Search results for "Hard"
showing 10 items of 2294 documents
A Quantum Lovasz Local Lemma
2012
The Lovasz Local Lemma (LLL) is a powerful tool in probability theory to show the existence of combinatorial objects meeting a prescribed collection of "weakly dependent" criteria. We show that the LLL extends to a much more general geometric setting, where events are replaced with subspaces and probability is replaced with relative dimension, which allows to lower bound the dimension of the intersection of vector spaces under certain independence conditions. Our result immediately applies to the k-QSAT problem: For instance we show that any collection of rank 1 projectors with the property that each qubit appears in at most $2^k/(e \cdot k)$ of them, has a joint satisfiable state. We then …
Metastable memristive lines for signal transmission and information processing applications
2016
Traditional studies of memristive devices have mainly focused on their applications in nonvolatile information storage and information processing. Here, we demonstrate that the third fundamental component of information technologies-the transfer of information-can also be employed with memristive devices. For this purpose, we introduce a metastable memristive circuit. Combining metastable memristive circuits into a line, one obtains an architecture capable of transferring a signal edge from one space location to another. We emphasize that the suggested metastable memristive lines employ only resistive circuit components. Moreover, their networks (for example, Y-connected lines) have an info…
Nowcasting COVID‐19 incidence indicators during the Italian first outbreak
2020
A novel parametric regression model is proposed to fit incidence data typically collected during epidemics. The proposal is motivated by real-time monitoring and short-term forecasting of the main epidemiological indicators within the first outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy. Accurate short-term predictions, including the potential effect of exogenous or external variables are provided. This ensures to accurately predict important characteristics of the epidemic (e.g., peak time and height), allowing for a better allocation of health resources over time. Parameter estimation is carried out in a maximum likelihood framework. All computational details required to reproduce the approach and replica…
Complete End-To-End Low Cost Solution To a 3D Scanning System with Integrated Turntable
2017
3D reconstruction is a technique used in computer vision which has a wide range of applications in areas like object recognition, city modelling, virtual reality, physical simulations, video games and special effects. Previously, to perform a 3D reconstruction, specialized hardwares were required. Such systems were often very expensive and was only available for industrial or research purpose. With the rise of the availability of high-quality low cost 3D sensors, it is now possible to design inexpensive complete 3D scanning systems. The objective of this work was to design an acquisition and processing system that can perform 3D scanning and reconstruction of objects seamlessly. In addition…
What happens when software developers are (un)happy
2017
The growing literature on affect among software developers mostly reports on the linkage between happiness, software quality, and developer productivity. Understanding happiness and unhappiness in all its components -- positive and negative emotions and moods -- is an attractive and important endeavor. Scholars in industrial and organizational psychology have suggested that understanding happiness and unhappiness could lead to cost-effective ways of enhancing working conditions, job performance, and to limiting the occurrence of psychological disorders. Our comprehension of the consequences of (un)happiness among developers is still too shallow, being mainly expressed in terms of developmen…
A preliminary study of agility in business and production - Cases of early-stage hardware startups
2018
[Context] Advancement in technologies, popularity of small-batch manufacturing and the recent trend of investing in hardware startups are among the factors leading to the rise of hardware startups nowadays. It is essential for hardware startups, companies that involve both software and hardware development, to be not only agile to develop their business but also efficient to develop the right products. [Objective] We investigate how hardware startups achieve agility when developing their products in early stages. [Methods] A qualitative research is conducted with data from 20 hardware startups. [Result] Preliminary results show that agile development is known to hardware entrepreneurs, howe…
Lock-in range of PLL-based circuits with proportionally-integrating filter and sinusoidal phase detector characteristic
2016
In the present work PLL-based circuits with sinusoidal phase detector characteristic and active proportionally-integrating (PI) filter are considered. The notion of lock-in range -- an important characteristic of PLL-based circuits, which corresponds to the synchronization without cycle slipping, is studied. For the lock-in range a rigorous mathematical definition is discussed. Numerical and analytical estimates for the lock-in range are obtained.
Routing quantum information in spin chains
2013
Two different models for performing efficiently routing of a quantum state are presented. Both cases involve an XX spin chain working as data bus and additional spins that play the role of sender and receivers, one of which is selected to be the target of the quantum state transmission protocol via a coherent quantum coupling mechanism making use of local/global magnetic fields. Quantum routing is achieved, in the first of the models considered, by weakly coupling the sender and the receiver to the data bus. In the second model, strong magnetic fields acting on additional spins located between the sender/receiver and the data bus allow us to perform high fidelity routing.
Concrete columns confined with fibre reinforced cementitious mortars: Experimentation and modelling
2014
Abstract The structural behaviour of concrete columns strengthened with a system made up of fibre nets embedded in an inorganic stabilized cementitious matrix under an uniaxial load was investigated. Medium size specimens with circular and square cross-section were cast and subjected to monotonic uniaxial compression, to investigate the efficiency of a p-Phenylene BenzobisOxazole (PBO) Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Mortar (FRCM) system in increasing both strength and ductility. The experimental results show that the confinement system adopted produced a noticeable increment in strength and ductility, though the low mechanical ratios of fibre considered were not always able to ensure hardeni…
Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors for 0.35µm CMOS technology sub-mA current sensing
2014
This paper reports on the design and fabrication of microelectronic structures for non-invasive indirect electric current sensing at the IC level. A 0.35 ?m CMOS ASIC has been specifically developed for this purpose. Then, a low temperature post-process, fully compatible with the CMOS technology, has been applied for depositing Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors. Preliminary experimental results for obtaining the sensitivity of the devices are presented. The detection limit is estimated to be about 5 ?A.