediated by Small Noncoding RNAs

The interplay of small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs), mRNAs, and proteins has been shown to play crucial roles in almost all cellular processes. As key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, the mechanisms and roles of sRNAs in various cellular processes still need to be fully understood. When participating in cellular processes, sRNAs mainly mediate mRNA degradation or translational repression. Here, we show how the dynamics of two minimal architectures is drastically affected by these two mechanisms. A comparison is also given to reveal the implication of the fundamental differences. This study may help us to analyze complex networks assembled by simple modules more easily. A better knowledge of the sRNA-mediated motifs is also of interest for bio-engineering and artificial control

Statistical structural health monitoring: Methodologies and Applications

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Design of Unsignalized Roundabouts Driving Policy of Autonomous Vehicles Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

Driving at an unsignalized roundabout is a complex traffic scenario that requires both traffic safety and efficiency. At the unsignalized roundabout, the driving policy does not simply maintain a safe distance for all vehicles. Instead, it pays more attention to vehicles that potentially have conflicts with the ego-vehicle, while guessing the intentions of other obstacle vehicles. In this paper, a driving policy based on the Soft actor-critic (SAC) algorithm combined with interval prediction and self-attention mechanism is proposed to achieve safe driving of ego-vehicle at unsignalized roundabouts. The objective of this work is to simulate a roundabout scenario and train the proposed algorithm in a low-dimensional environment, and then test and validate the policy in the CARLA simulator to ensure safety while reducing costs. By using a self-attention network and interval prediction algorithms to enable ego-vehicle to focus on more temporal and spatial features, the risk of driving into and out of the roundabout is predicted, and safe and effective driving decisions are made. Simulation results show that our proposed driving policy can provide collision risk avoidance and improve vehicle driving safety, resulting in a 15% reduction in collisions. Finally, the trained model is transferred to the complete vehicle system of CARLA to validate the possibility of real-world deployment of the policy model

Bifurcation dynamics and determination of alternate cell fates in bipotent progenitor cells

Property reallotment is a measure that is done in accordance with the FBL. Property reallotment may involve a change in the division of property. Esements can beformed, changed and canceled through property realloments and joint property units can be formed and changed. For example, a change in the division of property unitsmay apply to partition, subdivision and amalgamation of properties and entails a forming of the property in question. The measure can be implemented by agreement between the property owners and also with coercion. Such a measure entails a large encroachment of individualproperty rights and is therefore protected by a number of terms. Reallotment may only be enforced if it meets the terms that protect public and private interests. Theseare regulated in Chapters 3 and 5. FBL. This thesis focuses on the protection of the individual interests, which are mainly regulated in Chapter 5, 4–8, §§ FBL. In thecase of voluntary agreements, these terms may be agreed upon. The purpose of this thesis is to present and clarify how the improvement and advantage terms for property reallotment are applied in the courts. The thesis alsoexplains what legitimates coercive rules. A case review of about 20 cases has been made to find a pattern in how the courts interpret the requirements in theparagraphs. In order to find relevant cases that deal with the terms, all cases in the LMRR between 2009 and 2020 were reviewed. In addition to the cases, legislativehistory and doctrine have also been studied. The conclusion describes examples of occasions when the terms are usually considered to be fulfilled and the factors that are used in the assessments. What isclearly evident is that what is usually regarded as an improvement or advantage of a property regulation is of an economic nature