Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Technologies for Broadband Quantum Key Distribution: Sources, Detectors, and Systems

Title of dissertation: NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR BROADBAND QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION: SOURCES, DETECTORS, AND SYSTEMS Daniel J. Rogers, Doctor of Philosophy, 2008 Dissertation directed by: Dr. Julius Goldhar Chemical Physics Program, Institute for Physical Science and Technology In this thesis I describe three independent projects that advance the development of broadband quantum cryptography. While each project pertains to a different part of the QKD chain, together they provide key developments in implementing QKD at bit rates that are practical for use in the modern telecommunications infrastructure. The first project comprises the bulk of the thesis and involves developing a novel source of correlated photon pairs for use in free-space QKD. This source is based on a birefringent semiconductor optical waveguide as a Kerr medium. We demonstrate the feasibility of using birefringent phase-matched four-wave mixing to generate correlated photon pairs. We further propose that, by reversing the process and pumping with conjugate wavelengths, one can use the same effect to produce entangled photon pairs with the same device. These pairs can then be used for QKD to realize the most secure and efficient quantum cryptographic data links. The second project examines the implications of operating a BB84 QKD protocol at clock rates that are faster than the recovery time of the constituent detectors. We show that operating such systems under conventional protocols results in a security violation that allows an eavesdropper to learn significant information about the key and present a modification to the BB84 protocol that maintains key security at fast transmission rates. This modification to the protocol will become vital to QKD viability as links become faster and clock rates go into the tens of gigahertz. We also demonstrate, rather counterintuitively, that there exists an optimal transmission rate for a QKD system that exceeds the inverse of an individual detector’s dead time. The final project describes a new design for a free-space QKD link that centers around faster silicon detectors. These detectors have a peak quantum efficiency in the visible range, requiring that the system operate at a wavelength that is more susceptible to solar interference. To mitigate this effect, the link is designed around a Fraunhofer line in the solar spectrum where the background solar light levels are reduced by up to 90%. By implementing this system, we expect at least a two-fold increase in the secret key rate, coming ever closer to the goal of a 10 Mb/s QKD system compatible with first-generation ethernet technology. NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR BROADBAND QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION: SOURCES, DETECTORS, AND SYSTEMS
Low-Complexity Multi-Task Learning Aided Neural Networks for Equalization in Short-Reach Optical Interconnects

With the rapid development of machine learning technologies in recent years, different types of neural network (NN)-based equalizers have been proposed and proved to be efficient digital signal processing tools to deal with the nonlinear impairments in short-reach direct detection optical interconnects. However, one major concern for these NN-based equalizers is their computational complexity (CC), since only a few tens of multiplications per symbol can be practically handled considering real-time implementation. In this paper, we propose an NN-based multi-symbol equalization scheme inspired by multi-task learning. Compared with traditional single-output NN-based equalizers, the CC can be significantly reduced with the help of the proposed scheme. A 50-Gb/s 25-km pulse amplitude modulation (PAM)-4 direct detection optical link is experimentally carried out and 3 different types of NNs, i.e., feedforward NN (FNN), cascade FNN (C-FNN), and recurrent NN (RNN), are employed for the proposed multi-symbol equalization scheme. Experimental results show that a maximum CC reduction of 43.2%/41.1%/44.0% can be achieved with FNN/C-FNN/RNN-based multi-symbol equalization to achieve their best performance, compared with the corresponding single-output NNs. The best performance of the proposed and the traditional FNN/C-FNN-based schemes are the same, while the RNN-based scheme sacrifices a slight system performance. Aided by multi-symbol equalization, the CC needed to recover 1 symbol for various NNs can all be reduced to about a few tens of multiplications, indicating the feasibility of real-time implementation of these NN-based equalizers.
Modeling and Analysis of the Steering Resistance Moment in Small Tracked Robot

A modeling method for steering resistance moment in small tracked robot is studied. First of all, Classical steering resistance torque modeling with uniform resistance is studied in low speed and high speed. Then the steering resistance torque modeling while lateral resistance and the pressure are linearly distributed is proposed. After that steering resistance moment modeling based on the stress-strain theory is used to describe the robot's steering resistance above different soil. Among them, the lateral resistance is nonlinear distribution. The driving experiments in three different vehicle terramechanics models are simulated and analyzed. Steering resistance moment modeling based on the stress-strain theory is closer to the actual working state of the robot. This modeling method for steering resistance moment has advantage on optimization and study in and control algorithm.
A distributed strain sensor with the memory effect based on the POF OTDR

