A feature-based robust digital image watermarking scheme using bandelet transform

Desynchronization attacks are among the most difficult attacks to resist, for it can desynchronize the location of the watermark and hence cause incorrect watermark detection. The design of an image watermarking scheme that is robust against desynchronization attacks is challenging. Based on a multi-scale SIFT (scale invariant feature transform) detector and Bandelet transform theory, we propose a new content based image watermarking algorithm with good visual quality and reasonable resistance toward desynchronization attacks. Firstly, the stable image feature points are extracted from the original host by using the multi-scale SIFT detector, and the local feature regions (LFRs) are constructed adaptively according to the feature scale theory. The Bandelet transform is then performed on the LFRs. Finally, the digital watermark is embedded into the LFRs by modifying the significant Bandelet coefficients. By binding the watermark with the geometrically invariant image features, the watermark detection can be done without synchronization error. Experimental results show that the proposed image watermarking is not only invisible and robust against common signal processing such as sharpening, noise adding, JPEG compression, etc., but also robust against the desynchronization attacks such as rotation, translation, scaling, row or column removal, cropping, etc.     

Phase retrieval in two-wavelength DSSI using a combined filtering method

Phase retrieval in two-wavelength DSSI (digital speckle shearing interferometry) using a combined filtering method is proposed for small deformation derivative measurement. A simultaneous two-wavelength illumination and 3-CCD camera are employed in the experimental setup. The proposed method, which uses a two-wavelength technique does not require the conventional spatial phase unwrapping and has the advantage of good noise suppression for phase retrieval. Experimental results obtained show that using the proposed combined filtering method sensitivity similar to the single wavelength technique can be achieved.     

Two-dimensional topological insulator state and topological phase transition in bilayer graphene

We show that gated bilayer graphene hosts a strong topological insulator (TI) phase in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit (SO) coupling. We find that gated bilayer graphene under preserved time-reversal symmetry is a quantum valley Hall insulator for small Rashba SO coupling λ(R), and transitions to a strong TI when λ(R)>√[U(2)+t(⊥)(2)], where U and t(⊥) are, respectively, the interlayer potential and tunneling energy. Different from a conventional quantum spin Hall state, the edge modes of our strong TI phase exhibit both spin and valley filtering, and thus share the properties of both quantum spin Hall and quantum valley Hall insulators. The strong TI phase remains robust in the presence of weak graphene intrinsic SO coupling.     

Energy magnetization and the thermal Hall effect

We obtain a set of general formulas for determining magnetizations, including the usual electromagnetic magnetization as well as the gravitomagnetic energy magnetization. The magnetization corrections to the thermal transport coefficients are explicitly demonstrated. Our theory provides a systematic approach for properly evaluating the thermal transport coefficients of magnetic systems, eliminating the unphysical divergence from the direct application of the Kubo formula. For a noninteracting anomalous Hall system, the corrected thermal Hall conductivity obeys the Wiedemann-Franz law.     

Fast Fourier domain localization algorithm of a single molecule with nanometer precision

We present an algorithm to determine the location of a fluorescent molecule with nanometer-scale accuracy. A Fourier domain localization scheme based on zero-padded fast Fourier transform and phase gradient operators is used to obtain a powerful mathematical model for localizing the molecule without numerical fitting. Compared with conventional algorithms, our position estimator does not require prior background information or initial parameter estimation. Numerical simulations indicate that the proposed method exhibits high localization precision and small bias while executing almost as fast as the fluoroBancroft algorithm.     

High-power air-cooled SiC-clad Nd:YVO4 slab lasers

We demonstrate a diode-pumped, air-cooled, 100 W class SiC-clad Nd:YVO(4) active slab laser based on diffusion bonding of two SiC plates to a thin Nd:YVO(4) slab. We obtained 83 W of cw output power with a slope efficiency of 27% without water cooling. This demonstration initiates a novel (to the best of our knowledge) cooling design for efficient removal of waste heat generated from the diode edge-pumped high-power slab laser at room temperature.     

Supramolecular AA-BB-type linear polymers with relatively high molecular weights via the self-assembly of bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 cryptands and a bisparaquat derivative

Two novel bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based cryptands, one bearing covalent linkages and the other metal-complex linkages, were designed and prepared. By self-assembly of these biscryptands, which can be viewed as AA monomers, and a bisparaquat, which can be viewed as a BB monomer, AA-BB-type linear supramolecular polymers with relatively high molecular weights were successfully prepared.     

原子类原子系统光学特性的量子相干调控应用基础研究

简要介绍了在原子类原子小量子系统光学特性的量子相干调控应用基础研究方面所取得的一些成果,主要包括周期调制场控制弱光孤子传输、光学腔超窄线宽输出、非对称双量子阱中光学前驱波的分离以及极性分子系统中的电磁诱导透明现象等.     

10kHz腔倒空锁模皮秒激光器研究

将半导体可饱和吸收体(SESAM)锁模技术与腔倒空技术结合,采用半导体端面抽运方式实现了具有高重复频率、大单脉冲能量的皮秒激光器的运转.从理论上分析了腔倒空锁模输出的机理,建立起腔倒空锁模激光器运行的物理图像,并对影响激光器倒空率的一些因素进行了研究.实验上,实现端面抽运Nd:YVO4晶体的SESAM连续锁模后,在锁模...     

Development of Taccalonolide AJ-Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes for Treatment of Clear Cell Renal-Cell Carcinoma

Background: Microtubule-targeted drugs are the most effective drugs for adult patients with certain solid tumors. Taccalonolide AJ (AJ) can stabilize tubulin polymerization by covalently binding to β-tubulin, which enables it to play a role in the treatment of tumors. However, its clinical applications are largely limited by low water solubility, chemical instability in water, and a narrow therapeutic window. Clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (cc RCC) accounts for approximately 70% of RCC cases and is prone to resistance to particularly targeted therapy drugs. Methods: we prepared a water-soluble cyclodextrin-based carrier to serve as an effective treatment for cc RCC. Results: Compared with AJ, taccalonolide AJ-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (AJ-HP-β-CD) exhibited superior selectivity and activity toward the cc RCC cell line 786-O vs. normal kidney cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibiting migration and invasion of tumor cells in vitro. According to acute toxicity testing, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of AJ-HP-β-CD was 10.71 mg/kg, which was 20 times greater than that of AJ. Assessment of weight changes showed that mouse body weight recovered over 7–8 days, and the toxicity could be greatly reduced by adjusting the injections from once every three days to once per week. In addition, we inoculated 786-O cells to generate xenografted mice to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of AJ-HP-β-CD in vivo and found that AJ-HP-β-CD had a better tumor inhibitory effect than that of docetaxel and sunitinib in terms of tumor growth and endpoint tumor weight. These results indicated that cyclodextrin inclusion greatly increased the anti-tumor therapeutic window of AJ. Conclusions: the AJ-HP-β-CD complex developed in this study may prove to be a novel tubulin stabilizer for the treatment of cc RCC. In addition, this drug delivery system may broaden the horizon in the translational study of other chemotherapeutic drugs.