Improving the Gaudry–Schost algorithm for multidimensional discrete logarithms

Designs, Codes and Cryptography - The discrete logarithm problem arises from various areas, including counting the number of points of certain curves and diverse cryptographic schemes. The...     

Effect of phosphorus (P) on the structure and reactivity of biochars produced from the pyrolysis of acid-washed biomass loaded with P of various forms

This paper investigates the effect of phosphorus (P) on char structure and reactivity of char prepared from the fast pyrolysis of purposely-prepared P-loaded biomass samples at 1000 °C in absence of other inorganic species. Biomass was first acid-washed then loaded with P of three different occurrence forms (one organic P i.e. phytic acid, and two inorganic P i.e. orthophosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acid) at the same P content of 0.8 wt%. Experimental results show that both organic and inorganic P substantially increase char yields during pyrolysis from 6.2% for the biomass sample without P to 23.0–26.0% for P-loaded samples due to the enhanced crosslinking by P-containing structures in char, leading to increases in the char C and H contents and decrease in O content. The presence of P in biochars from fast pyrolysis of various P-loaded biomass samples plays important role in the evolution of char structure and intrinsic reactivity measured during low-temperature oxidation at 500 °C in air under chemical-reaction-controlled regime. After pyrolysis and subsequent char oxidation, all P in biomass either as organic or inorganic P are found to be present in forms of acid-insoluble organic structures. For char prepared from acid-washed wood, char reactivity increases with char conversion due to the increasing pore surface area at higher conversion. Comparatively, for char prepared from acid-washed wood loaded with various P at char conversion below 60%, the presence of P increases char intrinsic reactivity due to the enhanced crosslinking of reactive carbon structures and reduced condensation of char structures. However, at conversions above 60%, P-containing species in char lead to a significant decrease in char reactivity, due to the formation of abundant CO-P bonds, that is highly resistant to the oxidation in air, in the reacting chars.     

LWE from non-commutative group rings

Designs, Codes and Cryptography - The Learning-With-Errors (LWE) problem (and its variants including Ring-LWE and Module-LWE), whose security are based on hard ideal lattice problems, has proven to...     

Rational Development of Remote C−H Functionalization of Biphenyl: Experimental and Computational Studies

A simple and efficient nitrile-directed meta-C−H olefination, acetoxylation, and iodination of biaryl compounds is reported. Compared to the previous approach of installing a complex U-shaped template to achieve a molecular U-turn and assemble the large-sized cyclophane transition state for the remote C−H activation, a synthetically useful phenyl nitrile functional group could also direct remote meta-C−H activation. This reaction provides a useful method for the modification of biaryl compounds because the nitrile group can be readily converted to amines, acids, amides, or other heterocycles. Notably, the remote meta-selectivity of biphenylnitriles could not be expected from previous results with a macrocyclophane nitrile template. DFT computational studies show that a ligand-containing Pd–Ag heterodimeric transition state (TS) favors the desired remote meta-selectivity. Control experiments demonstrate the directing effect of the nitrile group and exclude the possibility of non-directed meta-C−H activation. Substituted 2-pyridone ligands were found to be key in assisting the cleavage of the meta-C−H bond in the concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD) process.     

Adaptive controller design for a switched model of air-breathing hypersonic vehicles

Since most of the control strategies for air-breathing hypersonic vehicles (AHVs) concentrate on the control-oriented models built at/around a specific working point, it is somewhat hard to extend them to the broader flight envelop. Aiming at the above deficiency, this paper formulates the dynamics of AHVs as several sub-models, which switch to each other in accordance with the flight condition and make up of the control-oriented switched model (COSM). With the aid of the COSM, two adaptive tracking controllers are proposed for the purposes of velocity tracking and altitude tracking, sequentially. By utilizing neural networks and designing robust control laws, the possible changes on the force and moment coefficients in the COSM are successfully handled. The time-varying inertia parameters of AHVs are also considered at design level. It is worth emphasizing that while this strategy is developed based on a switched model, the resulting control algorithm is continuous with no connection to the switching signal. Analysis indicates that both velocity and altitude tracking errors remain small within the whole flight envelop, which is further confirmed by a simulation study.     

The Role of Polarization in Photocatalysis

Semiconductor photocatalysis as a desirable technology shows great potential in environmental remediation and renewable energy generation, but its efficiency is severely restricted by the rapid recombination of charge carriers in the bulk phase and on the surface of photocatalysts. Polarization has emerged as one of the most effective strategies for addressing the above‐mentioned issues, thus effectively promoting photocatalysis. This review summarizes the recent advances on improvements of photocatalytic activity by polarization‐promoted bulk and surface charge separation. Highlighted is the recent progress in charge separation advanced by different types of polarization, such as macroscopic polarization, piezoelectric polarization, ferroelectric polarization, and surface polarization, and the related mechanisms. Finally, the strategies and challenges for polarization enhancement to further enhance charge separation and photocatalysis are discussed.     

Time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations for multi-gap superconductors

We numerically solve the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations for two-gap superconductors using the finite-element technique. The real-time simulation shows that at low magnetic field, the vortices in small-size samples tend to form clusters or other disorder structures. When the sample size is large, stripes appear in the pattern. These results are in good agreement with the previous experimental observations of the intriguing anomalous vortex pattern, providing a reliable theoretical basis for the future applications of multi-gap superconductors.     

Peridynamic modeling and simulation of coupled thermomechanical removal of ice from frozen structures

Meccanica - In this work, a bond-based peridynamic de-icing model has been developed to simulate the thermo-mechanical ice removal process of frozen structures. In the proposed numerical method,...