Optical multiresolution analysis with spatial localization

Multiresolution analysis is very useful for characterization of textures, segmentation tasks, and feature enhancement. The development of optical methods to perform such procedures is highly promissory for real-time applications. Usually, the optical implementations of multiresolution analysis consist in the decomposition of the input scene in different frequency bands, obtaining various filtered versions of the scene. However, under certain circumstances it could be useful to provide just one version of the scene where the different filters are applied in different regions. This procedure could be specially interesting for biological and medical applications in situations when the approximate localization of the scale information is known a priori. In this paper we present a fully optical method to perform multiresolution analysis with spatial localization. By means of the proposed technique, the multi-scale analysis is performed at once in a unique image. The experimental set-up consist of a double-pass convergent optical processor. The first stage of the device allows the multiple band decomposition, while the second stage confines the information of each band to different regions of the object and recombines it to achieve the desired operation. Numerical simulations and experimental results, which prove the very good performance of the method, are presented.     

An fMRI study of magnitude comparison and exact addition in children

By contrast to the adult literature, in which a consistent parietofrontal network for number processing has been identified, the data from studies of number processing in children have been less consistent, probably due to differences in study design and control conditions. Number processing was examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging in 18 right-handed children (8–12 years) from the Cape Coloured community in Cape Town, South Africa, using Proximity Judgment and Exact Addition (EA) tasks. The findings were consistent with the hypothesis that, as in adults, the anterior horizontal intraparietal sulcus (HIPS) plays a major role in the representation and manipulation of quantity in children. The posterior medial frontal cortex, believed to be involved in performance monitoring in more complex arithmetic manipulations in adults, was extensively activated even for relatively simple symbolic number processing in the children. Other areas activated to a greater degree in the children included the left precentral sulcus, which may mediate number knowledge and, for EA, the head of the caudate nucleus, which is part of a fronto-subcortical circuit involved in the behavioral execution of sequences. Two regions that have been linked to number processing in adults — the angular gyrus and posterior superior parietal lobule — were not activated in the children. The data are consistent with the inference that although the functional specialization of the anterior HIPS may increase as symbolic number processing becomes increasingly automatic, this region and other elements of the parietofrontal network identified in adults are already reliably and robustly activated by middle childhood.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/melamine phosphate composites prepared through thermal processing: thermal stability and flame retardancy

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/melamine phosphate composites (PVA/MP) as a novel halogen‐free, flame‐retardant foam matrix were prepared through thermal processing, and then their thermal stability and flame retardancy were investigated by thermo‐gravimetric analysis, micro‐scale combustion calorimeter, cone calorimeter, vertical burning test, and limiting oxygen index (LOI) test. It was found that the thermal stability and combustion properties of the PVA/MP composites could be influenced by the addition of MP. Compared with the control PVA sample (B‐PVA), in the PVA/MP (75/25) composites, the temperature at 5% mass loss (T_5%) decreased about 10°C, the residual chars at 600°C increased by nearly 27%, the temperature at the maximum peak heat release rate (T_P) shifted from 292°C to 452°C, and the total heat released and the heat release capacity (HRC) decreased by 28% and 14%, respectively. Moreover, the PVA/MP composites could reach LOI value up to 35% and UL94 classification V‐0, showing good flame retardancy. At the same time, both Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra of the residual chars from the PVA/MP composites demonstrated that the catalytic effect of MP on the dehydration and decarboxylation reactions of PVA, and the chemical reactivity of MP during the chars‐forming reactions could be used to account for the changed thermal stability and flame retardancy of the PVA/MP composites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

《聚合物成型加工》实践教学体系改革

从教学内容、教学方法、实验实践环节、考核方式等角度,深入分析了《聚合物成型加工》课程的教学现状,并在此基础上指出,目前单纯的理论教学与人才培养目标相悖,缺乏系统性的实验实践教学体系和多样化的课程考核方式。《聚合物成型加工》实践教学体系改革本着培养应用型人才的原则,从实际生产问题和研发前沿问题入手,由原来单纯的课堂教学模式改为课堂教学与实践环节相结合;考核也改为"书面作业+调研报告+项目答辩+实践操作+考试"的综合考核形式;并设计了系统性的创新实践环节,使学生在掌握课程所学基础知识的同时,可以独立的根据制品性能和使用要求,进行合理的聚合物成型物料配制,选择合适的成型加工方法,利用实验室及产学研实践基地的加工条件自己动手将聚合物原材料做成制品。     

中药炮制机理研究的思路与方法——以咖啡豆的烘焙原理研究为例

中药炮制是中药学的特色和优势,也是最具我国自主知识产权的学科之一.中药炮制研究的核心是阐明中药炮制机理,这也是制约中药现代化的关键节点.目前大部分中药的炮制机理尚不明确,有待进行系统深入的研究.咖啡豆需要烘培后才可以制成饮料,这个高温烘培过程类似于中药的炮制过程.近年来,国内外专家对咖啡豆高温烘培过程化学成分变化及其机理进行了深入研究,各种新方法和新技术得到广泛应用,取得了系列研究成果,这些研究成果为中药炮制机理研究提供了多种新思路和新方法,也为中药炮制机理的研究和阐明提供了重要示范.     

