Hardware In Conjunction Research Articles

Implementation of the Projective Quantum Eigensolver on a Quantum Computer.

We study the performance of our previously proposed projective quantum eigensolver (PQE) on IBM's quantum hardware in conjunction with error mitigation techniques. For a single qubit model of H2, we find that we are able to obtain energies within 4 millihartree (2.5 kcal/mol) of the exact energy along the entire potential energy curve, with the accuracy limited by both the stochastic error and the inconsistent performance of the IBM devices. We find that an optimization algorithm using direct inversion of the iterative subspace can converge swiftly, even to excited states, but stochastic noise can prompt large parameter updates. For the 4-site transverse-field Ising model at its critical point, PQE with an appropriate application of qubit tapering can recover 99% of the correlation energy, even after discarding several parameters. The large number of CNOT gates needed for the additional parameters introduces a concomitant error that, on the IBM devices, results in a loss of accuracy despite the increased expressivity of the trial state. Error extrapolation techniques and tapering or postselection are recommended to mitigate errors in PQE hardware experiments.

Visual facial perception of postsurgical cleft lip scarring assessed by laypeople via eye-tracking.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to evaluate the visual facial perception in response to scars associated with repaired cleft lip (CL) on a male adolescent model, as assessed by eye-tracking technology.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Unilateral and bilateral facial images of repaired CL on the upper lip and nasal asymmetry were added to an image of a male adolescent model, using Photoshop CS5 software. 40 laypeople eye movements were tracked by an infrared sensor of the Eye Tribe hardware in conjunction with OGAMA software. An analysis of variance was used to identify differences in total fixation time for the added areas of interest. A visual analog scale of attractiveness with a questionnaire were also incorporated into the study. Statistical analysis was performed using a significance level of P < 0.05.RESULTS:Significant differences were noted between the image with no scar and the image featuring a unilateral scar for total fixation time associated with the right eye (p = 0.002) and right nose area (p = 0.003), in addition to the numbers of fixations for the right eye (p = 0.005) and right nose area (p = 0.007). Comparing the image with no scar with the image featuring a bilateral scar showed a significant difference only for the number of fixations on the right eye (p = 0.005). The heatmaps and fixation point maps for both the unilateral and bilateral scar images indicated increased fixation for the scar areas. For the image with no scar, increased fixation was captured for the right eye area. Pearson's correlation coefficient test showed a moderate positive (p = 0.692) relationship when comparing to unilateral and bilateral cleft scars.CONCLUSIONS:The participating laypeople perceived the cleft-repaired faces and did not perceive any difference in attractiveness between the images featuring the unilateral and bilateral postsurgical clefts and lip scarring.

Privacy Ensured ${e}$ -Healthcare for Fog-Enhanced IoT Based Applications

The progress in network technology and hardware in conjunction with the Internet-of-Things (IoTs) has provided the comfortability for an easier human life at present. Apart from the so-called “smart” environments, including smart homes, smart city, smart agriculture, IoTs have been included recently in e-healthcare systems as well for real-time diagnosis and medical consultancy. To enhance the capabilities of IoT-based healthcare systems, fog layers have been employed and that have shown its worth by providing fast response time and low latency. However, such development is posing a severe challenge in preserving the privacy of the users which further addresses the security/privacy issues to some extent. Being in an infant stage, such technology has invariably run into fewer privacy controls. Therefore, our present work is about an e-healthcare framework dealing with electronic medical records (EMRs) which preserves the privacy issues. Moreover, we have experimented the proposed work with respect to response time and delay and have compared with recent works. The results show that the proposed work is efficient in providing privacy along with standard network parameters.

Inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms Using Polymerizable Vancomycin Derivatives

BackgroundBiofilm formation on indwelling medical devices is a ubiquitous problem causing considerable patient morbidity and mortality. In orthopaedic surgery, this problem is exacerbated by the large number and variety of material types that are implanted. Metallic hardware in conjunction with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is commonly used.Questions/purposesWe asked whether polymerizable derivatives of vancomycin might be useful to (1) surface modify Ti-6Al-4V alloy and to surface/bulk modify PMMA bone cement to prevent Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation and (2) whether the process altered the compressive modulus, yield strength, resilience, and/or fracture strength of cement copolymers.MethodsA Ti-6Al-4V alloy was silanized with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane in preparation for subsequent polymer attachment. Surfaces were then coated with polymers formed from PEG(375)-acrylate or a vancomycin-PEG(3400)-PEG(375)-acrylate copolymer. PMMA was loaded with various species, including vancomycin and several polymerizable vancomycin derivatives. To assess antibiofilm properties of these materials, initial bacterial adherence to coated Ti-6Al-4V was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biofilm dry mass was determined on PMMA coupons; the compressive mechanical properties were also determined.ResultsSEM showed the vancomycin-PEG(3400)-acrylate-type surface reduced adherent bacteria numbers by approximately fourfold when compared with PEG(375)-acrylate alone. Vancomycin-loading reduced all mechanical properties tested; in contrast, loading a vancomycin-acrylamide derivative restored these deficits but demonstrated no antibiofilm properties. A polymerizable, PEGylated vancomycin derivative reduced biofilm attachment but resulted in inferior cement mechanical properties.Clinical RelevanceThe approaches presented here may offer new strategies for developing biofilm-resistant orthopaedic materials. Specifically, polymerizable derivatives of traditional antibiotics may allow for direct polymerization into existing materials such as PMMA bone cement while minimizing mechanical property compromise. Questions remain regarding ideal monomer structure(s) that confer biologic and mechanical benefits.

