Monday, June 09, 2025

New book: Machine Learning in Quantum Sciences

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics

Book Cover: Machine Learning in Quantum Sciences — image:
"Machine Learning in Quantum Sciences", outcome of a collaborative effort from world-leading experts, offers both an introduction to machine learning and deep neural networks, and an overview of their applications in quantum physics and chemistry - from reinforcement learning for controlling quantum experiments to neural networks used as representations of many-body quantum states.
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Credit: Machine Learning in Quantum Sciences, Cambridge University Press, June 2025

Cambridge University Press has published a new book Machine Learning in Quantum Science Machine Learning in Quantum Sciences co-authored by researchers from the University of Warsaw, offering both an introduction to machine learning and deep neural networks, and an overview of their applications in quantum physics and chemistry — from reinforcement learning for controlling quantum experiments to neural networks used as representations of many-body quantum states. The book appears at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly recognized tool for scientific discovery — a development recently recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for the AlphaFold tool. It serves as a timely guide for PhD students and researchers looking to apply modern machine learning methods to complex quantum problems.

The book was created by 29 contributors — from PhD students to professors — representing more than ten countries, providing a diverse perspective on this rapidly developing field. It originated from the Summer School on Machine Learning for Quantum Physics and Chemistry, held in 2021 at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, within the Excellence Initiative – Research University (2020–2026). It began as lecture notes, but thanks to the initiative of Anna Dawid — then a PhD student, now a professor — along with Professor Michał Tomza and the collaborative, grassroots effort of an international team of scientists, it evolved into a full-fledged book.

Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw

Physics and astronomy at the University of Warsaw appeared in 1816 as part of the then Faculty of Philosophy. In 1825, the Astronomical Observatory was established. Currently, the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw consists of the following institutes: Experimental Physics, Theoretical Physics, Geophysics, the Department of Mathematical Methods in Physics, and the Astronomical Observatory. The research covers almost all areas of modern physics on scales from quantum to cosmological. The Faculty's research and teaching staff consists of over 250 academic teachers. About 1,100 students and over 170 doctoral students study at the Faculty of Physics UW. The University of Warsaw is among the 300 best universities in the world, educating in the field of physics according to Shanghai’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION:

A. Dawid, J. Arnold, B. Requena, A. Gresch, M. Płodzień, K. Donatella, K. A. Nicoli, P. Stornati, R. Koch, M. Büttner, R. Okuła, G. Muñoz-Gil, R. A. Vargas-Hernández, A. Cervera-Lierta, J. Carrasquilla, V. Dunjko, M. Gabrié, P. Huembeli, E. van Nieuwenburg, F. Vicentini, L. Wang, S. J. Wetzel, G. Carleo, E. Greplová, R. Krems, F. Marquardt, M. Tomza, M. Lewenstein, A. Dauphin, Machine Learning in Quantum Sciences, Cambridge University Press, June 2025.

DOI 10.1017/9781009504942

https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/physics/quantum-physics-quantum-information-and-quantum-computation/machine-learning-quantum-sciences?format=HB&isbn=9781009504935

DOI

10.1017/9781009504942

SwRI receives up to $250 million to sustain aging US military aircraft structure

Air Force widens scope to include new fleets of older aircraft

Southwest Research Institute

T-38 Talon Supersonic Trainer — image:
SwRI will continue its decades-long support of aging military aircraft with a new $250 million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. The contract will continue aircraft life extension programs, such as fatigue testing that this T-38 Talon supersonic trainer underwent in SwRI’s structural testing laboratory.
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Credit: Southwest Research Institute

SAN ANTONIO — June 9, 2025 —Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will continue its decades-long program to extend the life of aging military aircraft through a new contract worth up to $250 million with the United States Air Force. This Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award supports the U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE), a program created to address aging aircraft structures and material degradation. IDIQs are contract vehicles that fund work over specified periods of time, in this case up to eight years.

The contract work will evaluate and help sustain the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, the T-38 Talon supersonic trainer, the C-5 cargo carrier and the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, among others. All four aircraft were introduced in the 1960s and ‘70s. SwRI will also provide technical engineering support for a series of small fleets managed by Hill Air Force Base, including the T-41 and the T-52, both trainer aircraft, and the E-9 surveillance aircraft.

