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We present a novel approach to computing Hamming distance and its kernelisation within Topological Quantum Computation. This approach is based on an encoding of two binary strings into a topological Hilbert space, whose inner product yields a natural Hamming distance kernel on the two strings. Kernelisation forges a link with the field of Machine Learning, particularly in relation to binary classifiers such as the Support Vector Machine (SVM). This makes our approach of potential interest to the quantum machine learning community.

Devolution encompasses a range of quite different solutions in three countries (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), plus markedly smaller delegations of powers to London and some English cities and regions. There remain important issues around the stability and effectiveness of these arrangements, which were designed to meet specific demands for national or regional control and to bring government closer to citizens. Diana Stirbu and Patrick Dunleavy explore how far relations between Westminster and the key devolved institutions have been handled democratically and effectively.

International audience; In this paper, we study the effect of smartphone camera exposure on the performance of optical camera communications (OCC) link. The exposure parameters of image sensor sensitivity (ISO), aperture and shutter speed are included. A static OCC link with a 8 × 8 red, green and blue (RGB) LED array employed as the transmitter and a smartphone camera as the receiver is demonstrated to verify the study. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) analysis at different ISO values, the effect of aperture and shutter speed on communication link quality is performed. While SNRs of 20.6 dB and 16.9 dB are measured at 1 m and 2 m transmission distance, respectively for a ISO value of 100, they are decreased to 17.4 dB and 13.32 dB for a ISO of 800. The bit error rate (BER) of a 1 m long OCC link with a camera's shutter speed of 1/6000 s is 1.3 × 10 −3 (i.e., below the forward error correction BER limit of 3.8 × 10 −3) and is dropped to 0.0125 at a shutter speed of 1/20 s. This study provides insight of the basic smartphone settings and the exposure adjustment for further complex OCC links.

This chapter analyses the role of traditional factors associated with Marshallian and Jacobsian economies (i.e. external agglomeration) and the role of factors associated to the intra-firm co-location of activities (i.e. internal agglomeration) in influencing location decisions of multinational enterprises (MNEs) within a foreign country. Our empirical analysis considers the location decision of 447 new greenfield investments in manufacturing activities by 384 foreign MNEs in Italy, throughout the period 1998–2012, at a sub-national NUTS-3 level. Findings from a conditional logit model confirm that (1) both external and internal agglomeration economies have a strong effect on MNEs’ location decisions and (2) once allowing for intra-firm co-location, the influence of external forces decreases. Additionally, results obtained through spatial econometrics techniques show a strong spatial decay effect both for the effects associated with intra-firm co-location in contiguous provinces and for the traditional Marshallian forces. Conversely, the benefits of diversity (Jacobsian economies) cross province geographical boundaries.\ud \ud

Replacing fossil fuel burning synchronous generation with asynchronous renewable generation to deliver environmental goals will significantly reduce system inertia. Reduced inertia allows a faster and larger frequency deviation after a disturbance and the reduction in inertia in GB will be significant enough in the next decade that the existing frequency control will be too slow to contain the frequency deviation after a large disturbance. Therefore, delivering fast, coordinated frequency control from new service providers, e.g. energy storage, (termed “smart frequency control”) will be vital to overcoming the challenge posed by reduced/variable inertia in GB. This paper describes some of the challenges that must be overcome when delivering this form of control, in terms of controller design and the definition of a new ancillary service, alongside simulation results for a 36 zone equivalent model of the GB frequency response that illustrate these challenges and the threats posed by reduced inertia.

Image-guided surgery is today considered to be of significant importance in neurosurgical applications. However, one of its major shortcomings is its reliance on preoperative image data, which does not account for the intraoperative brain deformations and displacements that occur during surgery. In this work, we propose to tackle this issue with the incorporation of an ultrasound device within a biopsy needle that is commonly used as an interventional tool so as to provide immediate feedback to neurosurgeons during surgical procedures. In order to identify the most appropriate path to access a targeted tissue site, needle single element transducers that look both forwards and sideways have been designed and fabricated. Monolithic PZT plates and micro-moulded 1-3 piezocomposites have been adopted as the active materials for feasibility tests. Impedance analysis and pulse-echo testing have been carried out, demonstrating the functionality of the transducers at frequencies of ~15 MHz. The imaging capabilities of these transducers have been studied by wire phantom scans. Variations in the transducer properties as a result of the use of different active materials are discussed.

Decision-making for self-adaptation approaches need to address different challenges, including the quantification of the uncertainty of events that cannot be foreseen in advance and their effects, and dealing with conflicting objectives that inherently involve multi-objective decision making (e.g., avoiding costs vs. providing reliable service). To enable researchers to evaluate and compare decision-making techniques for self-adaptation, we present the RDMSim exemplar. RDMSim enables researchers to evaluate and compare techniques for decision-making under environmental uncertainty that support self-adaptation. The focus of the exemplar is on the domain problem related to Remote Data Mirroring, which gives opportunity to face the challenges described above. RDMSim provides probe and effector components for easy integration with external adaptation managers, which are associated with decision-making techniques and based on the MAPE-K loop. Specifically, the paper presents (i) RDMSim, a simulator for real-world experimentation, (ii) a set of realistic simulation scenarios that can be used for experimentation and comparison purposes, (iii) data for the sake of comparison.

When vibration, induced by harmonic mechanical oscillations, is applied to the entire human body or individual segments and structures, various short- and long-term neural changes occur. This chapter presents an overview of vibration stimulus effects on the central nervous system. First, we address the modulatory impact of vibration on the supraspinal level, e.g., on the excitability of the sensorimotor networks as well as on the intra- and interhemispheric cortical processes. Effects on neural conduction, motoneuron activation thresholds, facilitation and inhibition are highlighted. Second, we review the inhibitory and facilitatory effects of vibration on the spinal level, e.g., on alpha-motoneuron pool excitability as well as on pre and postsynaptic neural transmission. Combined, the findings from experiments in humans using focal or whole-body vibration suggest that vibration amplifies the acute and chronic neuromuscular responses achieved during low intensity exercise, such as enhanced strength and power, improved mobility and flexibility, balance and postural control. These effects can be used strategically during training and therapy and are particularly beneficial for the elderly and patients suffering from neuronal disorders.