Blind quantum computation with identity authentication

Blind quantum computation (BQC) allows a client with relatively few quantum resources or poor quantum technologies to delegate his computational problem to a quantum server such that the client's input, output, and algorithm are kept private. However, all existing BQC protocols focus on correctness verification of quantum computation but neglect authentication of participants' identity which probably leads to man-in-the-middle attacks or denial-of-service attacks. In this work, we use quantum identification to overcome such two kinds of attack for BQC, which will be called QI-BQC. We propose two QI-BQC protocols based on a typical single-server BQC protocol and a double-server BQC protocol. The two protocols can ensure both data integrity and mutual identification between participants with the help of a third trusted party (TTP). In addition, an unjammable public channel between a client and a server which is indispensable in previous BQC protocols is unnecessary, although it is required between TTP and each participant at some instant. Furthermore, the method to achieve identity verification in the presented protocols is general and it can be applied to other similar BQC protocols.     

Downward self‐polarization of lead‐free (K0.5Na0.5)(Mn0.005Nb0.995)O3 ferroelectric thin films on Nb:SrTiO3 substrate

Spontaneously appearing macroscopic polarization (self‐polarization) in ferroelectrics without an electrode or an external electric field would enable the freedom to design many ferroelectric heterostructures and devices. The (K_0.5Na_0.5)(Mn_0.005Nb_0.995)O₃ (KNMN) thin film was grown on Nb:SrTiO₃ single‐crystal substrate and the resultant self‐polarization behavior due to strain relaxation was investigated. The lattice mismatch and difference in TEC between the KNMN thin film and the Nb:SrTiO₃ substrate creates a compressive strain. The compressive strain gradient may be the main cause for the observed downward self‐polarization. The downward self‐polarization of the KNMN thin film can be explained by the strong inhomogeneous compressive strain caused by strain relaxation. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Adaptive Mixed GMsFEM for Flows in Heterogeneous Media

In this paper, we present two adaptive methods for the basis enrichment of the mixed Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (GMsFEM) for solving the flow problem in heterogeneous media. We develop an a-posteriori error indicator which depends on the norm of a local residual operator. Based on this indicator, we construct an offline adaptive method to increase the number of basis functions locally in coarse regions with large local residuals. We also develop an online adaptive method which iteratively enriches the function space by adding new functions computed based on the residual of the previous solution and special minimum energy snapshots. We show theoretically and numerically the convergence of the two methods. The online method is, in general, better than the offline method as the online method is able to capture distant effects (at a cost of online computations), and both methods have faster convergence than a uniform enrichment. Analysis shows that the online method should start with a certain number of initial basis functions in order to have the best performance. The numerical results confirm this and show further that with correct selection of initial basis functions, the convergence of the online method can be independent of the contrast of the medium. We consider cases with both very high and very low conducting inclusions and channels in our numerical experiments.     

磁流体方腔槽道流整体线性稳定性数值方法研究

将Chebyshev谱配置法和基于非均匀网格的高阶FD-q差分格式运用于磁流体方腔槽道流整体线性稳定性研究,比较两类数值方法的优缺点.Chebyshev谱配置法收敛快且精度高,但需要构造非常庞大的满矩阵,存储量和计算开销巨大;高阶FD-q差分格式采用了基于Kosloff-Tal-Ezer变换的Chebyshev谱配置点作为离散网格,在保持较高网格收敛精度的同时,差分格式可以采用稀疏矩阵进行存储,显著降低了存储量和计算开销.相比传统的谱配置法,基于非均匀网格的高阶FD-q差分格式计算效率得到显著的提升,将高阶FD-q差分格式运用于非正则模线性最优瞬态增长的计算,计算效果良好.     

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and thickness with a convergent beam

A new approach to the simultaneous measurement of refractive index and thickness based on the focus shifts of a convergent beam intercepted by a test plate is proposed. By using ray optics, a defined focus shift can be derived as a function of the refractive index and thickness as well as the angular position of the test plate with respect to the optical axis. From a pair of focus shifts obtained at two different angular positions, it is shown that the desired measurands can be simultaneously determined without prior knowledge of either parameter. A simulation result for the proposed concept based on graphically solving the equations of their respective focus shifts is presented.     

