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The central challenge in building a quantum computer is error correction. Unlike classical bits, which are susceptible to only one type of error, quantum bits (qubits) are susceptible to two types of error, corresponding to flips of the qubit state about the X and Z directions. Although the Heisenberg uncertainty principle precludes simultaneous monitoring of X- and Z-flips on a single qubit, it is possible to encode quantum information in large arrays of entangled qubits that enable accurate monitoring of all errors in the system, provided that the error rate is low.sup.1. Another crucial requirement is that errors cannot be correlated. Here we characterize a superconducting multiqubit circuit and find that charge noise in the chip is highly correlated on a length scale over 600 micrometres; moreover, discrete charge jumps are accompanied by a strong transient reduction of qubit energy relaxation time across the millimetre-scale chip. The resulting correlated errors are explained in terms of the charging event and phonon-mediated quasiparticle generation associated with absorption of [gamma]-rays and cosmic-ray muons in the qubit substrate. Robust quantum error correction will require the development of mitigation strategies to protect multiqubit arrays from correlated errors due to particle impacts. Cosmic-ray particles and [gamma]-rays striking superconducting circuits can generate qubit errors that are spatially correlated across several millimetres, hampering current error-correction approaches., Author(s): C. D. Wilen [sup.1] , S. Abdullah [sup.1] , N. A. Kurinsky [sup.2] [sup.3] , C. Stanford [sup.4] , L. Cardani [sup.5] , G. D'Imperio [sup.5] , C. Tomei [...]

Eyewitness misidentification is the most common contributing factor to wrongful convictions in the United States, with eyewitness error playing a role in over 70% of the nation's DNA exoneration cases. [...]

Humans engaged in monotonous tasks are susceptible to occasional errors that may lead to serious consequences, but little is known about brain activity patterns preceding errors. Using functional MRI and applying independent component analysis followed by deconvolution of hemodynamic responses, we studied error preceding brain activity on a trial-by-trial basis. We found a set of brain regions in which the temporal evolution of activation predicted performance errors. These maladaptive brain activity changes started to evolve [approximately equal to] 30 sec before the error. In particular, a coincident decrease of deactivation in default mode regions of the brain, together with a decline of activation in regions associated with maintaining task effort, raised the probability of future errors. Our findings provide insights into the brain network dynamics preceding human performance errors and suggest that monitoring of the identified precursor states may help in avoiding human errors in critical real-world situations. deconvolution | performance monitoring | default mode | frontal lobe

Complex behavior requires a flexible system that maintains task performance in the context of specific goals, evaluating behavioral progress, adjusting behavior as needed, and adapting to changing contingencies. Generically referred [...]

This paper describes human errors and violations of end users and network administration in computer and information security. This information is summarized in a conceptual framework for examining the human and organizational factors contributing to computer and information security. This framework includes human error taxonomies to describe the work conditions that contribute adversely to computer and information security, i.e. to security vulnerabilities and breaches. The issue of human error and violation in computer and information security was explored through a series of 16 interviews with network administrators and security specialists. The interviews were audio taped, transcribed, and analyzed by coding specific themes in a node structure. The result is an expanded framework that classifies types of human error and identifies specific human and organizational factors that contribute to computer and information security. Network administrators tended to view errors created by end users as more intentional than unintentional, while errors created by network administrators as more unintentional than intentional. Organizational factors, such as communication, security culture, policy, and organizational structure, were the most frequently cited factors associated with computer and information security. Keywords: Human error; Violation; Computer security; Work system; Macroergonomic; Qualitative research

In this article, it is shown that human work can be understood as a process of creating order, and that order can be seen as a form of information. Since information can be considered as negative entropy, work is associated with energy consumption. Therefore, it is important to investigate the nature of human necessities in more detail in order to meet the desire for comfort through the efficient application of energy. Temporary increases of information cause accelerated increases in entropy. This explains the appearance of living organisms, and the historic development of increasingly complex technology. Through technical progress, repetitive human work is being replaced by automation, so that primarily creative work remains. Now the question arises of how much creative work a human can manage. In addition, one goal of automation should be the reduction of human errors, but in doing so, an optimal balance should be found between supporting the operator both during normal procedures and during unforeseen circumstances. Keywords: Turing machine; Comfort; Human error; Automation

The hypothesis is introduced that 1 source of shift costs is the strengthening of task-related associations occurring whenever an overt response is produced. The authors tested this account by examining shift effects following errors and error compensation processes. The authors predicted that following a specific type of error, called task confusion, shift benefits instead of shift costs should result. A series of 3 experiments confirmed this prediction showing that task confusions produce shift benefits in subsequent trials (Experiment 1), even when the error is detected (Experiment 2). Moreover, only post-error processes that imply an error correction response produce shift costs (Experiment 3). These results additionally suggest that error detection cannot prevent errors from affecting subsequent performance. Keywords: task shifting, error processing, response repetition