“While Air Force aircraft are the primary focus, the contract allows the Navy, Army and Coast Guard to utilize the program as well,” said David Wieland, who oversees SwRI’s Aerospace Structures Section. “Under the current contract, the scope of our work has grown to cover more aircraft fleets due to the effectiveness of SwRI’s program, which is focused on providing the right solutions.”

SwRI will assess structural integrity of the aircraft, which includes component testing, full-scale testing, usage monitoring, stress analysis and damage tolerance analysis, characterizing aircraft materials to better understand how cracks originate and grow. Additionally, SwRI will conduct teardown inspections and material failure analysis to assess risk and help ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft.

The contract will also allow SwRI to continue to support the Air Force’s ongoing digital transformation.

“Because records such as maintenance logs and schematics connected to airplanes designed in the 1970s were all on paper, we’ve been helping the Air Force manage how they convert these into digital records,” said Luciano Smith, who manages SwRI’s Structural Integrity team. “This includes designing easily searchable databases and tools for digitized drawings, solid models and maintenance records. It’s a valuable process for our customers to more efficiently store and work with their engineering and maintenance data.”

SwRI has provided technical engineering support to the Air Force for several decades, supporting aircraft subsystems, including propulsion, avionics, electrical, mechanical, electromechanical and hydraulics technology, in addition to solving problems associated with information security and electronics systems.

“This program’s evolution is a testament to its success,” Wieland said. “SwRI has a strong reputation for being client-centered and responsive, ensuring continued growth and reliance on our expertise.”

For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/markets/defense-security/defense-aerospace-aircraft/aerospace-structures/aircraft-structural-integrity-program-asip.

SwRI will continue its decades-long support of aging military aircraft with a new $250 million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. The contract will continue aircraft life extension programs, such as risk assessments that this T-38 Talon supersonic trainer underwent in SwRI’s structural testing laboratory.

Credit

Southwest Research Institute

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment: Search results for PERMANENT ARMS ECONOMY

Partnership to support Indigenous researchers, ensure that cancer research reflects the needs of Indigenous groups and that it results in better care

Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research partner to increase Indigenous inclusion in cancer research to improve cancer outcomes

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

June 9, 2025, TORONTO – The Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA) and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) today announced a new partnership to include Indigenous priorities in cancer research, build capacity for research with and within First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) communities, and increase research participation to ultimately reduce the burden of cancers within these populations.

The organizations agree on the need to identify the unique cancer-related priorities of FNIM populations by supporting the training and advancement of Indigenous individuals working in cancer research and addressing cancer research questions relevant to FNIM communities. Through these actions CINA and OICR will enable understanding and application of Indigenous-specific contexts to conducting cancer research.

As the longest-standing national Indigenous healthcare provider organization in Canada, CINA is well positioned to support and conduct research with FNIM communities, organizations, and researchers. As the province’s cancer research institute, OICR seeks to include Indigenous communities in its research activities so that its work is reflective of Ontario’s diversity and is done in a manner that acknowledges and respects the cultural values of FNIM populations.

Examples of proposed activities include creating and supporting specialized training and education opportunities, CINA advising OICR on matters related to Indigenous cancer research and establishing an open dialogue to ensure that the priorities of FNIM communities are reflected in cancer research.

“This is truly an exciting time to address the network of cancer research needed for Indigenous people. At CINA, the opportunity to work with our partners, especially the dedicated team at OICR, is a true indication of the impacts of partnerships and building the content focussed on Indigenous Cancer,” says Lea Bill, President of CINA and Dr. Angeline Letendre, Vice President. “The window of opportunity to engage Indigenous healthcare provider organizations is a unique design that will demonstrate the Indigenous indicators in collaboration with mainstream stakeholders.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with CINA to advance cancer research with and within First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities,” says Dr. Christine Williams, Acting President of OICR. “Through this connection we will be able to work collaboratively to reduce the toll of cancer in Indigenous communities and help ensure that Indigenous cancer researchers are at the forefront of those efforts.”

“Our province is producing ground-breaking cancer research discoveries that save lives every day,” says Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This partnership between the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research will advance Indigenous-specific cancer research so that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities can continue to live healthy and happy lives.”

