Scalable distributed gate-model quantum computers.

A scalable model for a distributed quantum computation is a challenging problem due to the complexity of the problem space provided by the diversity of possible quantum systems, from small-scale quantum devices to large-scale quantum computers. Here, we define a model of scalable distributed gate-model quantum computation in near-term quantum systems of the NISQ (noisy intermediate scale quantum) technology era. We prove that the proposed architecture can maximize an objective function of a computational problem in a distributed manner. We study the impacts of decoherence on distributed objective function evaluation.

Resource prioritization and balancing for the quantum internet.

The quantum Internet enables networking based on the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. Here, methods and procedures of resource prioritization and resource balancing are defined for the quantum Internet. We define a model for resource consumption optimization in quantum repeaters, and a strongly-entangled network structure for resource balancing. We study the resource-balancing efficiency of the strongly-entangled structure. We prove that a strongly-entangled quantum network is two times more efficient in a resource balancing problem than a full-mesh network of the traditional Internet.

Circuit Depth Reduction for Gate-Model Quantum Computers.

Quantum computers utilize the fundamentals of quantum mechanics to solve computational problems more efficiently than traditional computers. Gate-model quantum computers are fundamental to implement near-term quantum computer architectures and quantum devices. Here, a quantum algorithm is defined for the circuit depth reduction of gate-model quantum computers. The proposed solution evaluates the reduced time complexity equivalent of a reference quantum circuit. We prove the complexity of the quantum algorithm and the achievable reduction in circuit depth. The method provides a tractable solution to reduce the time complexity and physical layer costs of quantum computers.

Routing space exploration for scalable routing in the quantum Internet.

The entangled network structure of the quantum Internet formulates a high complexity routing space that is hard to explore. Scalable routing is a routing method that can determine an optimal routing at particular subnetwork conditions in the quantum Internet to perform a high-performance and low-complexity routing in the entangled structure. Here, we define a method for routing space exploration and scalable routing in the quantum Internet. We prove that scalable routing allows a compact and efficient routing in the entangled networks of the quantum Internet.

Sex interacts with age-dependent change in the abundance of lice-infesting Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis).

Sex-biassed and age-biassed parasite infections are common in nature, including ectoparasites-vertebrate host systems. We investigated the effect of Amur Falcons' sex, age and body size on the abundance of their lice at a migratory stopover site, where the falcons' habitat use and behaviour are more homogeneous across sex and age categories than during the breeding season. We sampled Amur Falcons in Nagaland, India at major roosting sites in 2016. We applied generalized linear models (with negative binomial distribution and log-link) to model the abundance of their two most numerous lice (Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella rufa) using the host age category (juvenile or adult) and wing length, both in interaction with sex, as explanatory variables. The abundance of C. subzerafae was only affected by host age, being nearly four times higher on juveniles than on adults. Juveniles were also more infested with D. rufa than the adults. Additionally, the abundance of the latter species was lower on adult male Falcons as compared to adult females. A juvenile bias in ectoparasite infestations is common in nature, probably due to juveniles being immunologically naïve, more resource-limited and may be inexperienced in body maintenance behaviours like preening and grooming. On the other hand, female-biassed infestations are much rarer than male-biassed infestations. We briefly discuss the possible causes of female-biassed infestations on Amur Falcons reported here, and in the closely related Red-footed Falcon and Lesser Kestrel as reported in the literature.

Sex-dependent changes in the louse abundance of red-footed falcons (Falco vespertinus).

Permanent ectoparasites live in stable environments; thus, their population dynamics are mostly adapted to changes in the host life cycle. We aimed to investigate how static and dynamic traits of red-footed falcons interplay with the dynamics of their louse subpopulations during breeding and how they affect the colonisation of new hosts by lice. We sampled red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) nestlings (two breeding seasons) and adults (one breeding season) in southern Hungary. The mean abundance of Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella rufa lice on the nestlings was modelled with generalized linear mixed models using clutch size and host sex in interaction with wing length. For adults, we used wing length and the number of days after laying the first egg, both in interaction with sex. D. rufa abundances increased with the nestlings' wing length. In one year, this trend was steeper on females. In adult birds, both louse species exhibited higher abundances on females at the beginning, but it decreased subsequently through the breeding season. Contrarily, abundances were constantly low on adult males. Apparently, D. rufa postpones transmission until nestlings develop juvenile plumage and choose the more feathered individual among siblings. The sexual difference in the observed abundance could either be caused by the different plumage, or by the females' preference for less parasitized males. Moreover, females likely have more time to preen during the incubation period, lowering their louse burdens. Thus, sex-biased infestation levels likely arise due to parasite preferences in the nestlings and host behavioural processes in the adult falcons.