In this study, the authors sought to determine whether abnormalities exhibited by schizophrenia patients in event-related potentials associated with self-monitoring--the error-related negativity (ERN) and the correct response negativity (CRN)--persist under conditions that maximize ERN amplitude and to examine relationships between the ERN and behavior in schizophrenia. Participants performed a flanker task under 2 contingencies: one encouraging accuracy and another emphasizing speed. Compared with healthy participants, in schizophrenia patients the ERN was reduced in the accuracy condition, and the CRN was enhanced in the speed condition. The amplitude of a later ERP component, the error positivity, did not differ between groups in either task condition. Reduced self-correction and increased accuracy following errors were associated with larger ERNs in both groups. Thus, ERN generation appears to be abnormal in schizophrenia patients even under conditions demonstrated to maximize ERN amplitude; however, functional characteristics of the ERN appear to be intact. Keywords: self-monitoring, schizophrenia, error-related negativity

Educators generally agree that familiarity with students' conceptions and ways of thinking about mathematical topics are essential for teachers (e.g., Australian Education Council, 1991; Even & Tirosh, 2002; Fennema, Carpenter, […]

The central role of intention in the classification of errors into slips/lapses/mistakes is emphasized. Intention is a core concept of prospective memory theory where intention retrievals, intention persistence and output monitoring can be the contribution in the individual's possibilities for detecting error.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a program designed to improve the work quality of employees at a food distribution warehouse. Participants (n = 23) were responsible for selecting food items to be distributed to restaurants. Selector errors were targeted using an adapted incentive program featuring tiered goals and individualized normative feedback. A pre-existing incentive program, wherein selectors forfeited money for each error, was adapted to allow the selectors the opportunity to earn back their disincentive money upon attainment of weekly goals that were increasingly demanding. The initial goal for the first two weeks was set at 2.0 errors per 1000 cases and every two weeks thereafter the new goal was reduced by 0.1 errors per 1000 cases until the final goal of 1.5 errors per 1000 cases. Weekly graphic feedback included public posting of individual error rates. The mean errors per 1000 cases for the experimental group decreased 10% from 3.16 during baseline to 2.54 during the intervention. The largest decrease in errors was observed in the mid-level performers (with baseline error rates between 2 and 3.5 errors per 1000 cases). A cost-benefit analysis revealed potential savings of $9,799.50. KEYWORDS. Incentives, employee errors, changing criterion, normative feedback

INTRODUCTION To fly aircraft safely and effectively, pilots must properly use visual information about the relative positions of both stationary and moving objects in the environment. Unfortunately, making these visual […], The far-anchor effect is responsible for a motion-in-depth illusion that has only recently been recognized. When viewing conditions are limited, motions in depth of a farther target in a two-object display may readily be perceived as opposite motions in depth of the nearer target. The present studies determined whether this error could be avoided through controlled fixation or training with feedback. Under conditions of reduced visibility, participants (college students) viewed 64 two-target presentations varying in the position of the moving target and its direction of motion. Neither fixation instructions nor informational feedback about motion errors affected the occurrence of the basic illusion, nor did a vertical separation of the targets eliminate the main effect, indicating the robustness of the motion illusion under some relatively realistic variations. Such errors in judging motion in depth have significance for both midair collisions between aircraft and ground-incursion accidents under conditions o f reduced visibility. Potential applications include the elaboration of examples used in pilot training programs or in training programs for ground personnel.

Abstract: Explicit (computable) estimates for errors in some simplified two-dimensional models of the theory of elastic body are obtained. Such models are usually used if one of the characteristic sizes of a domain is significantly less than two others. In particular, the model of plane stresses is considered. To obtain estimates for the deviation of reduced solutions from exact solutions, the direct and dual variational problems are considered and the duality methods are used. Bibliography: 9 titles. Article History: Registration Date: 20/10/2004

This article gives theoretical reasons for the findings of a simulation study by Shaffer (1981). Two well-established procedures for multiple comparison of three normal means are compared--an F procedure and an R procedure. It turns out that for a large set of parameters the average number of rejected pairwise hypotheses is larger when the F procedure is applied. To achieve our result we have to prove a special instance of a conjecture by David, Lachenbruch, and Brandis (1972). KEY WORDS: Error rate; F test; Multiple level a; Studentized range test., 1. INTRODUCTION If we want to compare three normal populations with common variance [[sigma].sup.2] and if we have the same number, n, of independent observations for each population, then there [...]

A study is conducted to investigate the rate of citation errors in the reference lists of five social work journals. A stratified, computer-generated random sample is selected and each reference is verified against the original work for accuracy in six fields such as article title, author name, journal title, pagination, volume and year.

A control model of skilled performance is proposed to understand why prescribing errors occur at a particular rate. This model is based on control theory, which is used to explain different kinds of skilled behavior and also used as an approach to understand human error.