Hardware design of hierarchal active-sensing networks for structural health monitoring

This paper presents the use of relay-based hardware in conjunction with piezoelectricactive-sensing techniques for structural health monitoring in large-scale structures. In manyareas of active sensing technology, hundreds, even thousands, of sensors/actuators areneeded to truly make health monitoring feasible in a real-world environment. Becauseinterrogating such a large number of sensors is both time and cost prohibitive, it becomesnecessary to develop a hardware system that can quickly and efficiently interrogate largenumbers of the active sensors. In this work, we have developed a relay-based hardware thatcan serve as both a multiplexer and general-purpose signal router with specialconsideration given to piezoelectric active-sensing health monitoring approaches. We havealso implemented this device as an expandable design that allows for easy scalabilitydepending upon the size of the structure. Therefore, by using this hardware in conjunctionwith a centralized monitoring station, any number of sensors can be monitored effectively.Preliminary testing of this hardware on a test structure has experimentally proven thefeasibility and advantages. This paper summarizes the hardware design, scalability,and useful advantages given today’s structural health monitoring techniques.

1K1645 高速アルゴリズム/計算ボード併用によるタンパク質の分子動力学シミュレーション(1.蛋白質(C)物性(E)計測・解析の方法論,一般演題,日本生物物理学会第40回年会)

1K1645 高速アルゴリズム/計算ボード併用によるタンパク質の分子動力学シミュレーション(1.蛋白質(C)物性(E)計測・解析の方法論,一般演題,日本生物物理学会第40回年会)

Survey of range vision systems

Visual three-dimensional (3D) imaging is playing an increasingly important part in modern industrial processes, particularly in the field of robotic control. The ability to allow robots to interact fully with their environment is an obvious aim for robotic development and good quality visual image acquisition is an essential component for this end. Once robots achieve the ability to relate to their environment and respond to external stimuli the scene is set for robots to undertake far more so called “human tasks” than they can at present, without the need for human supervision. The ability for the robot to develop a cognisance of its topographical surrounding and thus modify its actions accordingly is a direct result of accurate 3D image acquisition and manipulation. The object of this paper is to survey some of the current developments taking place in the field of range vision systems for robotics. Special emphasis is placed on currently available hardware in conjunction with brief descriptions of their underlying principles of operation and possible fields of application.

Microprocessors and Arithmetic Processors in Metallurgical Applications

Microprocessor based systems developed ‘in metallurgical lab’ are cheap and compatible with target metallurgical applications. In this paper two such systems will be presented and reviewed. One of the systems was developed for local data acquisition and process control applications, and the other for remote applications.In order to increase the computing capabilities of these systems, the arithmetic processor AM9511 was used. A MACRO language was developed for easy usage of the 9511 Arithmetic processor. The hardware in conjunction with the MACRO language is a powerful tool in the hands of metallurgists in applications such as data acquisition and process control.High level languages were developed for different metallurgical applications such as measurement of dissolution kinetics, non-destructive evaluation of microstructure and cold shuts formations in castings. Typical metallurgical applications of the above-mentioned systems will be presented.

Automated measurement of bioelectric impedance at very low frequencies

An on-line real-time system utilizing a simple package of dedicated hardware in conjunction with a small computer for measuring two-terminal electrical impedance is described. Operating efficiently from 0.005 to 500 Hz, it covers most of the interesting range for bioelectrode, organ, and tissue studies in electrocardiography, encephalography, myography, and other electrographic researches. The impedance to be measured is driven sinusoidally at a constant current chosen by the operator. By sampling the voltage and the associated current at appropriate paired times during one electrical cycle, coefficients for a discrete Fourier series expansion are obtained in a form which makes calculation of real and imaginary impedance components, DC offset, and harmonic content very simple. Results are displayed on a television-type raster for immediate evaluation and may then be recorded on high-speed tape for subsequent detailed analysis.