About the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA)

The Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association is the longest standing National Indigenous Healthcare Provider Organization in Canada (established 1975). CINA’s Mission is to work with communities, health professionals and government institutions on Indigenous Health Nursing issues and practices within the Canadian Health system that address particular interest and concern in Indigenous communities with a view to benefiting Indigenous peoples of Canada by improving their health and well-being, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.

About the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR)

OICR is funded by the Government of Ontario. As the province’s cancer research institute, we take on the biggest challenges in cancer research and deliver real-world solutions to find cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. We are committed to helping people living with cancer, as well as future generations, live longer and healthier lives. For more information visit http://www.oicr.on.ca.

The views expressed are those of OICR and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Province of Ontario.

Lizards of Madagascar

The ecological role of three seed dispersing lizards on Madagascar

Kyoto University

Lizards of Madagascar — image:
A Malagasy Giant Chameleon (*Furcifer oustaleti*) eating a fruit from the Madagascar almond tree (*Terminalia boivinii)*
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Credit: (KyotoU / Ryobu Fukuyama)

Kyoto, Japan -- After the island of Madagascar drifted away from India 88 million years ago, isolating it from all other landmasses, its flora and fauna evolved in seclusion. As these transformed into plants and animals completely unique to their island, Madagascar became a biodiversity hotspot unlike anywhere else on Earth.

An important facet of this biodiversity is an ecological process called endozoochory, which is when animals eat plant seeds and then poop them out somewhere else, aiding in the spread of the plants. Most research on endozoochory has focused on the roles of birds and mammals as seed dispersers, but lizards, which are also known play a significant role, have remained largely overlooked.

This negligence inspired a team of researchers at Kyoto University to shine a spotlight on the humble lizard. Unlike many seed dispersers, lizards are not typically frugivores, animals that thrive on fruit and other fruit-like plant substances such as nuts and seeds. Fewer than 10% of lizard species have been reported to consume fruits, but those that do can play an important role, and some lizards are even known to act as primary seed dispersers for certain plant species.

"Lizards are under-appreciated as seed dispersers in many forest ecosystems, but we hypothesized that they may play a more important role across a broader range of regions than previously recognized," says corresponding author Ryobu Fukuyama.

The research team focused on three lizard species in a tropical dry forest in Madagascar, conducting behavioral observations, fecal analyses, and seed germination tests. The species, the Malagasy Giant Chameleon, Cuvier's Madagascar Swift, and the Western Girdled Lizard, are omnivores known to subsist on fruits, but they had not yet been carefully studied.

The team's results revealed that the lizards consumed fruits from over 20 plant species and expelled viable seeds. These plant species were largely different from those typically consumed by the Common Brown Lemur, a principal seed disperser in Madagascar's forests, indicating the lizards may play a more crucial role than previously thought.

Their project isn't only about acknowledging the importance of lizards, however. In recent years, environmental degradation caused by human activities has taken a toll on Malagasy forests, making some uninhabitable for large frugivores like lemurs. In contrast, the lizard species observed in this study can continue to inhabit these degraded environments. As seed dispersers, these lizards could potentially contribute to forest regeneration, but there are still many unknowns.

"Although lizards in Madagascar consume fruits from many plant species, other aspects of their role as seed dispersers, such as dispersal distances, remain poorly understood," says Fukuyama. In the future, the team intends to focus further on these additional unknowns.

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The paper "Frugivory by Three Species of Lizards in Madagascar: Implication for Their Ecological Roles as Seed Dispersers" appeared on 29 May 2025 in Biotropica, with doi: doi.org/10.1111/btp.70052

About Kyoto University

Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at undergraduate and graduate levels complements several research centers, facilities, and offices around Japan and the world. For more information, please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en

Journal

Biotropica

DOI

10.1111/btp.70052

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Frugivory by Three Species of Lizards in Madagascar: Implication for Their Ecological Roles as Seed Dispersers

Can AI accurately detect live oysters?