Theory of Noise-Scaled Stability Bounds and Entanglement Rate Maximization in the Quantum Internet.

Crucial problems of the quantum Internet are the derivation of stability properties of quantum repeaters and theory of entanglement rate maximization in an entangled network structure. The stability property of a quantum repeater entails that all incoming density matrices can be swapped with a target density matrix. The strong stability of a quantum repeater implies stable entanglement swapping with the boundness of stored density matrices in the quantum memory and the boundness of delays. Here, a theoretical framework of noise-scaled stability analysis and entanglement rate maximization is conceived for the quantum Internet. We define the term of entanglement swapping set that models the status of quantum memory of a quantum repeater with the stored density matrices. We determine the optimal entanglement swapping method that maximizes the entanglement rate of the quantum repeaters at the different entanglement swapping sets as function of the noise of the local memory and local operations. We prove the stability properties for non-complete entanglement swapping sets, complete entanglement swapping sets and perfect entanglement swapping sets. We prove the entanglement rates for the different entanglement swapping sets and noise levels. The results can be applied to the experimental quantum Internet.

Optimizing High-Efficiency Quantum Memory with Quantum Machine Learning for Near-Term Quantum Devices.

Quantum memories are a fundamental of any global-scale quantum Internet, high-performance quantum networking and near-term quantum computers. A main problem of quantum memories is the low retrieval efficiency of the quantum systems from the quantum registers of the quantum memory. Here, we define a novel quantum memory called high-retrieval-efficiency (HRE) quantum memory for near-term quantum devices. An HRE quantum memory unit integrates local unitary operations on its hardware level for the optimization of the readout procedure and utilizes the advanced techniques of quantum machine learning. We define the integrated unitary operations of an HRE quantum memory, prove the learning procedure, and evaluate the achievable output signal-to-noise ratio values. We prove that the local unitaries of an HRE quantum memory achieve the optimization of the readout procedure in an unsupervised manner without the use of any labeled data or training sequences. We show that the readout procedure of an HRE quantum memory is realized in a completely blind manner without any information about the input quantum system or about the unknown quantum operation of the quantum register. We evaluate the retrieval efficiency of an HRE quantum memory and the output SNR (signal-to-noise ratio). The results are particularly convenient for gate-model quantum computers and the near-term quantum devices of the quantum Internet.

Training Optimization for Gate-Model Quantum Neural Networks.

Gate-based quantum computations represent an essential to realize near-term quantum computer architectures. A gate-model quantum neural network (QNN) is a QNN implemented on a gate-model quantum computer, realized via a set of unitaries with associated gate parameters. Here, we define a training optimization procedure for gate-model QNNs. By deriving the environmental attributes of the gate-model quantum network, we prove the constraint-based learning models. We show that the optimal learning procedures are different if side information is available in different directions, and if side information is accessible about the previous running sequences of the gate-model QNN. The results are particularly convenient for gate-model quantum computer implementations.

Rensch's rule in avian lice: contradictory allometric trends for sexual size dimorphism.

Rensch's rule (RR) postulates that in comparisons across closely related species, male body size relative to female size increases with the average size of the species. This holds true in several vertebrate and also in certain free-living invertebrate taxa. Here, we document the validity of RR in avian lice using three families (Philopteridae, Menoponidae, and Ricinidae). Using published data on the body length of 989 louse species, subspecies, or distinct intraspecific lineages, we applied phylogenetic reduced major axis regression to analyse the body size of females vs. males while accounting for phylogenetic non-independence. Our results indicate that philopterid and menoponid lice follow RR, while ricinids exhibit the opposite pattern. In the case of philopterids and menoponids, we argue that larger-bodied bird species tend to host lice that are both larger in size and more abundant. Thus, sexual selection acting on males makes them relatively larger, and this is stronger than fecundity selection acting on females. Ricinids exhibit converse RR, likely because fecundity selection is stronger in their case.

Dense Quantum Measurement Theory.

