Sending-or-Not-Sending Twin-Field Quantum Key Distribution with a Passive Decoy-State Method

Twin-field quantum key distribution (TF-QKD) has attracted considerable attention because it can exceed the basic rate-distance limit without quantum repeaters. Its variant protocol, sending or not-sending quantum key distribution (SNS-QKD), not only fixes the security vulnerability of TF-QKD, but also can tolerate large misalignment errors. However, the current SNS-QKD protocol is based on the active decoy-state method, which may lead to side channel information leakage when multiple light intensities are modulated in practice. In this work, we propose a passive decoy-state SNS-QKD protocol to further enhance the security of SNS-QKD. Numerical simulation results show that the protocol not only improves the security in source, but also retains the advantages of tolerating large misalignment errors. Therefore, it may provide further guidance for the practical application of SNS-QKD.     

An Image Compression Encryption Algorithm Based on Chaos and ZUC Stream Cipher

In order to improve the transmission efficiency and security of image encryption, we combined a ZUC stream cipher and chaotic compressed sensing to perform image encryption. The parallel compressed sensing method is adopted to ensure the encryption and decryption efficiency. The ZUC stream cipher is used to sample the one-dimensional chaotic map to reduce the correlation between elements and improve the randomness of the chaotic sequence. The compressed sensing measurement matrix is constructed by using the sampled chaotic sequence to improve the image restoration effect. In order to reduce the block effect after the parallel compressed sensing operation, we also propose a method of a random block of images. Simulation analysis shows that the algorithm demonstrated better encryption and compression performance.     

Aqueous electrochemically-triggered atom transfer radical polymerization

Simplified electrochemical atom transfer radical polymerization (seATRP) using Cu^II–N-propyl pyridineimine complexes (Cu^II(NPPI)₂) is reported for the first time. In aqueous solution, using oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA), standard electrolysis conditions yield POEGMA with good control over molecular weight distribution (Đ_m < 1.35). Interestingly, the polymerizations are not under complete electrochemical control, as monomer conversion continues when electrolysis is halted. Alternatively, it is shown that the extent and rate of polymerization depends upon an initial period of electrolysis. Thus, it is proposed that seATRP using Cu^II(NPPI)₂ follows an electrochemically-triggered, rather than electrochemically mediated, ATRP mechanism, which distinguishes them from other Cu^IIL complexes that have been previously reported in the literature.

Simplified electrochemical atom transfer radical polymerization (seATRP) using Cu^II-pyridineimine complexes is reported and follows a previously unreported electrochemically triggered mechanism.     

PTC: Full and Drift Particle Orbit Tracing Code for α Particles in Tokamak Plasmas

Fusion born α particle confinement is one of the most important issues in burning plasmas,such as ITER and CFETR.However,it is extremely complex due to the nonequilibrium characteristics,and multiple temporal and spatial scales coupling with background plasma.A numerical code using particle orbit tracing method(PTC)has been developed to study energetic particle confinement in tokamak plasmas.Both full orbit and drift orbit solvers are implemented to analyze the Larmor radius effects on α particle confinement.The elastic collisions between alpha particles and thermal plasma are calculated by a Monte Carlo method.A triangle mesh in poloidal section is generated for electromagnetic fields expression.Benchmark between PTC and ORBIT has been accomplished for verification.For CFETR burning plasmas,PTC code is used for α particle source and slowing down process calculation in 2D equilibrium.In future work,3D field like toroidal field ripples,Alfven and magnetohydrodynamics instabilities perturbation inducing α particle transport will be analyzed.     

Interpretation of Strengthening Mechanism of Densified Wood from Supramolecular Structures

In this study, densified wood was prepared by hot pressing after partial lignin and hemicellulose were removed through alkaline solution cooking. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of densified wood were improved up to 398.5 MPa and 22.5 GPa as compared with the original wood, and the characterization of its supramolecular structures showed that the crystal plane spacing of the densified wood decreased, the crystallite size increased, and the maximum crystallinity (CI) of cellulose increased by 15.05%; outstandingly, the content of O(6)H⋯O(3′) intermolecular H-bonds increased by approximately one-fold at most. It was found that the intermolecular H-bond content was significantly positively correlated with the tensile strength and elastic modulus, and accordingly, their Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.952 (p < 0.01) and 0.822 (p < 0.05), respectively. This work provides a supramolecular explanation for the enhancement of tensile strength of densified wood.     

