Analysis of a tripartite entanglement distribution switch

Queueing Systems - We study a quantum switch that distributes tripartite entangled states to sets of users. The entanglement switching process requires two steps: First, each user attempts to...     

Universal C*-algebras defined by completely bounded unital homomorphisms

Suppose A is a unital C*-algebra and r 1.In this paper,we define a unital C*-algebra C_(cb)*(A,r) and a completely bounded unital homomorphism α_r:A → C_(cb)*(A,r)with the property that C_(cb)*(A,r)=C*(α_r(A))and,for every unital C*-algebra B and every unital completely bounded homomorphism φ:A→ B,there is a(unique)unital *-homomorphism π:C_(cb)*(A,r)→B such thatφ=πoα_r.We prove that,if A is generated by a normal set {t_λ:λ∈Λ},then C_(cb)*(A,r)is generated by the set {α_r(t_λ):λ∈Λ}.By proving an equation of the norms of elements in a dense subset of C_(cb)*(A,r)we obtain that,if Β is a unital C*-algebra that can be embedded into A,then C_(cb)*(B,r)can be naturally embedded into C(cb)*(A,r).We give characterizations of C_(cb)*(A,r)for some special situations and we conclude that C_(cb)*(A,r)will be "nice" when dim(A)≤ 2 and "quite complicated" when dim(A)≥ 3.We give a characterization of the relation between K-groups of A and K-groups of C_(cb)*(A,r).We also define and study some analogous of C_(cb)*(A,r).     

Assessing and predicting changes in vegetation cover associated with military land use activities using field monitoring data at Fort Hood, Texas

We assessed short-term impacts of changes in military training load on vegetative cover at Fort Hood, TX. From 1989 to 1995, permanent field transects were monitored for vegetative cover and land use disturbance using standard army monitoring methods [Land Condition Trend Analysis (LCTA)]. Land use intensity (training load) was quantified and used to develop a model to predict future vegetation cover values. We found that standard Army monitoring methods detected changes in installation resources associated with changes in training load. Increased training loads were associated with increased measures of disturbance, decreased ground cover, and decreased aerial vegetative cover. We found that the spatial pattern of disturbance and vegetation cover remained relatively constant over the study period despite large variations in overall training load. Our model used the consistency in spatial cover patterns over time and the strong relationship between training load and vegetation cover to predict the impact of future training loads on vegetation.     

Structure characterizations and protein resistance of chitosan membranes selectively crosslinked by poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate

Chitosan (CS) is a fragile material with a high modulus of elasticity. Improving its flexibility as well as membrane permeability are the key aspects that need to be addressed for using CS as a biomaterial. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has several unique properties such as protein resistance, low toxicity, immunogenicity, and good solubility in both water and organic solvents. In this study, a vinyl compound was grafted to the C-6 position of CS by protection-grafting-deprotection. The vinyl CS was then crosslinked with PEG dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) selectively at its C-6 position to form CS-g-PEG copolymer membranes. Analyses from spectra of Fourier-transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed the chemical structure of the crosslinking CS-g-PEG copolymer membranes. Thermal and mechanical properties of the prepared CS-g-PEG membranes were measured and well-correlated to their structures. The incorporation of PEGDMA into the CS increased the material’s flexibility and thermal resistance. Finally, the CS-g-PEG membranes were found to have good protein resistance and blood compatibility; therefore, it has potential application as the biomedical material especially for hemodialysis.     

Siloxyaluminate and Siloxygallate Complexes as Models for Framework and Partially Hydrolyzed Framework Sites in Zeolites and Zeotypes

Anionic molecular models for nonhydrolyzed and partially hydrolyzed aluminum and gallium framework sites on silica, M[OSi(OtBu)₃]₄⁻ and HOM[OSi(OtBu)₃]₃⁻ (where M=Al or Ga), were synthesized from anionic chlorides Li{M[OSi(OtBu)₃]₃Cl} in salt metathesis reactions. Sequestration of lithium cations with [12]crown-4 afforded charge-separated ion pairs composed of monomeric anions M[OSi(OtBu)₃]₄⁻ with outer-sphere [([12]crown-4)₂Li]⁺ cations, and hydroxides {HOM[OSi(OtBu)₃]₃} with pendant [([12]crown-4)Li]⁺ cations. These molecular models were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Upon treatment of monomeric [([12]crown-4)Li]{HOM[OSi(OtBu)₃]₃} complexes with benzyl alcohol, benzyloxide complexes were formed, modeling a possible pathway for the formation of active sites for Meerwin–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) transfer hydrogenations with Al/Ga-doped silica catalysts.     

