Quantum Secret Sharing Based on Chinese Remainder Theorem

A novel quantum secret sharing (QSS) scheme is proposed on the basis of Chinese Remainder Theorem (CRT). In the scheme, the classical messages are mapped to secret sequences according to CRT equations, and distributed to different receivers by different dimensional superdense-coding respectively. CRT's secret sharing function,together with high-dimensional superdense-coding, provide convenience, security, and large capability quantum channel forsecret distribution and recovering. Analysis shows the security of the scheme.     

Agglomeration,sedimentation, and cellular toxicity of alumina nanoparticles in cell culture medium

The cytotoxicity of alumina nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated for a wide range of concentration (25–200 μg/mL) and incubation time (0–72 h) using floating cells (THP-1) and adherent cells (J774A.1, A549, and 293). Alumina NPs were gradually agglomerated over time although a significant portion of sedimentation occurred at the early stage within 6 h. A decrease of the viability was found in floating (THP-1) and adherent (J774A.1 and A549) cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the time-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed only in adherent cells (J774A.1 and A549), which is predominantly related with the sedimentation of alumina NPs in cell culture medium. The uptake of alumina NPs in macrophages and an increased cell-to-cell adhesion in adherent cells were observed. There was no significant change in the viability of 293 cells. This in vitro test suggests that the agglomeration and sedimentation of alumina NPs affected cellular viability depending on cell types such as monocytes (THP-1), macrophages (J774A.1), lung carcinoma cells (A549), and embryonic kidney cells (293).     

Electron spin resonance from annealed titania nanotubes

Titania nanotubes were prepared using a hydrothermal method. Hydrogen titanate nanotubes (H-TNTs) with an anatase phase changed to anatase nanocrystals at about 500 °C, and then a rutile structure at ∼800 °C. A sharp and symmetrical electron spin resonance (ESR) signal (g=2.003), attributed to a single-electron-trapped oxygen-vacancy (SETOV), was obtained at the annealed H-TNTs (T<500 °C). The SETOV signal increased and maximized remarkably at about 400–500 °C. Then, the nanotube structure appeared to be demolished. Yet, when the vacuum-heated H-TNTs were sealed in N₂ or Ar ambient, some additional ESR signals appeared besides the SETOV signal. The broad asymmetric ESR signal (g=1.98) was attributed to a surface oxygen vacancy related to the Ti³⁺ sites in a reduced TiO₂ matrix. The vacuum-heated sodium titanate nanotubes (Na-TNTs) showed only the SETOV signal (T<500 °C). PACS 61.46.Fg; 61.72.Ji; 76.30.-v     

Magnetic response of microbially synthesized transition metal- and lanthanide-substituted nano-sized magnetites

The magnetic susceptibility (κ_RT) and saturation magnetization (M_S) of microbially synthesized magnetites were systematically examined. Transition metal (Cr, Mn, Co, Ni and Zn)- and lanthanide (Nd, Gd, Tb, Ho and Er)-substituted magnetites were microbially synthesized by the incubation of transition metal (TM)- and lanthanide (L)-mixed magnetite precursors with either thermophilic (TOR-39) or psychrotolerant (PV-4) metal-reducing bacteria (MRB). Zinc incorporated congruently into both the precursor and substituted magnetite, while Ni and Er predominantly did not. Microbially synthesized Mn- and Zn-substituted magnetites had higher κ_RT than pure biomagnetite depending on bacterial species and they exhibited a maximum κ_RT at 0.2 cationic mole fraction (CMF). Other TMs’ substitution linearly decreased the κ_RT with increasing substitution amount. Based on the M_S values of TM- and L-substituted magnetite at 0.1 and 0.02 CMF, respectively, Zn (90.7 emu/g for TOR-39 and 93.2 emu/g for PV-4)- and Mn (88.3 emu/g by PV-4)-substituted magnetite exhibited higher M_S than standard chemical magnetite (84.7 emu/g) or pure biomagnetite without metal substitution (76.6 emu/g for TOR-39 and 80.3 emu/g for PV-4). Lanthanides tended to decrease M_S, with Gd- and Ho-substituted magnetites having the highest magnetization. The higher magnetization of microbially synthesized TM-substituted magnetites by the psychrotroph, PV-4 may be explained by the magnetite formation taking place at low temperatures slowing mechanics, which may alter the magnetic properties compared to the thermophile, through suppression of the random distribution of substituted cations.     

A volume resolution phantom for MRI

Multisite quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) of volume requires a small isotropic point spread-function (PSF) that is spatially, temporarily, and platform invariant. A phantom which will allow rapid assessment of this metric throughout the imaged volume without repositioning will assist certification of imaging sites for use in qMRI studies based on volume. This paper presents a phantom design for this purpose with a three-dimensional repeating pattern throughout its 800-cm³ volume. The image of the pattern from the phantom contains a series of positive signal points and lines which can be used to measure the PSF, gradient linearity, gradient orthogonality, and B₀ homogeneity at multiple locations throughout its volume. The phantom is readily constructed, can be filled with any nuclear magnetic resonance signal-bearing liquid, and the design is scalable to cover larger volumes.     

Dewatering of cellulose nanofibrils using ultrasound

Although cellulose nanomaterials have promising properties and performance in a wide application space, one hinderance to their wide scale industrial application has been associated with their economics of dewatering and drying and the ability to redisperse them back into suspension without introducing agglomerates or lose of yield. The present work investigates the dewatering of aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) using ultrasound as a potentially low-cost, non-thermal, and scalable alternative to traditional heat-based drying methods such as spray drying. Specifically, we use vibrating mesh transducers to develop a direct-contact mode ultrasonic dewatering platform to remove water from CNF suspensions in a continuous manner. We demonstrate that the degree of dewatering is modulated by the number of transducers, their spatial configuration, and the flow rate of the CNF suspension. Water removal of up to 72 wt.% is achieved, corresponding to a final CNF concentration of 11 wt.% in 30 min using a two-transducer configuration. To evaluate the redispersibility of the dewatered CNF material, we use a microscopic analysis to quantify the morphology of the redispersed CNF suspension. By developing a custom software pipeline to automate image analysis, we compare the histograms of the dimensions of the redispersed dewatered fibrils with the original CNF samples and observe no significant difference, suggesting that no agglomeration is induced due to ultrasonic dewatering. We also perform SEM analysis to evaluate the nanoscale morphology of these fibrils showing a width range of 20 nm–4 um. We estimate that this ultrasound dewatering technique is also energy-efficient, consuming up to 36% less energy than the enthalpy of evaporation per kilogram of water. Together with the inexpensive cost of transducers (<?$1), the potential for scaling up in parallel flow configurations, and excellent redispersion of the dewatered CNFs, our work offers a proof-of-concept of a sustainable CNF dewatering system, that addresses the shortcomings of existing techniques.

     

Fabrication of a solution-processed thin-film transistor using zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc acetate

We have fabricated a solution-processed ZnO thin-film transistor without vacuum deposition. ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by the polyol method from zinc acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and diethyleneglycol. The solution-processable semiconductor ink was prepared by dispersing the synthesized ZnO in a solvent. Inverted stagger type thin-film transistors were fabricated by spin casting the ZnO ink on the heavily doped Si wafer with 200 nm thick SiO₂, followed by evaporation of Cr/Au source and drain electrodes. After the drying and heat treatment at 600 C, a relatively dense ZnO film was obtained. The film characteristics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In order to obtain the electrical properties of the solution-derived transistor, the on–off ratio, threshold voltage, and mobility were measured.