This study presents an investigation on the memory effect of plastic optical fiber (POF) for a strain sensor application using the optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR). The hysteresis characteristics of the reflection and transmission loss in the OTDR responses are observed for a tensile strain to the POF cable. The OTDR responses remain even after the external force is removed due to the plastic deformation of the POF if the applied strain is enough high. Then, the temporal change of the responses is recorded as a function of the elapsed time, and the life of the memory effect is discussed. A helical configuration for a distributed load sensor with memory effect is proposed and designed. The helical pitch is so determined that no loss will be generated by winding the POF cable around a rubber tube. In this configuration, the memory effect is produced by the visco-elastic property of the tube.
Lipidome profiles of postnatal day 2 vaginal swabs reflect fat composition of gilt’s postnatal diet

We hypothesized that postnatal development of the vagina is impacted by early nutritional environment. Our objective was to determine if lipid profiles of vaginal swabs were different between gilts suckled by sow or fed milk replacer the first 48 h postpartum, with and without a lard-based fat supplement. Gilts (>1.3 kg) were selected at birth across 8 litters and assigned to treatments: colostrum suckled (S, n=8); S plus fat supplement (SF, n=5); bottle-fed milk replacer (B, n=8); or B plus fat supplement (BF, n=7). At 48 h postnatal, vaginal swabs were taken with a cytology brush, immersed in ultrapure water to burst cells, and lipids extracted for analysis using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-profiling. Lipids extracted from serum collected at 48 h from gilts and milk collected from sows at 24 h were also analyzed with MRM-profiling. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis found 18 lipids highly distinguished [area-under-the-curve (AUC) > 0.9] between S and B gilts, including phosphatidylethanolamine with 34 carbon and four unsaturations in the fatty acyl residues [PE(34:4)]. Twelve lipids from vaginal swabs highly correlated (r > 0.6; p < 0.01) with nutrition source. Lipids more abundant in milk replacer drove association. For example, mean intensity of PE (34:4) was 149-fold higher in milk replacer than colostrum, with 1.6- and 2.12-fold higher levels in serum and vaginal swab samples (p < 0.001), respectively, of B versus S gilts. Findings support that vaginal swabs can be used to noninvasively study effects of perinatal nutrition on tissue composition. Summary sentence Vaginal swab lipidome profiles at 48 h reflect the fat composition of neonatal diet during first two days postnatal.
Visual Navigation in Unknown Environments

Navigation in mobile robotics involves two tasks, keeping track of the robot's position and moving according to a control strategy. In addition, when no prior knowledge of the environment is available, the problem is even more difficult, as the robot has to build a map of its surroundings as it moves. These three problems ought to be solved in conjunction since they depend on each other. This thesis is about simultaneously controlling an autonomous vehicle, estimating its location and building the map of the environment. The main objective is to analyse the problem from a control theoretical perspective based on the EKF-SLAM implementation. The contribution of this thesis is the analysis of system's properties such as observability, controllability and stability, which allow us to propose an appropriate navigation scheme that produces well-behaved estimators, controllers, and consequently, the system as a whole. We present a steady state analysis of the SLAM problem, identifying the conditions that lead to partial observability. It is shown that the effects of partial observability appear even in the ideal linear Gaussian case. This indicates that linearisation alone is not the only cause of SLAM inconsistency, and that observability must be achieved as a prerequisite to tackling the effects of linearisation. Additionally, full observability is also shown to be necessary during diagonalisation of the covariance matrix, an approach often used to reduce the computational complexity of the SLAM algorithm, and which leads to full controllability as we show in this work. Focusing specifically on the case of a system with a single monocular camera, we present an observability analysis using the nullspace basis of the stripped observability matrix. The aim is to get a better understanding of the well known intuitive behaviour of this type of systems, such as the need for triangulation to features from different positions in order to get accurate relative pose estimates between vehicle and camera. Through characterisation the unobservable directions in monocular SLAM, we are able to identify the vehicle motions required to maximise the number of observable states in the system. When closing the control loop of the SLAM system, both the feedback controller and the estimator are shown to be asymptotically stable. Furthermore, we show that the tracking error does not influence the estimation performance of a fully observable system and viceversa, that control is not affected by the estimation. Because of this, a higher level motion strategy is required in order to enhance estimation, specially needed while performing SLAM with a single camera. Considering a real-time application, we propose a control strategy to optimise both the localisation of the vehicle and the feature map by computing the most appropriate control actions or movements. The actions are chosen in order to maximise an information theoretic metric. Simulations and real-time experiments are performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed control strategy.
The Impact of Innovative Capabilities and Innovation Types on the Financial Performances of Insurance Companies

