Security analysis of satellite-to-ground reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution with beam wandering

The reference-frame-independent(RFI)quantum key distribution(QKD)is suitable for satellite-based links by removing the active alignment on the reference frames.However,how the beam wandering influences the performance of RFI-QKD remains a pending issue in satellite-to-ground links.In this paper,based on the mathematical model for characterizing beam wandering,we present the security analysis for satellite-to-ground RFI-QKD and analytically derive formulas for calculating the secret key rate with beam wandering.Our simulation results show that the performance of RFI-QKD is better than the Bennett–Brassard 1984(BB84)QKD with beam wandering in asymptotic case.Furthermore,the degree of influences of beam wandering is specifically presented for satellite-to-ground RFI-QKD when statistical fluctuations are taken into account.Our work can provide theoretical support for the realization of RFI-QKD using satellite-to-ground links and have implications for the construction of large-scale satellite-based quantum networks.

Reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution with two-way classical communication

The data post-processing scheme based on two-way classical communication(TWCC)can improve the tolerable bit error rate and extend the maximal transmission distance when used in a quantum key distribution(QKD)system.In this study,we apply the TWCC method to improve the performance of reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution(RFI-QKD),and analyze the influence of the TWCC method on the performance of decoy-state RFI-QKD in both asymptotic and non-asymptotic cases.Our numerical simulation results show that the TWCC method is able to extend the maximal transmission distance from 175 km to 198 km and improve the tolerable bit error rate from 10.48%to 16.75%.At the same time,the performance of RFI-QKD in terms of the secret key rate and maximum transmission distance are still greatly improved when statistical fluctuations are considered.We conclude that RFI-QKD with the TWCC method is of practical interest.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote repair of neonatal brain injury caused by hypoxia/ischemia in rats

Administration of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)is believed to be an effective method for treating neurodevelopmental disorde rs.In this study,we investigated the possibility of hUC-MSCs treatment of neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury associated with maternal immune activation and the underlying mechanism.We established neonatal rat models of hypoxic/ischemic brain injury by exposing pregnant rats to lipopolysaccharide on day 16 or 17 of pregnancy.Rat offspring were intranasally administe red hUC-MSCs on postnatal day 14.We found that polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-1(PTBP-1)participated in the regulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced maternal immune activation,which led to neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury.Intranasal delive ry of hUC-MSCs inhibited PTBP-1 expression,alleviated neonatal brain injury-related inflammation,and regulated the number and function of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes,there by promoting plastic regeneration of neurons and im p roving brain function.These findings suggest that hUC-MSCs can effectively promote the repair of neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury related to maternal immune activation through inhibition of PTBP-1 expression and astrocyte activation.

Analysis of influence of observation operator on sequential data assimilation through soil temperature simulation with common land model

An observation operator is a bridge linking the system state vector and observations in a data assimilation system. Despite its importance, the degree to which an observation operator influences the performance of data assimilation methods is still poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the influences of linear and nonlinear observation operators on the sequential data assimilation through soil temperature simulation using the unscented particle filter(UPF) and the common land model. The linear observation operator between unprocessed simulations and observations was first established. To improve the correlation between simulations and observations, both were processed based on a series of equations. This processing essentially resulted in a nonlinear observation operator. The linear and nonlinear observation operators were then used along with the UPF in three assimilation experiments: an hourly in situ soil surface temperature assimilation, a daily in situ soil surface temperature assimilation, and a moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS) land surface temperature(LST) assimilation. The results show that the filter improved the soil temperature simulation significantly with the linear and nonlinear observation operators. The nonlinear observation operator improved the UPF's performance more significantly for the hourly and daily in situ observation assimilations than the linear observation operator did, while the situation was opposite for the MODIS LST assimilation. Because of the high assimilation frequency and data quality, the simulation accuracy was significantly improved in all soil layers for hourly in situ soil surface temperature assimilation, while the significant improvements of the simulation accuracy were limited to the lower soil layers for the assimilation experiments with low assimilation frequency or low data quality.

The inner～40 pc radial distribution of the star formation rate for a nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy M51

We investigate the spatially resolved specific star formation rate （SSFR） in the inner -40 pc for a nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy, M51 （NGC 5194） by analyzing spectra obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope （HST） Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph （STIS）. We present 24 radial spectra measured along the STIS long slit in M51, extending - 1＂ from the nucleus （i.e., -41.5 pc to 39.4 pc）. By simple stellar population synthesis, the stellar contributions in these radial optical spectra are modeled. It is found that the mean flux fraction of young stellar populations （younger than 24.5 Myr） is about 9%. Excluding some regions with zero young flux fraction near the center （from -6 pc to 2 pc）, the mean mass fraction is about 0.09%. The young stellar populations are not required in the center inner -8 pc in M51, suggesting a possible SSFR suppression in the circumnuclear region （- 10 pc） from the feedback of active galactic nuclei （AGNs）. The radial distribution of SSFR in M51 is not symmetrical with respect to the long slit in STIS. This unsymmetrical SSFR distribution is possibly due to the unsymmetrical AGN feedback in M51, which is related to its jet.

Three-Component Transformation of CO_(2),Propargyl Alcohols and Secondary Amines intoβ-Oxopropylcarbamates Promoted by a Noble Metal-Free Metal–Organic Framework Catalyst

The three-component reaction of CO_(2),propargyl alcohols,and secondary amines frequently applies noble metal or homogeneous catalysts,therefore it is necessary and important to seek a recyclable catalyst without noble metals for this reaction,despite the multitude of challenges.Herein,a unique framework{[Ce3(Cu4I4)2(CNA)8(DMF)8](NO3)}n(CuCe-CNA)with two kinds of metal cluster nodes[Ce3]and[Cu4I4]was synthesized,displaying high thermal and chemical stabilities.CuCe-CNA-300 was obtained by removing the coordinated DMF molecules with[Ce3]cluster at 300°C,in which more metal sites are exposed and the pores are enlarged,but the three-dimensional framework still remains intact.CuCe-CNA-300 can effectively catalyze the three-component reaction of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-alcohol,CO_(2),and pyrrolidine toβ-oxopropylcarbamates with a yield of 98%under mild conditions,and the catalytic activity is higher than those of noble metal catalysts.Additionally,CuCe-CNA-300 exhibits high catalytic efficiency for various kinds of propargyl alcohols and secondary amines,and also shows good recyclability.Mechanistic studies suggest that theα-alkylidene cyclic carbonates derived from the cycloaddition of propargyl alcohols and CO_(2) are the intermediates,which further react with secondary amines through ammonolysis reaction to generateβ-oxopropylcarbamates.Importantly,this work may open a new avenue for the one-pot transformation of CO_(2) with two or more components into value-added chemicals activated by noble metal-free metal–organic frameworks catalysts.