Quantum measurement is a fundamental cornerstone of experimental quantum computations. The main issues in current quantum measurement strategies are the high number of measurement rounds to determine a global optimal measurement output and the low success probability of finding a global optimal measurement output. Each measurement round requires preparing the quantum system and applying quantum operations and measurements with high-precision control in the physical layer. These issues result in extremely high-cost measurements with a low probability of success at the end of the measurement rounds. Here, we define a novel measurement for quantum computations called dense quantum measurement. The dense measurement strategy aims at fixing the main drawbacks of standard quantum measurements by achieving a significant reduction in the number of necessary measurement rounds and by radically improving the success probabilities of finding global optimal outputs. We provide application scenarios for quantum circuits with arbitrary unitary sequences, and prove that dense measurement theory provides an experimentally implementable solution for gate-model quantum computer architectures.

Examination of life quality, mental conditions and cognitive status of people over the age of 90: Results of a Hungarian local research.

OBJECTIVES: The study presents the findings of a quantitative research conducted among people aged over 90, who live in a large town of Hungary, Debrecen. The aim of the research was to examine the lifestyle, attitudes, values, and physical and mental condition of old and long-lived people. We laid a special emphasis on the exploration of the life perspectives, mood and mental youth, and their interconnections. METHODS: The sociological questionnaire used for data collection (159 questions) was intended to inquire socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, health condition, physical activity, and identity features. Further examinations were conducted in order to measure the level of depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and mental condition using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We managed to reach out to the elderly living in the town on the basis of family doctors' districts (N = 212). We dealt with a subsample of 115 people since we got answers for all questions from them. During data processing, we applied multivariate statistical methods, first of all linear regression analysis and cluster analysis. We examined the differences between clusters using variation analysis. RESULTS: According to our results, the extremely low educational level of the elderly belonging to the target group did not decrease their life perspectives, but it had a significant impact on the age when their illness begun. We revealed a connection between the mental condition and the level of depression. Better mental condition (higher MMSE) resulted in lower depression level (low GDS). One of our main finding is that the change in the level of depression (GDS) is 13.4% due to the change in the mental condition (MMSE). CONCLUSIONS: Physical and mental activity, personal autonomy, a wide range of activities, and avoiding isolation and solitude allow people to experience quality ageing; all these factors can be substantially influenced by the status acquired at a younger age. We believe that it is extremely important for the society to develop guarantees for active old age, which would ensure the optimal balance between the possibilities of physical and mental health, social participation and safety.

Opportunistic Entanglement Distribution for the Quantum Internet.

Quantum entanglement is a building block of the entangled quantum networks of the quantum Internet. A fundamental problem of the quantum Internet is entanglement distribution. Since quantum entanglement will be fundamental to any future quantum networking scenarios, the distribution mechanism of quantum entanglement is a critical and emerging issue in quantum networks. Here we define the method of opportunistic entanglement distribution for the quantum Internet. The opportunistic model defines distribution sets that are aimed to select those quantum nodes for which the cost function picks up a local minimum. The cost function utilizes the error patterns of the local quantum memories and the predictability of the evolution of the entanglement fidelities. Our method provides efficient entanglement distributing with respect to the actual statuses of the local quantum memories of the node pairs. The model provides an easily-applicable, moderate-complexity solution for high-fidelity entanglement distribution in experimental quantum Internet scenarios.

Malaria infection status of European Robins seems to associate with timing of autumn migration but not with actual condition.

Avian malaria parasites can negatively affect many aspects of the life of the passerines. Though these parasites may strongly affect the health and thus migration patterns of the birds also during autumn, previous studies on avian malaria focused mainly on the spring migration and the breeding periods of the birds. We investigated whether the prevalence of blood parasites varies in relation to biometrical traits, body condition and arrival time in the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) during autumn migration. We found no sex or age related differences in avian malaria prevalence and no relationship between infection status and body size or actual condition of the birds was found either. However, the timing of autumn migration differed marginally between infected and non-infected juveniles, so that parasitized individuals arrived later at the Hungarian stopover site. This is either because avian malaria infections adversely affect the migration timing or migration speed of the birds, or because later arriving individuals come from more distant populations with possibly higher blood parasite prevalence. The possible delay that parasites cause in the arrival time of the birds during autumn migration could affect the whole migratory strategy and the breeding success of the birds in the next season.

Multilayer Optimization for the Quantum Internet.

