Browse Articles

A repetitive amplitude encoding method for enhancing the mapping ability of quantum neural networks

Abstract With the rapid development of quantum machine learning, quantum neural networks (QNNs) have become a research hotspot. However, the quantum gates used to implement feature mapping in this model are all linear transformations, which directly affects the mapping ability of the model. Therefore, how to enhance the mapping capability of QNN is an important issue that has not yet been effectively addressed. This paper proposes a repetitive amplitude encoding method that encodes the probability amplitudes of multiple qubit blocks by repeatedly using the same set of classical data, effectively improving the mapping capability of QNN. Taking the MNIST dataset as an example, the experimental results comparing the repetitive amplitude encoding method with several existing encoding methods show that, firstly, when the number of classes is fixed, the repetitive amplitude encoding is superior to other methods. Secondly, when the number of hidden layers in QNN is fixed, as the number of classes increases, the performance of repetitive amplitude encoding not only consistently outperforms other methods, but this advantage becomes increasingly apparent. Finally, the repetitive amplitude encoding-based QNN was applied to reservoir lithology identification in the field of oil and gas exploration, IRIS and WINe classification datasets. By comparing with classical neural networks, the proposed method was validated for its adaptability to different classification problems and superior classification performance compared to classical neural networks.

Multi-objective hybrid optimized coil design for enhanced efficiency, improved voltage gain, and compactness for inductive power transfer

Abstract With a rising global population and vehicle usage, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a sustainable solution for carbon neutrality. The paper’s main objective is to test the performance of the optimized coil design for the Inductive power transfer (IPT) prototype designed for 48 V light EV (LEV) applications operating at 86 kHz. The coils are optimized for objectives such as compactness and power transfer efficiency, using a hybrid multi-objective optimization algorithm combining Taylor-series tuning and Dove Swarm (DSO) optimization. The optimized coil design achieved power transfer efficiency (PTE) of 94% with a voltage gain of 0.93 and current gain of 0.9. A minimum drop of approximately 0.7 V (1.5%) is observed between the primary to secondary coils. Simulation and hardware tests showed minimal voltage loss and strong coupling, validated for variable frequency operation. This shows the robustness of the LC optimized coil compact IPT system designed in this paper. Compact coil design in this research aids in high power transfer efficiency while reducing size, making it well-suited for LEV wireless charging.

Quality of life and well-being in Colombian centenarians

Unmet needs in vaccine development

Assessing flood susceptibility in a Triyuga watershed, Nepal using statistical models

Functional roles of purified yapsins from Candida glabrata (Nakaseomyces glabratus) in immune modulation and cross-species biofilm formation

Abstract Candida glabrata (currently classified as Nakaseomyces glabratus) is an opportunistic yeast-like fungus that causes infections in humans, with limited treatment options due to resistance to antifungal drugs. In contrast to C. albicans, which produces secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) involved in pathogenicity, C. glabrata expresses a distinct group of cell surface-associated aspartic proteases known as yapsins (Yps). While YPS gene deletion mutants have proposed roles in cellular homeostasis, their precise contribution to fungal virulence and host interactions remains unclear. Herein, we present the first detailed biochemical and functional characterization of two native Yps proteins, Yps3 and Yps9, purified from C. glabrata cultures. Both proteases displayed robust activity in a mildly acidic to neutral pH range (5.5–7.0), resistance to the classical aspartic protease inhibitor pepstatin A, and selectively degraded key host antimicrobial peptides, including LL-37 cathelicidin, histatin 5 (Hst5), and kininogen-derived peptide NAT26, by hydrolyzing lysine residues. Additionally, Yps9 promoted C. albicans biofilm dispersal. In a Galleria mellonella infection model, a pre-treatment with each protease enhanced larval survival and increased phenol oxidase activity, implying a role of yapsins in immune priming. Collectively, these findings reveal multifunctional roles for Yps3 and Yps9 in fungal virulence, biofilm modulation, and host immune interactions.