The ability to innovate is essential for achieving a competitive position, and digital innovations have become one of the main drivers of competitive advantage. The factors that affect the degree of innovation (innovation efforts, competitive priorities, market strategy, the internal organisational atmosphere) impact the financial performance of insurance companies considering the market conditions. In order to shed some light on that research gap in post-transition countries, survey research has been conducted on a sample of insurance companies in the Republic of North Macedonia. The results obtained from the structural equation modelling analysis, which seeks to determine the structural relationship between the measured variables and the latent constructions, reveal positive effects of innovation performance on the profitability of insurance companies.
2019IL-33 and its decoy sST2 in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Interleukin-33 is a cytokine endowed with pro- and anti-inflammatory properties that plays a still poorly defined role in the pathogenesis of a number of central nervous system (CNS) conditions including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We analyzed this cytokine and its decoy receptor sST2 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Method: IL-33 and sST2 were analyzed in serum and CSF of AD and MCI patients, comparing the results to those obtained in age-matched healthy controls (HC). Because of the ambiguous role of IL-33 in inflammation, the concentration of both inflammatory (IL-1ß and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines was analyzed as well in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the same individuals. Finally, the effect of IL-33 in an in vitro system of Aß42-stimulated monocytes was examined. Results: As compared to HC: 1) IL-33 was significantly decreased in serum and CSF of AD and MCI; 2) sST2 was increased in serum of AD and MCI but was undetectable in CSF; 3) serum and CSF IL-1ß concentration was significantly increased and that of IL-10 was reduced in AD and MCI whereas no differences were observed in IL-6. In vitro addition of IL-33 to LPS+Aß 42-stimulated monocytes down regulated IL-1b generation in AD, MCI and HC and stimulated IL-10 production in HC alone. IL-33 addition also resulted in a significant reduction of NF-kB nuclear translocation in LPS+Aß42-stimulated monocytes of HC alone. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that IL-33 plays a complex anti-inflammatory role that is lost in AD- and MCI-associated neuroinflammation; results herein also suggest a possible use of IL-33 as a novel therapeutic approach in AD and MCI.
Travel Demand Model for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games was held from August 8 to 24, 2008, which definitely drew attention from all walks of life at home and abroad. Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was a great event, and there were huge demands for transportation services. How to coordinate the huge Olympic transportation demand of spectator and daily travel demand from local residents is one of the most important considerations for Olympic transportation agency. The Beijing Olympic transport model (BOTM) was designed to provide a tool for analyzing travel demand and forecasting traffic operation conditions during Olympic Games. This paper starts to search for the travel characteristics of local Beijing residents and spectators in game time by dividing travel demands into two parts: base demand and Olympic demand. Then, activity-chain-based forecasting methodology was used to develop model. BOTM included base model and game model by applying VISEM and EXCEL software packages. Finally, transportation demand management measures were evaluated as a case study of BOTM application.
Nontechnical Barriers to Solar Energy Use: Review of Recent Literature

This paper reviews the nontechnical barriers to solar energy use, drawing on recent literature to help identify key barriers that must be addressed as part of the Technology Acceptance efforts under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar America Initiative. A broad literature search yielded more than 400 references, which were narrowed to 19 recent documents on nontechnical barriers to the use of solar energy and other energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) technologies. Some of the most frequently identified barriers included lack of government policy supporting EE/RE, lack of information dissemination and consumer awareness about energy and EE/RE, high cost of solar and other EE/RE technologies compared with conventional energy, and inadequate financing options for EE/RE projects.
Dynamic analysis of free-falling penetrometers in soil deposits

The simulation of free falling objects penetrating seabed soil deposits is one of the most sophisticated and challenging problems encountered in numerical modelling when using the Finite Element Method. This paper describes a robust numerical method for dealing with such complex and difficult problems. The approach is based on the Arbitrary LagrangianEulerian (ALE) method of analysis, whose main features and challenges are described briefly in the paper. Application of this method to the simulation of dynamic penetration of instruments into undrained layers of uniform soil is discussed in some detail and comparisons with experimental observations are made.
A weighted partial likelihood approach for zero‐truncated models

Zero‐truncated data arises in various disciplines where counts are observed but the zero count category cannot be observed during sampling. Maximum likelihood estimation can be used to model these data; however, due to its nonstandard form it cannot be easily implemented using well‐known software packages, and additional programming is often required. Motivated by the Rao–Blackwell theorem, we develop a weighted partial likelihood approach to estimate model parameters for zero‐truncated binomial and Poisson data. The resulting estimating function is equivalent to a weighted score function for standard count data models, and allows for applying readily available software. We evaluate the efficiency for this new approach and show that it performs almost as well as maximum likelihood estimation. The weighted partial likelihood approach is then extended to regression modelling and variable selection. We examine the performance of the proposed methods through simulation and present two case studies using real data.
Large f/sub 0/Q second order filters using multiple output OTAs