We define a multilayer optimization method for the quantum Internet. Multilayer optimization integrates separate procedures for the optimization of the quantum layer and the classical layer of the quantum Internet. The multilayer optimization procedure defines advanced techniques for the optimization of the layers. The optimization of the quantum layer covers the minimization of total usage time of quantum memories in the quantum nodes, the maximization of the entanglement throughput over the entangled links, and the reduction of the number of entangled links between the arbitrary source and target quantum nodes. The objective of the optimization of the classical layer is the cost minimization of any auxiliary classical communications. The multilayer optimization framework provides a practically implementable tool for quantum network communications, or long-distance quantum communications.

Entanglement Availability Differentiation Service for the Quantum Internet.

A fundamental concept of the quantum Internet is quantum entanglement. In a quantum Internet scenario where the legal users of the network have different priority levels or where a differentiation of entanglement availability between the users is a necessity, an entanglement availability service is essential. Here we define the entanglement availability differentiation (EAD) service for the quantum Internet. In the proposed EAD framework, the differentiation is either made in the amount of entanglement with respect to the relative entropy of entanglement associated with the legal users, or in the time domain with respect to the amount of time that is required to establish a maximally entangled system between the legal parties. The framework provides an efficient and easily-implementable solution for the differentiation of entanglement availability in experimental quantum networking scenarios.

Entanglement-Gradient Routing for Quantum Networks.

We define the entanglement-gradient routing scheme for quantum repeater networks. The routing framework fuses the fundamentals of swarm intelligence and quantum Shannon theory. Swarm intelligence provides nature-inspired solutions for problem solving. Motivated by models of social insect behavior, the routing is performed using parallel threads to determine the shortest path via the entanglement gradient coefficient, which describes the feasibility of the entangled links and paths of the network. The routing metrics are derived from the characteristics of entanglement transmission and relevant measures of entanglement distribution in quantum networks. The method allows a moderate complexity decentralized routing in quantum repeater networks. The results can be applied in experimental quantum networking, future quantum Internet, and long-distance quantum communications.

Splenic function and red blood cell deformability: The beneficial effects of spleen autotransplantation in animal experiments.

Erythrocyte deformability could be a suitable parameter reflecting hyposplenic-asplenic conditions after splenectomy or spleen autotransplantation. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of spleen autotransplantation using filtrometry and ektacytometry for testing erythrocyte deformability, besides complex structural, functional, hematological, hemostaseological and immunological examinations. Healthy beagle dogs were subjected to the study in the following experimental groups: "Sham"-sham operated control, "SE"-splenectomy, "AU-5" and "AU-10"-autotransplantation with 5 or 10 spleen chips using "Furka's spleen chip" technique after splenectomy. Blood samples were taken before the operations and monthly afterwards for 1 year and bi-monthly till the end of the 2nd postoperative year. Erythrocyte deformability was measured by bulk filtrometry (relative cell transit time, RCTT) and on the 20th-24th postoperative months by ektacytometry (elongation index, EI), too. RCTT was elevated in operated groups till the 12th month. On the 20th/24th months "SE"-group expressed the highest level, while the "AU"-groups were close to "Sham"-group. Using ektacytometer we found that on the 20th/24th month both EImax and SS1/2 showed the lowest values (because of unusual curve characteristic) in "SE"-group and "AU"-groups almost reached the "SH"-group. Spleen autotransplantation partially restored the normal rheological conditions. Both filtrometry and ektacytometry was suitable to investigate hyposplenic-asplenic conditions.

Spleen autotransplantation. Morphological and functional follow-up after spleen autotransplantation in mice: a research summary.

In 1986, we started the research on spleen surgery aimed at saving the splenic mass after its traumatic injury, with elaboration of special resection and autotransplantation techniques. The researches started on mongrel dogs and were continued on inbred mice and beagle dogs with complex histological, imaging, and laboratory investigations, following-up the function and the regeneration of autotransplanted spleen chips. Performing research on mice provided more immunological methods, such as lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulin levels, and monitoring the phagocytic functions. Researches showed evidence also on the presence of apoptosis, furthermore, stem cell studies on regeneration and functional restoration of the spleen chips are in progress. Our results contributed to two multidisciplinary guidelines in Hungary: (1) One of them is under preparation and underlines the importance of spleen saving methods after traumatic splenic injury; (2) The second guideline shows that hemorheological changes can be early indicators of the increased sensitivity to postsplenectomy infections.