Pine fruit activated carbon modified with CuCo2Se4 for the application in high-performance battery-type supercapacitor

Household adoption of domestic water filtration for combating waterborne diseases in developing countries

Robust fault diagnosis of fractional order Takagi–Sugeno systems with uncertainties in premise variables

The mechanism of academic self-efficacy in the relationship between professional identity and learning engagement among university students

Investigation of mechanical properties and performance of automotive brake pads

Abstract This study evaluates the performance of three powder metallurgy-based brake pad formulations (BP1, BP2, and BP3) by examining mass loss, hardness, braking force, coefficient of friction (COF), noise, and vibration under 5 and 8 bar pressures. BP1 exhibited the highest braking force (640.99 N) and COF (0.3873) at 8 bars, with improvements of 7.7–13.6% and 4.4–6.8% over BP2 and BP3, respectively. However, this came with the highest mass loss (1.2 g/h), noise (17.5 dB), and vibration (0.743 m/s²), attributed to three-body abrasive wear from SiC and ZrO₂ particles.BP3 demonstrated the lowest mass loss (1.07 g/h, ~ 20% lower than BP1), noise (14.8 dB), and vibration (0.571 m/s²), making it suitable for quiet, long-life applications. BP2 showed balanced behavior across all parameters. Hardness values were 46 HRC (BP1), 38 HRC (BP2), and 44 HRC (BP3), aligning with observed braking forces and structural compactness.

A comprehensive study on drug-related Raynaud’s phenomenon based on the FDA adverse event reporting system

A field experiment to improve initial patient engagement for hypertension prevention in South Korea

Peptidoglycan-reshuffling proteins SCO0954, SCO1758, SCO4439, and SCO4440 modulate the formation of wall-deficient cells in Streptomyces coelicolor under hyperosmotic sucrose stress

Abstract Streptomycetes are biotechnologically valuable bacteria with complex cell division that produce extracellular vesicles (EVs), typically nanometre-sized but can reach 2.5 μm in diameter. Streptomyces also produce dividing wall-deficient L-forms (0.5–7 μm diameter) and, under hyperosmotic stress, non-dividing wall-deficient S-cells (3–4 μm diameter). The boundaries between EVs, L-forms and S-cells are not always clear, as large DNA-containing EVs can resemble small L-forms and S-cells in size. Both EVs and wall-deficient cells offer competitive advantages, such as inter-bacterial signalling, antibiotic transport, resistance and phage defence. However, their formation mechanisms remain poorly understood. We identified sco1758 (engA GTPase), sco0954 (methionine N-acetyltransferase), sco4439 (D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidase), and sco4440 (GOLPH3-like) as important for wall-deficient cell formation in Streptomyces coelicolor under hyperosmotic sucrose conditions. Mutations in sco4439 and sco4440 increased tetra–tetra(Gly) and tetra(Gly)–penta(Gly) (4–3) peptidoglycan (PG) dimers, while sco1758 affected only the former. Complementation reversed these changes. sco0954 overexpression enhanced PG-associated methionine acetylation and oxidation. Our findings suggest that PG dimerisation and methionine modification may contribute to the formation of wall-deficient cells under hyperosmotic sucrose stress. Further research is required to elucidate how SCO1758, SCO0954 and SCO4439/40 modulate PG architecture and to evaluate their potential to promote EV production for biotechnological applications.

Benchmarking of dimensionality reduction methods to capture drug response in transcriptome data

Knowledge attitudes and practices regarding the use of prebiotics and probiotics for respiratory infections among Saudi healthcare students

Generative AI: a generation-defining shift for biopharma regulatory affairs

A Deep Learning and Explainable Artificial Intelligence based Scheme for Breast Cancer Detection

Experimental study on improving the durability of underground/underwater structures by mixing impregnating agents into unhardened concrete

Abstract Components exposed to soil and water are difficult to maintain during their service life, and have traditionally been designed to ensure greater durability than components exposed to air. However, in recent years, severe damage caused by aging has also been observed in components exposed to soil and water, prompting the development of methods to achieve higher durability. To address this issue, the authors developed a method (mixing method) that enhances the durability of concrete components by mixing sodium silicate-based impregnation materials with fresh concrete. In this study, the flowability, deterioration inhibition effects, and mechanical properties of concrete prepared using the mixing method were experimentally confirmed. The results demonstrated that by controlling the addition of the impregnation material, it is possible to achieve deterioration suppression effects equivalent to or superior to those of conventional methods without significantly reducing the workability or mechanical properties. In addition, an equation for estimating the mechanical properties expressed from the amount of admixture was proposed. Based on the results of this study, it is considered that the mixing method can be applied as a method for maintaining and improving the durability of concrete structures. In order to put this into practical use, it is necessary to conduct experiments under a wider range of conditions to improve the accuracy of estimating the deterioration suppression effect and the characteristics that appear, and to expand the range of applications.

A disproportionality analysis of real-world adverse events associated with tirofiban from the FAERS database