On the Communication Complexity of Secret Key Generation in the Multiterminal Source Model

Communication complexity refers to the minimum rate of public communication required for generating a maximal-rate secret key (SK) in the multiterminal source model of Csiszar and Narayan. Tyagi recently characterized this communication complexity for a two-terminal system. We extend the ideas in Tyagi's work to derive a lower bound on communication complexity in the general multiterminal setting. In the important special case of the complete graph pairwise independent network (PIN) model, our bound allows us to determine the exact linear communication complexity, i.e., the communication complexity when the communication and SK are restricted to be linear functions of the randomness available at the terminals.

A transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of annealing induced gamma-phase nucleation, clustering, and interfacial dynamics in reactively sputtered amorphous alumina thin films

Pure alpha-Al2O3 exhibits a very high degree of thermodynamical stability among all metal oxides and forms an inert oxide scale in a range of structural alloys at high temperatures. We report that amorphous Al2O3 thin films sputter deposited over crystalline Si instead show a surprisingly active interface. On annealing, crystallization begins with nuclei of a phase closely resembling gamma-Alumina forming almost randomly in an amorphous matrix, and with increasing frequency near the substrate/film interface. This nucleation is marked by the signature appearance of sharp (400) and (440) reflections and the formation of a diffuse diffraction halo with an outer maximal radius of approximate to 0.23 nm enveloping the direct beam. The microstructure then evolves by a cluster-coalescence growth mechanism suggestive of swift nucleation and sluggish diffusional kinetics, while locally the Al ions redistribute slowly from chemisorbed and tetrahedral sites to higher anion coordinated sites. Chemical state plots constructed from XPS data and simple calculations of the diffraction patterns from hypothetically distorted lattices suggest that the true origins of the diffuse diffraction halo are probably related to a complex change in the electronic structure spurred by the a-gamma transformation rather than pure structural disorder. Concurrent to crystallization within the film, a substantially thick interfacial reaction zone also builds up at the film/substrate interface with the excess Al acting as a cationic source. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

HCN channels enhance spike phase coherence and regulate the phase of spikes and LFPs in the theta-frequency range

What are the implications for the existence of subthreshold ion channels, their localization profiles, and plasticity on local field potentials (LFPs)? Here, we assessed the role of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in altering hippocampal theta-frequency LFPs and the associated spike phase. We presented spatiotemporally randomized, balanced theta-modulated excitatory and inhibitory inputs to somatically aligned, morphologically realistic pyramidal neuron models spread across a cylindrical neuropil. We computed LFPs from seven electrode sites and found that the insertion of an experimentally constrained HCN-conductance gradient into these neurons introduced a location- dependent lead in the LFP phase without significantly altering its amplitude. Further, neurons fired action potentials at a specific theta phase of the LFP, and the insertion of HCN channels introduced large lags in this spike phase and a striking enhancement in neuronal spike-phase coherence. Importantly, graded changes in either HCN conductance or its half-maximal activation voltage resulted in graded changes in LFP and spike phases. Our conclusions on the impact of HCN channels on LFPs and spike phase were invariant to changes in neuropil size, to morphological heterogeneity, to excitatory or inhibitory synaptic scaling, and to shifts in the onset phase of inhibitory inputs. Finally, we selectively abolished the inductive lead in the impedance phase introduced by HCN channels without altering neuronal excitability and found that this inductive phase lead contributed significantly to changes in LFP and spike phase. Our results uncover specific roles for HCN channels and their plasticity in phase-coding schemas and in the formation and dynamic reconfiguration of neuronal cell assemblies.

Variational approach to homogenization of doubly-nonlinear flow in a periodic structure

This work deals with the homogenization of an initial- and boundary-value problem for the doubly-nonlinear system D(t)w - del.(z) over right arrow = g(x, t, x/epsilon) (0.1) w is an element of alpha(u, x/epsilon) (0.2) (z) over right arrow is an element of (gamma) over right arrow (del u, x/epsilon) (0.3) Here epsilon is a positive parameter; alpha and (gamma) over right arrow are maximal monotone with respect to the first variable and periodic with respect to the second one. The inclusions (0.2) and (0.3) are here formulated as null-minimization principles, via the theory of Fitzpatrick MR 1009594]. As epsilon -> 0, a two-scale formulation is derived via Nguetseng's notion of two-scale convergence, and a (single-scale) homogenized problem is then retrieved. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Variational approach to homogenization of doubly-nonlinear flow in a periodic structure