New study tests whether humans or machines are better at underwater monitoring

University of Delaware

With global oyster populations having plummeted by more than 85% from historical levels, researchers are feeling a sense of urgency to restore and monitor these critical marine ecosystems. But traditional methods of oyster reef monitoring often involve destructive sampling and extensive manual labor. A new study published in Frontiers in Robotics and AI explores whether artificial intelligence could serve as a safer and more effective tool.

The deep learning model, ODYSSEE, was trained to identify live oysters from underwater imagery. Researchers used real and synthetically generated images and pitted the model against both expert and non-expert human annotators to evaluate its accuracy and speed.

The findings were mixed. While ODYSSEE vastly outpaced humans in processing time (averaging just 39.6 seconds to annotate 150 images, compared to 2.3 hours for experts and 4.5 hours for non-experts), it lagged behind in accuracy. The AI model correctly identified live oysters 63% of the time, compared to 74% for experts and 75% for non-experts.

Researchers found that better image quality increased human accuracy but reduced the model’s accuracy.

One of the project’s researchers, professor Art Trembanis from University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, played a pivotal role in both image acquisition and advancing the robotic systems used in the study. Trembanis and the team used handheld and remotely operated vehicles to capture footage from oyster reefs in Lewes, Delaware. This work provided a critical testbed for evaluating how AI can complement, and perhaps one day streamline, traditional monitoring.

“This is not about replacing human expertise,” said Trembanis. “It’s about scaling our ability to monitor reef health, particularly in sensitive areas where dredging simply isn’t an option. ODYSSEE shows promise, but also highlights how nuanced oyster identification can be.”

The research is a collaboration between the University of Delaware, the University of Maryland and the University of Cincinnati, and is part of a broader initiative to integrate autonomous robotic systems into aquaculture. The team trained the ODYSSEE model using a blend of real-world oyster images and synthetic data generated with stable diffusion – a technique that renders hyper-realistic images from 3D scans to help bridge the gap between virtual and natural environments.

While the current version of ODYSSEE has its limitations, the researchers are optimistic that the model’s accuracy can eventually match or exceed that of human annotators.

“This research offers a path forward for non-invasive, scalable monitoring of marine ecosystems,” the authors conclude. “As AI models improve, they can serve as powerful allies in restoration efforts—especially where human time and access are limited."

Journal

Frontiers in Robotics and AI

DOI

10.3389/frobt.2025.1587033

Nature’s toolkit: Scientists breed mushrooms to build versatile natural substitutes for commonly used materials

McMaster University

Scientists at McMaster University have demonstrated that natural genetic variations in a common species of mushroom can be used to create new strains capable of making customized, biodegradable replacements for fabric, plastic, packaging and other environmentally harmful materials.

While mushrooms are already being used to produce a wide variety of eco-friendly products, manufacturers face a major challenge: mushrooms can vary widely in strength and flexibility, even when they are grown and processed in the same manner.

For this study, researchers investigated how the natural genetic variation of the split gill mushroom, which is found all over the world, can influence the characteristics of the fungal mycelium, the root-like but extremely versatile filaments fungi use to grow and feed.

These structures can be harvested and processed into sustainable materials such as vegan leather and foam alternatives.

“This is the first study to examine how genetic variation within a species could potentially influence material properties so we can tailor materials for specific purposes,” explains Jianping Xu, a professor of biology at McMaster University and senior author of the paper, who designed the study with Viraj Whabi, a former undergraduate student of materials engineering and a recent graduate student in biology at McMaster.

The split gill mushroom has an enormous range of natural genetic diversity, making it an ideal candidate for exploring and developing new materials for different purposes, such as soft and pliable materials for fabrics, strong materials for building supplies and water-resistant ones for packaging.

Researchers chose four strains of the mushroom from different parts of the world and bred them to create 12 new strains, each with different genetic combinations.

They grew the strains in liquid to form fluffy mats of mycelium, which were then turned into films by soaking them in different conditioners and used those to determine that some strains made stronger, heavier or more flexible films than others, and that there was no single best strain.

“It's possible to use natural genetic variation that already exists in nature and to make combinations that will potentially fit into all kinds of materials, not just one,” says Xu.

The study was published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.

Journal

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts

DOI

10.1016/j.jobab.2025.05.004

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Splitting the Difference: Genetically-Tunable Mycelial Films Using Natural Genetic Variations in Schizophyllum commune