Quantum secure direct communication network with superdense coding and decoy photons

A quantum secure direct communication network scheme is proposed with quantum superdense coding and decoy photons. The servers on a passive optical network prepare and measure the quantum signal, i.e., a sequence of the $d$-dimensional Bell states. After confirming the security of the photons received from the receiver, the sender codes his secret message on them directly. For preventing a dishonest server from eavesdropping, some decoy photons prepared by measuring one photon in the Bell states are used to replace some original photons. One of the users on the network can communicate any other one. This scheme has the advantage of high capacity, and it is more convenient than others as only a sequence of photons is transmitted in quantum line.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figur

Aberrant posterior cingulate connectivity classify first-episode schizophrenia from controls: A machine learning study

Background Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is a key aspect of the default mode network (DMN). Aberrant PCC functional connectivity (FC) is implicated in schizophrenia, but the potential for PCC related changes as biological classifier of schizophrenia has not yet been evaluated. Methods We conducted a data-driven approach using resting-state functional MRI data to explore differences in PCC-based region- and voxel-wise FC patterns, to distinguish between patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and demographically matched healthy controls (HC). Discriminative PCC FCs were selected via false discovery rate estimation. A gradient boosting classifier was trained and validated based on 100 FES vs. 93 HC. Subsequently, classification models were tested in an independent dataset of 87 FES patients and 80 HC using resting-state data acquired on a different MRI scanner. Results Patients with FES had reduced connectivity between PCC and frontal areas, left parahippocampal regions, left anterior cingulate cortex, and right inferior parietal lobule, but hyperconnectivity with left lateral temporal regions. Predictive voxel-wise clusters were similar to region-wise selected brain areas functionally connected with PCC in relation to discriminating FES from HC subject categories. Region-wise analysis of FCs yielded a relatively high predictive level for schizophrenia, with an average accuracy of 72.28% in the independent samples, while selected voxel-wise connectivity yielded an accuracy of 68.72%. Conclusion FES exhibited a pattern of both increased and decreased PCC-based connectivity, but was related to predominant hypoconnectivity between PCC and brain areas associated with DMN, that may be a useful differential feature revealing underpinnings of neuropathophysiology for schizophrenia

Quantum master equation scheme of time-dependent density functional theory to time-dependent transport in nano-electronic devices

In this work a practical scheme is developed for the first-principles study of time-dependent quantum transport. The basic idea is to combine the transport master-equation with the well-known time-dependent density functional theory. The key ingredients of this paper include: (i) the partitioning-free initial condition and the consideration of the time-dependent bias voltages which base our treatment on the Runge-Gross existence theorem; (ii) the non-Markovian master equation for the reduced (many-body) central system (i.e. the device); and (iii) the construction of Kohn-Sham master equation for the reduced single-particle density matrix, where a number of auxiliary functions are introduced and their equations of motion (EOM) are established based on the technique of spectral decomposition. As a result, starting with a well-defined initial state, the time-dependent transport current can be calculated simultaneously along the propagation of the Kohn-Sham master equation and the EOM of the auxiliary functions.Comment: 9 pages, no figure

A comparison study on membrane fouling in a sponge-submerged membrane bioreactor and a conventional membrane bioreactor

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. This study compared membrane fouling in a sponge-submerged membrane bioreactor (SSMBR) and a conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) based on sludge properties when treating synthetic domestic wastewater. In the CMBR, soluble microbial products (SMP) in activated sludge were a major contributor for initial membrane fouling and presented higher concentration in membrane cake layer. Afterwards, membrane fouling was mainly governed by bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in activated sludge, containing lower proteins but significantly higher polysaccharides. Sponge addition could prevent cake formation on membrane surface and pore blocking inside membrane, thereby alleviating membrane fouling. The SSMBR exhibited not only less growth of the biomass and filamentous bacteria, but also lower cake layer and pore blocking resistance due to lower bound EPS concentrations in activated sludge. Less membrane fouling in SSMBR were also attributed to larger particle size, higher zeta potential and relative hydrophobicity of sludge flocs

Reducing oil absorption in pea starch through two-step annealing with varying temperatures

In this study, we investigated the effects of one-step and two-step annealing on pea starch (PS) and their impact on the starch structure and oil absorption following frying. Compared to native PS, both one-step and two-step annealing treatments significantly reduced starch solubility, swelling power, oil absorption, and specific surface area while increasing water absorption. The extent of these changes depended on the specific annealing parameters applied. Notably, among all the starch samples, PS-45-55-F (PS subject to two-step annealing at 45 \ub0C and then 55 \ub0C, followed by frying) exhibited the lowest oil absorption. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that PS-45-F (PS subject to one-step annealing at 45 \ub0C, followed by frying) and PS-45-55-F retained more of the original starch structure after frying. Analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) consistently indicate that two-step annealed starch (PS-45-55-F) better preserved both long-range and short-range ordered structure of starch granules during frying. Additionally, it enhanced the thermostability of annealed starch, making it more effective in inhibiting oil absorption. These findings highlight the potential of two-step annealed starch for the development of low-oil, high-quality, and healthy fried or pre-fried food products, such as coated fried chicken and tempura

Photocatalytic decomposition of 4-t-octylphenol over NaBiO 3 driven by visible light: Catalytic kinetics and corrosion products characterization

The photocatalytic decomposition of 4-t-octylphenol (4-t-OP) by NaBiO 3 photocatalyst and the catalyst stability in aqueous solution were investigated systematically for the first time. The results showed that some parameters such as catalyst dosage, initial 4-t-OP concentration and pH value of the solution had great effects on the photocatalytic activity. The NaBiO 3 photocatalyst maintained considerable catalytic performance under visible light (λ > 400 nm) irradiation and exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity compared to the commercialized photocatalyst P25. In addition, the corrosion products of NaBiO 3 catalyst under acid condition (HCl aqueous solution contained) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmittance electronic microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis transmittance spectrum analysis. The results showed that NaBiO 3 was unstable under the acidic condition and the catalyst could convert into Bi 3+-containing compounds such as Bi 2O 3, etc. The experiment demonstrates that NaBiO 3 can be corroded to nano-sized BiOCl crystal in the presence of hydrogen chloride, the band gap of which was estimated to be 3.28 eV by Tauc's approach. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.postprin