Alternative schemes for measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Practical schemes for measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution using phase and path or time encoding are presented. In addition to immunity to existing loopholes in detection systems, our setup employs simple encoding and decoding modules without relying on polarization maintenance or optical switches. Moreover, by employing a modified sifting technique to handle the dead-time limitations in single-photon detectors, our scheme can be run with only two single-photon detectors. With a phase-postselection technique, a decoy-state variant of our scheme is also proposed, whose key generation rate scales linearly with the channel transmittance.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figure

Radiation pattern control of microstrip antenna in elevation and azimuth planes using EBG and pin diode.

An important issue in wireless communication systems, which is related to the antenna gain degradation in case of changing the main direction of the antenna radiation pattern, this variation is not approval in many communications systems. In order to improve antenna radiation performances, Electromagnetic band gap (EBG) - antenna with radiation pattern control capability is presented. Mushroom-like EBG structure for suppressing surface waves has been combined, with the switching diode to produce the radiation pattern control with improving antenna characteristics of gain, directivity and efficiency. EBG of several cells are surrounded the patch antenna and placed symmetrically for the two opposite sides, generating different radiation patterns control ability in both the elevation (E) (-20° < φ < 20°) and azimuth (Z) planes (−18° < θ < 18°). At the ground plane of antenna the diodes have been switched ON and OFF states, the EBG sector properties in stop band (connecting vias) and pass band (disconnecting vias) are altered. Using CST Microwave Studio (CST MWS) the results show the flexibility in radiation pattern control for the Z and E planes using only four diodes. Antenna directivity of 10 dBi, gain 9.86 dB and efficiency 96.5% at the operating frequency of 6 GHz, more results for all direction has been stated in Table1. Significantly, unlike a conventional beam steering, this method does not suffering from gain degradation and the main lobe gain is approximately constant for all steerig angles

HIV infection significantly reduces lipoprotein lipase which remains low after 6 months of antiretroviral therapy

Purpose of the study Fractional clearance rate of apolipoprotein B100-containing lipoproteins is reduced in HIV infection before and after antiretroviral (ARV) treatment [1]. We compared lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and gene expression in HIV-positive subjects before and 6 months after ARV with HIV-negative controls. Methods Fasting blood post heparin total and hepatic lipase activity,adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, and lipid measurementswere made in 32 HIV-infected and 15 HIVnegative controls. LPL was estimated by subtractinghepatic lipase from total lipase. Adiponectin, LPL andhormone sensitive lipase (HSL) gene expression weremeasured from iliac crest subcutaneous fat biopsies.Patients were tested before, and 6 months after randomisation to AZT/3TC (n = 15) or TDF/FTC (n = 17) with EFV.Between-group comparison was by Mann-Whitney andpaired samples by the Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Summary of results There were no differences in gender, ethnicity, baseline BMI, regional fat distribution (whole body DEXA) and visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous fat (SAT) measured by abdominal CT scans between controls and patients. Trunk fat/BMI ratio, VAT and VAT:SAT ratio significantly increased after 6-month ARV therapy (p = 0.01). There were no differences between groups in serum NEFA,HOMA and leptin levels. Selected other results are shown in Table 1. Conclusion Post heparin lipoprotein lipase activity is reduced in HIV and does not return to control levels after 6 months of ARV therapy. AZT-containing regimens are associated with a greater increase in LPL, LPL gene expression and plasma adiponectin than TDF

Review on fixed-frequency beam steering for leaky wave antenna

This paper aims to survey the efforts of researchers in response to the novel and effective technology of control radiation pattern at a fixed frequency for leaky wave antenna (LWA), map the research landscape from the literature onto coherent taxonomy and determine the basic properties of this potential field. In addition, this paper investigates the motivation behind using beam steering in LWA and the open challenges that impede the utility of this antenna design. This paper offers valuable recommendations to improve beam steering in LWA. The review revealed the development and improvement of several techniques of beam scanning LWA. However, several areas or aspects require further attention. All the articles, regardless of their research focus, attempt to address the challenges that impede the full utility of beam scanning and offer recommendations to mitigate their drawbacks. This paper contributes to this area of research by providing a detailed review of the available options and problems to allow other researchers and participants to further develop beam scanning. The new directions for this research are also described

Enhancement of boresight radiation for leaky wave antenna array

An array of half-width microstrip leaky-wave antennas (HW-MLWAs) of two uniform elements was designed to obtain maximum boresight radiation. Achieve this, two uniform of HW-MLWAs are placed at 180◦ and fed by a probe located at the center between the elements, two uniforms of HW-MLWAs, loaded terminated by 50Ω lumped element. Two beams from two branches individual merge to form the resultant directive beam. The simulation represents the susceptibility of the proposed array of uniform HW-MLWAs to the radiation broadside direction effectively. The predict bandwidth matched of the array is 582 MHz (4.18–4.76 GHz). The direction of its main beam in boresight happens over a wide 13%, relatively (4.18-4.76 GHz) band. The proposed peak gain at the boresight direction of the array is 9.91 dBi

Chapter 6 Carbonation technologies

This chapter discusses some selected carbonation processes to identify the stage at which each technology is ready for implementation by using the nine Technology Readiness Levels Available technologies that implemented the multistep aqueous carbonation processes were discussed. These technologies were divided into two groups. The first deals with technologies for natural serpentine carbonation, such as the Nottingham University process (TRL3), the Åbo Akademi process (TRL3), the Shell process (TRL7), and the US National Energy Technology Laboratory process (TRL3); while, the second deals with technologies for alkaline waste carbonation (AWC) such as The High Gravity Carbonation (HiGCarb) pilot-scale project in Taiwan (TRL3) for Basic Oxygen Furnace slag, and Mohamed and El-Gamal\u27s Fluidization (MGF) Process (TRL6) for variety of AWC such as cement Kiln dust (CKD), fly ash, and steel slags. Five case studies for the use of the MGF process were presented. These are (a) CKD; (b) EAF steel slag; (c) manufacturing of sewerage pipes from (i) bitumen-based modified elemental sulfur, (ii) crushed sand, dune sand, and carbonated Ladle Furnace (LF) slag as aggregate material; and (iii) carbonated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGFBS) as a filler; (d) demonstration in actual underground sewerage environment for ordinary Portland cements concrete, as a reference, sulfate resistance cement concrete, and two types of sulfur concrete, one of which was manufactured with modified sulfur cement as well as carbonated fly ash; and (e) demonstration in saline, and variable acidic environments, whereby the products were manufactured using elemental sulfur, modified sulfur cement, sand, and carbonated CKD using the MGF process. Details regarding hydration mechanisms, factors that control the hydration process, optimum operating conditions for the hydration process, carbonation processes, degree of sequestration, and optimum carbonation parameters were discussed. Carbonated products were evaluated using X-ray diffraction analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the potential leachability and long-term stability of carbonated products were evaluated

Chapter 12 Carbonation of mine tailings waste

This chapter introduces general information about the mine tailing waste residues: their sources and properties. It also highlights the carbonation of such residues done with/without pretreatment through single/multiple step(s). It concerns with detailed description of anorthosite, ultramafic, ophiolitic complexes tailing waste residues and red mud with further demonstration about its processes such Bayer, calcination-carbonation showing the effects of different parameters. Finally, the reader finds the practical applications of these carbonated tailing waste residues, where more studies are recommended to enhance their utilization