Onset of Buoyancy-Driven Convection in a Liquid-Saturated Cylindrical Anisotropic Porous Layer Supported by a Gas Phase

A theoretical analysis of convective instability driven by buoyancy forces under the transient concentration fields is conducted in an initially quiescent, liquid-saturated, and anisotropic cylindrical porous layer supported by a gas phase. Darcy’s law and Boussinesq approximation are used to explain the characteristics of fluid motion, and linear stability theory is employed to predict the onset of buoyancy-driven motion. Under the quasi-steady-state approximation, the stability equations are derived in a similar boundary layer coordinate and solved by the numerical shooting method. The critical $Ra_D$ is determined as a function of the anisotropy ratio. Also, the onset time and corresponding wavelength are obtained for the various anisotropic ratios. The onset time becomes smaller with increasing $Ra_D$ and follows the asymptotic relation derived in the infinite horizontal porous layer. Anisotropy effect makes the system more stable by suppressing the vertical velocity.     

Evaluation of particle packing models by comparing with published test results

The existing particle packing density models each with two or more parameters accounting for certain particle interactions （the loosening effect parameter, wall effect parameter, wedging effect parameter, and compaction index, denoted by a, b, c, and K, respectively） may be classified into the 2-parameter model （with a and b incorporated）, the compressible model （with a, b, and 1（incorporated）, and the 3- parameter model （with a, b, and c incorporated）. This paper evaluates these models by comparing their respective packing density predictions with the test results published in the literature. It was found that their accuracy varies with both the size ratio and volumetric fractions of the binary mix. In general, when the size ratio is larger than 0.65, all the packing models are sufficiently accurate. However, when the size ratio is smaller than 0.65, some of them become inaccurate and the errors tend to be larger at around the volumetric fractions giving maximum packing density. Relatively, the 3-parameter model is the most accurate and widely applicable.     

Structural basis for selectivity of a small molecule, S1-binding, submicromolar inhibitor of urokinase-type plasminogen activator

BACKGROUND: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a protease associated with tumor metastasis and invasion. Inhibitors of uPA may have potential as drugs for prostate, breast and other cancers. Therapeutically useful inhibitors must be selective for uPA and not appreciably inhibit the related, and structurally and functionally similar enzyme, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), involved in the vital blood-clotting cascade. RESULTS: We produced mutagenically deglycosylated low molecular weight uPA and determined the crystal structure of its complex with 4-iodobenzo[b]thiophene 2-carboxamidine (K(i) = 0.21 +/- 0.02 microM). To probe the structural determinants of the affinity and selectivity of this inhibitor for uPA we also determined the structures of its trypsin and thrombin complexes, of apo-trypsin, apo-thrombin and apo-factor Xa, and of uPA, trypsin and thrombin bound by compounds that are less effective uPA inhibitors, benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamidine, thieno[2,3-b]-pyridine-2-carboxamidine and benzamidine. The K(i) values of each inhibitor toward uPA, tPA, trypsin, tryptase, thrombin and factor Xa were determined and compared. One selectivity determinant of the benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamidines for uPA involves a hydrogen bond at the S1 site to Ogamma(Ser190) that is absent in the Ala190 proteases, tPA, thrombin and factor Xa. Other subtle differences in the architecture of the S1 site also influence inhibitor affinity and enzyme-bound structure. CONCLUSIONS: Subtle structural differences in the S1 site of uPA compared with that of related proteases, which result in part from the presence of a serine residue at position 190, account for the selectivity of small thiophene-2-carboxamidines for uPA, and afford a framework for structure-based design of small, potent, selective uPA inhibitors.     

Supramolecular Self-Assembly of 1D and 3D Heterometallic Coordination Polymers with Triruthenium Building Blocks

Ru(3) (TSA)(6) (1; H(2) TSA=2-thiosalicylic acid), which bears six peripheral carboxylate groups and was isolated in the form [NEt(4) ](1.5) [Ru(3) (HTSA)(2) (TSA)(4) ](OAc)(0.5) ?3.5?H(2) O, serves as a building block for assembly of heterometallic coordination polymers. Treatment of 1 with [Fe(acac)(3) ] (acac=acetylacetonate) in EG/H(2) O (EG=ethylene glycol) afforded 1D Ru(3) -Fe coordination polymer 2 by means of the connection of the building block 1 through iron centers. Treatment of 1 with MnCl(2) in EG resulted in the formation of 1D Ru(3) -Mn(3) coordination polymer 3, which features self-assembled polynuclear linking units Mn(3) (OCH(2) CH(2) O)(3) , each of which contains a planar Mn(3) O(3) ring. By treating 1 with Gd(NO(3) )(3) and NaHCO(3) in EG, a 3D Ru(3) -Gd(6) coordination polymer 4 was obtained; this 3D coordination polymer features unprecedented Gd(6) (μ(3) -CO(3) )(4) units. The magnetic properties of 1-4, along with DFT calculations on the electronic structure of 1, are also described.