This work deals with the homogenization of an initial- and boundary-value problem for the doubly-nonlinear system D(t)w - del.(z) over right arrow = g(x, t, x/epsilon) (0.1) w is an element of alpha(u, x/epsilon) (0.2) (z) over right arrow is an element of (gamma) over right arrow (del u, x/epsilon) (0.3) Here epsilon is a positive parameter; alpha and (gamma) over right arrow are maximal monotone with respect to the first variable and periodic with respect to the second one. The inclusions (0.2) and (0.3) are here formulated as null-minimization principles, via the theory of Fitzpatrick MR 1009594]. As epsilon -> 0, a two-scale formulation is derived via Nguetseng's notion of two-scale convergence, and a (single-scale) homogenized problem is then retrieved. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Activation of InsP(3) receptors is sufficient for inducing graded intrinsic plasticity in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The synaptic plasticity literature has focused on establishing necessity and sufficiency as two essential and distinct features in causally relating a signaling molecule to plasticity induction, an approach that has been surprisingly lacking in the intrinsic plasticity literature. In this study, we complemented the recently established necessity of inositol trisphosphate (InsP(3)) receptors (InsP(3)R) in a form of intrinsic plasticity by asking if InsP(3)R activation was sufficient to induce intrinsic plasticity in hippocampal neurons. Specifically, incorporation of D-myo-InsP(3) in the recording pipette reduced input resistance, maximal impedance amplitude, and temporal summation but increased resonance frequency, resonance strength, sag ratio, and impedance phase lead. Strikingly, the magnitude of plasticity in all these measurements was dependent on InsP 3 concentration, emphasizing the graded dependence of such plasticity on InsP(3)R activation. Mechanistically, we found that this InsP(3)-induced plasticity depended on hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Moreover, this calcium-dependent form of plasticity was critically reliant on the release of calcium through InsP(3)Rs, the influx of calcium through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels, and on the protein kinase A pathway. Our results delineate a causal role for InsP(3)Rs in graded adaptation of neuronal response dynamics, revealing novel regulatory roles for the endoplasmic reticulum in neural coding and homeostasis.

Homing abilities of the tropical primitively eusocial paper wasp Ropalidia marginata

Compared to our extensive knowledge about the navigation and homing abilities of ants and bees, we know rather little about these phenomena in social wasps. Here, we report the homing abilities of the tropical primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata and the factors that affect their homing success. To determine from how far these wasps can return to their nests, we transported foragers blindfold and released them at gradually increasing distances from their nests in four cardinal directions. Their homing success was determined by checking their presence on their nests on three consecutive nights. All foragers (56 individuals, 115 releases) returned back from an area of 0.73 +/- A 0.25 km(2) on the day of release (minimal homing area), whereas 83.8 % of the foragers (217 individuals, 420 releases) returned when we enlarged the area of release to 6.22 +/- A 0.66 km(2) around their nests (maximal homing area). Of 66 releases, no wasps returned from beyond the maximal homing area. The minimal homing area might be familiar to the foragers because they probably routinely forage in this area and the maximal homing area represents the maximum distances from which the wasps are capable of returning to their nests, with or without familiarity.

Separation index of graphs and stacked 2-spheres

In 1987, Kalai proved that stacked spheres of dimension d >= 3 are characterised by the fact that they attain equality in Barnette's celebrated Lower Bound Theorem. This result does not extend to dimension d = 2. In this article, we give a characterisation of stacked 2-spheres using what we call the separation index. Namely, we show that the separation index of a triangulated 2-sphere is maximal if and only if it is stacked. In addition, we prove that, amongst all n-vertex triangulated 2-spheres, the separation index is minimised by some n-vertex flag sphere for n >= 6. Furthermore, we apply this characterisation of stacked 2-spheres to settle the outstanding 3-dimensional case of the Lutz-Sulanke-Swartz conjecture that ``tight-neighbourly triangulated manifolds are tight''. For dimension d >= 4, the conjecture has already been proved by Effenberger following a result of Novik and Swartz. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic Guided Wave Sensor Network Optimization for Monitoring Rivet Line

Guided waves using piezo-electric wafer active sensors (PWAS) is one of the useful techniques of damage detection. Sensor network optimization with minimal network hardware footprint and maximal area of coverage remains a challenging problem. PWAS sensors are placed at discrete locations in order to inspect damages in plates and the idea has the potential to be extended to assembled structures. Various actuator-sensor configurations are possible within the network in order to identify and locate damages. In this paper we present a correlation based approach to monitor cracks emanating from rivet line using a simulated guided wave signal whose sensor is operating in pulse echo mode. Discussions regarding the identification of phase change due to reflections from the crack are also discussed in this paper.