Composite Likelihood Inference in a Discrete Latent Variable Model for Two-Way “Clustering-by-Segmentation” Problems

We consider a discrete latent variable model for two-way data arrays, which allows one to simultaneously produce clusters along one of the data dimensions (e.g., exchangeable observational units or features) and contiguous groups, or segments, along the other (e.g., consecutively ordered times or locations). The model relies on a hidden Markov structure but, given its complexity, cannot be estimated by full maximum likelihood. Therefore, we introduce a composite likelihood methodology based on considering different subsets of the data. The proposed approach is illustrated by simulation, and with an application to genomic data.     

Electrostatic energy of a complex and infinitely extended electronic system

Formulae concerning the evaluation of the total electrostatic energy per supercell in an infinitely extended system made up of identical atoms are developed in a consistent manner, which emphasizes and takes care of several delicate points connected with the occurrence of divergent and spurious constant terms. The treatment is carried out within a k-space formulation of density functional theory and special attention is devoted to a consistent re-derivation of the Madelung energy result of the Wigner solid associated with a realistic identical atom system. Two formulae of practical interest for computer applications are obtained and discussed.     

A computational DFT analysis of OH chemisorption on catalytic Pt(111) nanoparticles

In this article, various energies and geometries of pure platinum nanoparticles and those of platinum nanoparticles with adsorbed OH were investigated. Fourteen different platinum clusters of 3–40 atoms were studied using spin-unrestricted density functional theory (DFT) with a double numerical plus polarization basis set. This range of sizes gave enough information for establishing the general trends that were the primary goal of the study. Three different shapes of platinum clusters were presented, and the effect of cluster size on binding energy, total energy, and HOMO–LUMO energy gap was investigated. Subsequently, same calculations were performed for those selected Pt clusters with OH adsorbate on the surface. The results show that the stability of both the pure clusters and the clusters with adsorbed OH molecule increases with an increase of cluster size. This fact indicates that direct influence of the size of Pt cluster on the reaction rate is possible, and the understanding of how cluster size would affect binding energy is important. As expected, the effect of cluster size on total energy of molecule was shown to be a linear function independent of cluster type. We also found that optimized (stable) Pt clusters were bigger in size than that of the initial clusters, or clusters with bulk geometry.     

Biotoxicity of nanoparticles: effect of natural organic matter

Various natural organic matters (NOM) with different characteristics in aquatic environment may affect toxicity of leased nanoparticles, owing to interactions between NOM and nanoparticles. This study investigated the effect of NOM and physical characteristics of the effluent organic matter (EfOM) on the ecotoxicity of quantum dots (QD) using Daphnia magna. Organic matter samples were obtained from: Yeongsan River (YR-NOM), Dongbuk Lake (DL-NOM), Damyang wastewater treatment plant (EfOM), and Suwannee River NOM (SR-NOM). The QD was composed of a CdSe core, ZnS shell, and polyethylene glycol coating. The average size of the investigated QD was 4.8, 56.5, and 25.0 nm determined by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation, respectively. The relative hydrophobicity of NOM was investigated using both specific UV absorbance at 254 nm and XAD-8/4 resins. The sorption of NOM on the QD was measured using a fluorescence quenching method. The highest hydrophobicity was exhibited by the SR-NOM, while the lowest was recorded for the DL-NOM. All tested NOMs significantly reduced the acute toxicity of D. magna when adsorbed to QD, and the order of effectiveness for each NOM was as follows: SR-NOM > EfOM > YS-NOM > DL-NOM. The sorption of NOM on the QD surface caused a decrease in the fluorescence intensity of QD at increasing NOM concentration. This suggests that the NOM coating influenced the physicochemical characteristics of QD in the internal organs of D. magna by inducing a reduced bioavailability. Results from this study revealed that NOM with relatively high hydrophobicity had a greater capability of inducing toxicity mitigation.