It is shown and verified experimentally that a multiple output nonlinearized operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) can be efficiently used for the practical implementation of very high selectivity Q (Q>100), high frequency second-order filters (f/sub 0/>10 MHz) with programmable f/sub 0/ and Q values in CMOS technology. Filter types presented are lowpass and bandpass. It is shown that with the proposed approach, filters with products f/sub 0/Q close to the maximum allowed by the technology can be synthesized. Experimental results of 2 /spl mu/m CMOS test-chip second-order filters with f/sub 0/Q=2 GHz are presented. >
Vox Sanguinis International Forum on paediatric indications for blood component transfusion

Mie Topholm Bruun, Mark H. Yazer, Philip C. Spinella, Kjell Titlestad, Miquel Lozano , Meghan Delaney, Hana Lejdarov a, Dana Pavlova , Pavel Trakhtman , Nikolay Starostin , Eugene Zhiburt, Marian G. J. van Kraaij, Elise Huisman , Jose M. Kutner, Araci M. Sakashita, Ana P. H. Yokoyama, Josune Zubicaray, Juli an Sevilla, Hitoshi Okazaki, Mitsuteru Hiwatari, Yutaka Nagura, Paola Maria Manzini , Giuseppina Facco, Clara Pecoraro, Lakhvinder Singh, Rekha Hans, Ratti Ram Sharma , Praveen Kumar, Agneta Wikman , Em€oke Deschmann, Hartirathpal Kaur, Joyce Ching Mei Lam , Selina Kah Ying Ho, Pei Lin Koh , Helen V. New, Rachel Moss, Anne Kinmonth, Mary Comande, Helen Savoia, Gemma Crighton, Joanne Yacobovich, Vered Yahalom, Wendy Lau
Consequences, norms, and inaction: Response to Gawronski et al. (2020)

In response to arguments made by Gawronski et al. (2020), responding to Baron and Goodwin (2020), we concentrate on four issues. First, the CNI design requires substantial numbers of “perverse” responses to congruent items — those in which both consequences and norms both favor action, or both favor inaction — and these responses depend on the ambiguity of the items concerning which norms apply or which consequences are worse. Effects of outside variables, such as psychopathy, may result from the effect of such variables on the interpretation of ambiguous items, rather than from their effect on sensitivity to norms or consequences. Second, the CNI design may not be so useful at measuring general action/inaction biases. Third, the order of the two processes in the model could in fact affect the conclusions drawn (even though it does not do so in most studies done so far). Fourth, the conclusions drawn do in fact depend on the items’ susceptibility to reinterpretation (owing to their ambiguity): the tests proposed for item validity are too weak, since they require only that a majority of subjects agree with the experimenters’ classification, even though a minority could affect the conclusions drawn. We illustrate some of our points with an analysis of the psychopathy study of Luke and Gawronski (2020).
Dynamic Response and Failure Mode Analysis on Light-Weight Steel Columns under Blast Loads

The dynamic response and failure mode of light-weight steel columns under blast loads were studied in this paper by using nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) software ANSYS/ LS-DYNA, aiming to develop the degree and modes of the excessive plastic deformation during failures of the columns under diverse parameters. The damaged columns with initial blast-induced deformation may evidently influence vertical stability of light-weight steel frame structures. During the numerical simulation, the element of three dimensional solid SOLID164 was used, and the strain rate effect on material strength was included in the material model with Plastic-Kinematic (MAT-03). The main parameters included in the analysis were boundary conditions, scaled distances of explosions, and the vertical compressive load ratios applied on tops of the columns. The results showed that the column with both two fixed ends was the most beneficial to resist blast shock wave, the horizontal displacement at the middle span of the columns were obviously decreasing as increasing of the scaled distances of the explosion, and the axial compression ratio only significantly influenced the column with a sliding end. The failure modes of the developed columns may be summarized as bending failure, direct shear failure, and bending shear combination failure.
Inset-Fed Patch Antenna for LTE Application

In this paper, a rectangle patch antenna at 2.53GHz is designed for LTE system. In order to acquire the desired center frequency, width of the conductor in the antenna is adjusted before and after impedance matching. At last, the patch antenna get 2.96dB gain and VSWR less than 1.8 during bandwidth of 40MHz.
Topological Analysis of Ensemble Scalar Data with TTK, A Sequel

Figure 1: TTK is a software platform for topological data analysis in scientific visualization. It is both easily accessible to end users (ParaView plugins (a), VTK-based generic GUIs (b) or command-line programs (c)) and flexible for developers (Python (d), VTK/C++ (e) or dependence-free C++ (f) bindings). TTK provides an efficient and unified approach to topological data representation and simplification, which enables in this example a discrete Morse-Smale complex (a) to comply to the level of simplification dictated by a piecewise linear persistence diagram (bottom-right linked view, a). Code snippets are provided (d-f) to reproduce this pipeline.