An efficient quantum blind digital signature scheme

Recently, many quantum digital signature (QDS) schemes have been proposed to authenticate the integration of a message. However, these quantum signature schemes just consider the situation for bit messages, and the signing-verifying of one-bit modality. So, their signature efficiency is very low. In this paper, we propose a scheme based on an application of Fibonacci-, Lucas- and Fibonacci-Lucas matrix coding to quantum digital signatures based on a recently proposed quantum key distribution (QKD) system. Our scheme can sign a large number of digital messages every time. Moreover, these special matrices provide a method to verify the integration of information received by the participants, to authenticate the identity of the participants, and to improve the efficiency for signing-verifying. Therefore, our signature scheme is more practical than the existing schemes.     

Numerical chromosomal abnormalities detected by atomic force microscopy.

The numerical abnormalities of human metaphase chromosomes, fixed according to standard procedures for optical microscopy but not treated for banding, were detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM). High-resolution AFM imaging of chromosomes in trisomy 13, 21, and Klinefelter syndrome can be compared directly with the traditional optical image. The unbanded metaphase chromosomes, including the extra ones in trisomic patients showed a structural pattern very similar to G-banding. Comparison of AFM images with light microscopic data allows the identification of specific chromosomes, and images of chromosomes showing numerical and structural abnormalities can then be analysed.     

A notch strain calculation of a notched specimen under axial-torsion loadings

In this paper, a notch analysis model is presented for the numerical prediction of multiaxial strains of a notched 1070 steel specimen under combined axial and torsion loadings. The proposed model is based on the notion of a structural yield surface and uses a small-strain cyclic plasticity model to describe stress–strain relations. A notch load–strain curve is calculated with Neuber’s rule and incremental nonlinear finite element analysis. The presented model is applied to simulate the notch root deformations of a circumferentially notched specimen under cyclic tension–compression–torsion loading histories. The model predictions are evaluated with strain measurements at the notch root of the specimen in a comprehensive set of cyclic tests. The computed strain loops were in accord with experimental data and matched qualitatively with measured shear–axial strain histories irrespective of loading path of the test. In proportional balanced torsion-axial loading, the nonlinear shear strain–axial strain loops were calculated properly. The modeling errors were determined to be a function of the loading path shape, and compared to shear strains, axial strain predictions were more accurate.     

Exploiting the channel using uninterrupted collision‐free MAC adaptation over IEEE 802.11 WLANs

IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs) have reached an important stage and become a common technology for wireless access due to its low cost, ease of deployment, and mobility support. In parallel with the extensive growth of WLANs, the development of an efficient medium access control protocol that provides both high throughput performance for data traffic and quality of service support for real‐time applications has become a major focus in WLAN research. The IEEE 802.11 Distributed Coordination Functions (DCF/EDCA) provide contention‐based distributed channel access mechanisms for stations to share the wireless medium. However, performance of these mechanisms may drop dramatically because of high collision probabilities as the number of active stations increases. In this paper, we propose an adaptive collision‐free MAC adaptation. The proposed scheme prevents collisions and allows stations to enter the collision‐free state regardless of the traffic load (saturated or unsaturated) and the number of stations on the medium. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme dramatically enhances the overall throughput and supports quality of service for real‐time services over 802.11‐based WLANs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of progesterone in nicotine addiction: Evidence from initiation to relapse.

Nicotine addiction continues to be the main cause of preventable death in developed countries. Women and teen girls appear to be more vulnerable on certain aspects of nicotine addiction compared with men and boys. While the mechanism of gender differences in nicotine addiction is not yet clear, evidence suggests that while estrogen may underlie enhanced vulnerability in females, progesterone may protect females. Thus, progesterone may have therapeutic use for tobacco addiction, especially in female smokers. A greater understanding of the role of progesterone in nicotine addiction is important not only from a treatment standpoint, but also from a prevention standpoint: hormone transition phases, such as those that occur at adolescence, and during pregnancy and following birth, as well as following hormonal manipulation (e.g., using methods of hormonal birth control), may all contribute to changes in vulnerability to nicotine addiction. In this review, we summarize recent evidence from clinical and preclinical studies examining the role of progesterone in nicotine addiction focusing on its role during initiation of use and during later phases of the addiction process as a potential relapse prevention treatment. We conclude with future directions including further examination of progesterone as a potential intervention and treatment of nicotine addiction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design improvements on rotary valve particle feeders used for obtaining suspended airflows

The back repulsion of low density particles, sticking of particles in feeder valve and interlocking and cohesive archs of particles in feeder hopper have been widely observed problems of a conventional rotary valve feeder used for feeding of granular particles into an airflow line. In this study, these problems of the rotary valve feeders were isolated by means of novel modifications to its conventional design. Results of the modifications showed that the modified feeder can be sensitively used to feed granular particles with mass feeding rates ranging between 5±0.15 and 85±0.85 g/s without encountering problems experienced with conventional rotary valves.     

Investigation of drag reduction performance of half NACA 0009 and 0012 airfoils placed over a trailer on the flow around truck-trailer

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - The drag reduction performance of a half airfoil attached to a trailer and the roof fairing at different positions was experimentally investigated in...