微米尺度结构最大抗扭强度的在线测试和研究

提出了一种新型的测试结构，对面积为微米量级下键合的最大抗扭强度进行了测试) 实验设计一系列的单晶硅悬臂梁结构测试键合面积在微米量级时的最大剪切力，键合面为常用的矩形其边长从*!+ 到!#$!+，并根据实际移动距离计算得出的最大剪切力) 并实验实际得出最大剪切扭矩和相应的键合面积的曲线，以及最大扭转剪切破坏应力与悬臂梁加载距离的关系，并针对*$!+, *$!+ 的矩形键合结构进行了加载和位移的重复性实验测量，两次测量结果符合较好) 微电子机械系统（+-./0121.3/0+1.456-.52 78731+，9:9;）器件的设计人员可以根据结论曲线，针对所需的抗扭强度设计相应的键合面积，为9:9; 器件工艺的在线定量测试与设计提供参考)

Combining interest points and edges for content-based image retrieval

This paper presents a novel approach using combined features to retrieve images containing specific objects, scenes or buildings. The content of an image is characterized by two kinds of features: Harris-Laplace interest points described by the SIFT descriptor and edges described by the edge color histogram. Edges and corners contain the maximal amount of information necessary for image retrieval. The feature detection in this work is an integrated process: edges are detected directly based on the Harris function; Harris interest points are detected at several scales and Harris-Laplace interest points are found using the Laplace function. The combination of edges and interest points brings efficient feature detection and high recognition ratio to the image retrieval system. Experimental results show this system has good performance. © 2005 IEEE.

Statistics of dissipation and enstrophy induced by localized vortices

The ratios of enstrophy and dissipation moments induced by localized vorticity are inferred to be finite. It follows that the scaling exponents for locally averaged dissipation and enstrophy are equal. However, enstrophy and dissipation exponents measured over finite ranges of scales may be different. The cylindrical vortex profile that yields maximal moment ratios is determined. The moment ratios for cylindrical vortices are used to interpret differences in scale dependence of enstrophy and dissipation previously found in numerical simulations.

Nucleated polymerization with secondary pathways. I. Time evolution of the principal moments.

Self-assembly processes resulting in linear structures are often observed in molecular biology, and include the formation of functional filaments such as actin and tubulin, as well as generally dysfunctional ones such as amyloid aggregates. Although the basic kinetic equations describing these phenomena are well-established, it has proved to be challenging, due to their non-linear nature, to derive solutions to these equations except for special cases. The availability of general analytical solutions provides a route for determining the rates of molecular level processes from the analysis of macroscopic experimental measurements of the growth kinetics, in addition to the phenomenological parameters, such as lag times and maximal growth rates that are already obtainable from standard fitting procedures. We describe here an analytical approach based on fixed-point analysis, which provides self-consistent solutions for the growth of filamentous structures that can, in addition to elongation, undergo internal fracturing and monomer-dependent nucleation as mechanisms for generating new free ends acting as growth sites. Our results generalise the analytical expression for sigmoidal growth kinetics from the Oosawa theory for nucleated polymerisation to the case of fragmenting filaments. We determine the corresponding growth laws in closed form and derive from first principles a number of relationships which have been empirically established for the kinetics of the self-assembly of amyloid fibrils.

p Dissipative operator

In this paper the authors prove that the generalized positive p selfadjoint (GPpS) operators in Banach space satisfy the generalized Schwarz inequality, solve the maximal dissipative extension representation of p dissipative operators in Banach space by using the inequality and introducing the generalized indefinite inner product (GIIP) space, and apply the result to a certain type of Schrodinger operator.

Study on flow characteristics of solid/liquid system in lysozyme crystal growth

During the process of lysozyme protein crystallization with batch method, the macroscopic flow field of solid/liquid system was observed by particle image velocimetry (PIV). Furthermore, a normal growth rate of (110) face and local flow field around a single protein crystal were obtained by a long work distance microscope. The experimental results showed that the average velocity, the maximal velocity of macroscopic solid/liquid system and the velocity of local flow field around single protein crystal were fluctuant. The effective boundary layer thickness delta(eff), the concentration at the interface Q and the characteristic velocity V were calculated using a convection-diffusion model. The results showed that the growth of lysozyme crystal in this experiment was dominated by interfacial kinetics rather than bulk transport, and the function of buoyancy-driven flow in bulk transport was small, however, the effect of bulk transport in crystal growth had a tendency to increase with the increase of lysozyme concentration. The calculated results, also showed that the order of magnitude of shear force was about 10(-21) N, which was much less than the bond force between the lysozyme molecules. Therefore the shear force induced by buoyancy-driven flows cannot remove the protein molecules from the interface of crystal.