Comparison of the performance of three ion mobility spectrometers for measurement of biogenic amines

The performance of three different types of ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) devices: GDA2 with a radioactive ion source (Airsense, Germany), UV-IMS with a photo-ionization source (G.A.S. Germany) and VG-Test with a corona discharge source (3QBD, Israel) was studied. The gas-phase ion chemistry in the IMS devices affected the species formed and their measured reduced mobility values. The sensitivity and limit of detection for trimethylamine (TMA), putrescine and cadaverine were compared by continuous monitoring of a stream of air with a given concentration of the analyte and by measurement of headspace vapors of TMA in a sealed vial. Preprocessing of the mobility spectra and the effectiveness of multivariate curve resolution techniques (MCR-LASSO) improved the accuracy of the measurements by correcting baseline effects and adjusting for variations in drift time as well as enhancing the signal to noise ratio and deconvolution of the complex data matrix to their pure components. The limit of detection for measurement of the biogenic amines by the three IMS devices was between 0.1 and 1.2 ppm (for TMA with the VG-Test and GDA, respectively) and between 0.2 and 0.7 ppm for putrescine and cadaverine with all three devices. Considering the uncertainty in the LOD determination there is almost no statistically significant difference between the three devices although they differ in their operating temperature, ionization method, drift tube design and dopant chemistry. This finding may have general implications on the achievable performance of classic IMS devices.     

Effect of Ultra High Pressure Processing on the Particle Characteristics of Lotus-seed Starch

In this paper, the time dependent effects of various pressure treatments on the characteristics of lotus-seed starch which was modified by ultra-high pressure (UHP) were investigated. The results showed that the polarization cross of lotus-seed starch granules was weakening gradually with increasing the treatment time, which indicated the termination of their ordered crystallite structures. The morphologies of granules were collapsed once the UHP was kept at 500 MPa for 60 minutes. The particle size analysis demonstrated that the granule size and distribution of lotus-seed starches increased as the treatment time was prolonged. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the intensity of the feature diffraction peaks of starch decreased and eventually disappeared with increasing the treatment time, and B-type transformation pattern was observed. The Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) analysis of starch showed that the UHP is a physical modification processing because no new groups formed. The research showed that UHP processing at certain degree is capable to achieve the modification of lotus-seed starch. It is of significance for the deep processing of lotus-seed products.     

Structure and dynamics of biological liquid crystals

A review of thermodynamic and flow liquid crystal models is presented and applied to a wide range of biological liquid crystals (BLCs), including helicoidal plywoods, biopolymer solutions and in vivo liquid crystals. The key characteristics of liquid crystals (self-assembly, packing, defects, functionalities, processability) are discussed in relation to biological materials and the strong correspondence between different synthetic and biological materials is discussed. Viscoelastic models for nematic and chiral nematics are reviewed and discussed in terms of key parameters that facilitate understanding and quantitative information from experimental measurements. The range and consistency of the predictions demonstrates that the use of mesoscopic liquid crystal models is an efficient tool to develop the science and biomimetic applications of mesogenic biological materials.     

A Fully Integrated Continuous‐Flow System for Asymmetric Catalysis: Enantioselective Hydrogenation with Supported Ionic Liquid Phase Catalysts Using Supercritical CO2 as the Mobile Phase

A continuous‐flow process based on a chiral transition‐metal complex in a supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) as the mobile phase is presented for asymmetric catalytic transformations of low‐volatility organic substrates at mild reaction temperatures. Enantioselectivity of >99 % ee and quantitative conversion were achieved in the hydrogenation of dimethylitaconate for up to 30 h, reaching turnover numbers beyond 100 000 for the chiral QUINAPHOS–rhodium complex. By using an automated high‐pressure continuous‐flow setup, the product was isolated in analytically pure form without the use of any organic co‐solvent and with no detectable catalyst leaching. Phase‐behaviour studies and high‐pressure NMR spectroscopy assisted the localisation of optimum process parameters by quantification of substrate partitioning between the IL and scCO₂. Fundamental insight into the molecular interactions of the metal complex, ionic liquid and the surface of the support in working SILP catalyst materials was gained by means of systematic variations, spectroscopic studies and labelling experiments. In concert, the obtained results provided a rationale for avoiding progressive long‐term deactivation. The optimised system reached stable selectivities and productivities that correspond to 0.7 kg L ^?1 h^?1 space–time yield and at least 100 kg product per gram of rhodium, thus making such processes attractive for larger‐scale application.     

某机载瞄准系统精度评估测试方法

为了评估某型机载瞄准系统的精度,根据飞行试验参数测试需要,提出了通过图像测量与DGPS融合处理方法进行瞄准精度评估的试验方案。该方案利用飞行试验获取的图像数据与其他测量数据相结合,建立精度评估的方法,该评估方法在该机载武器瞄准系统精度评估得到应用,并且可在同类试验课题中推广应用。