Piezo channels in the urinary system

The Piezo channel family, including Piezo1 and Piezo2, includes essential mechanosensitive transduction molecules in mammals. Functioning in the conversion of mechanical signals to biological signals to regulate a plethora of physiological processes, Piezo channels, which have a unique homotrimeric three-blade propeller-shaped structure, utilize a cap-motion and plug-and-latch mechanism to gate their ion-conducting pathways. Piezo channels have a wide range of biological roles in various human systems, both in vitro and in vivo. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of their antagonists and agonists, and therefore further investigation is needed. Remarkably, increasingly compelling evidence demonstrates that Piezo channel function in the urinary system is important. This review article systematically summarizes the existing evidence of the importance of Piezo channels, including protein structure, mechanogating mechanisms, and pharmacological characteristics, with a particular focus on their physiological and pathophysiological roles in the urinary system. Collectively, this review aims to provide a direction for future clinical applications in urinary system diseases.Subject terms: Bladder disease, Bladder cancer, Prostate cancer, Oncogenesis     

Anisotropic Superconducting Properties of Kagome Metal CsV_3Sb_5

We systematically measure the superconducting(SC) and mixed state properties of high-quality CsV_3 Sb_5 single crystals with T_c～3.5 K.We find that the upper critical field H_(c2)(T) exhibits a large anisotropic ratio of H_(c2)~(ab)/H_(c2)~c～9 at zero temperature and fitting its temperature dependence requires a minimum two-band effective model.Moreover,the ratio of the lower critical field,H_(c1)~(ab)/H_(c1)~c,is also found to be larger than 1,which indicates that the in-plane energy dispersion is strongly renormalized near Fermi energy.Both H_(c1)(T) and SC diamagnetic signal are found to change little initially below T_c～3.5 K and then to increase abruptly upon cooling to a characteristic temperature of ～2.8 K.Furthermore,we identify a two-fold anisotropy of in-plane angular-dependent magnetoresistance in the mixed state.Interestingly,we find that,below the same characteristic T～2.8 K,the orientation of this two-fold anisotropy displays a peculiar twist by an angle of 60° characteristic of the Kagome geometry.Our results suggest an intriguing superconducting state emerging in the complex environment of Kagome lattice,which,at least,is partially driven by electron-electron correlation.     

Single-Stage Extraction and Separation of Co2+ from Ni2+ Using Ionic Liquid of [C4H9NH3][Cyanex 272]

The purpose of this study was to optimize the extraction conditions for separating Co²⁺ from Ni²⁺ using N-butylamine phosphinate ionic liquid of [C₄H₉NH₃][Cyanex 272]. A Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology was used to analyze the effects of the initial pH, extraction time, and extraction temperature on the separation factor of Co²⁺ from sulfuric acid solution containing Ni²⁺. The concentrations of Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ in an aqueous solution were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The optimized extraction conditions were as follows: an initial pH of 3.7, an extraction time of 55.8 min, and an extraction temperature of 330.4 K. The separation factor of Co²⁺ from Ni²⁺ under optimized extraction conditions was 66.1, which was very close to the predicted value of 67.2, and the error was 1.7%. The equation for single-stage extraction with high reliability can be used for optimizing the multi-stage extraction process of Co²⁺ from Ni²⁺. The stoichiometry of chemical reaction for ion-exchange extraction was also investigated using the slope method.     

The Relationship between Procyanidin Structure and Their Protective Effect in a Parkinson’s Disease Model

This study evaluated the effect of grape seed-derived monomer, dimeric, and trimeric procyanidins on rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) cells and in a zebrafish Parkinson’s disease (PD) model. PC12 cells were cultured with grape seed-derived procyanidins or deprenyl for 24 h and then exposed to 1.5 mm 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺) for 24 h. Zebrafish larvae (AB strain) 3 days post-fertilization were incubated with deprenyl or grape seed-derived procyanidins in 400 µM 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 4 days. The results showed that the procyanidin dimers procyanidin B1 (B1), procyanidin B2 (B2), procyanidin B3 (B3), procyanidin B4 (B4), procyanidin B1-3-O-gallate (B1-G), procyanidin B2-3-O-gallate (B2-G), and the procyanidin trimer procyanidin C1 (C1) had a protective effect on PC12 cells, decreasing the damaged dopaminergic neurons and motor impairment in zebrafish. In PC12 cells and the zebrafish PD model, procyanidin (B1, B2, B3, B4, B1-G, B2-G, C1) treatment decreased the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and upregulated the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These results suggest that in PC12 cells and the zebrafish PD model, the neuroprotective effects of the procyanidins were positively correlated with their degree of polymerization.