A proper generalized decomposition approach for optical flow estimation

This paper introduces the use of the proper generalized decomposition (PGD) method for the optical flow (OF) problem in a classical framework of Sobolev spaces, ie, optical flow methods including a robust energy for the data fidelity term together with a quadratic penalizer for the regularization term. A mathematical study of PGD methods is first presented for general regularization problems in the framework of (Hilbert) Sobolev spaces, and their convergence is then illustrated on OF computation. The convergence study is divided in two parts: (a) the weak convergence based on the Brézis-Lieb decomposition and (b) the strong convergence based on a growth result on the sequence of descent directions. A practical PGD-based OF implementation is then proposed and evaluated on freely available OF data sets. The proposed PGD-based OF approach outperforms the corresponding non-PGD implementation in terms of both accuracy and computation time for images containing a weak level of information, namely, low image resolution and/or low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).     

A Novel and Convenient Preparation of 1-(γ-Aminoalkyl)-Substituted 1,2,4-Triazoles

1-(α-Aminomethyl)-1,2,4-triazoles readily add to enol ethers or enamides to give novel classes of compounds, 1-(γ-amino-α-alkoxy)propyl- (8) and 1-(γ-amino-α-amido)propyl- (10) substituted 1,2,4-triazoles, in excellent yields.     

Novel synthesis of pyran,thiophene, and pyridine derivatives incorporating thiazole ring and their antitumor evaluation

This study aims to design and synthesize a number of novel pyran, thiophene, and pyridine derivatives incorporating thiazole ring and evaluate their antitumor inhibition (μM) as significant anticancer agents. The reactivity of compound 1 [2-(4-oxo-4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)acetonitrile] towards different chemical reagents was described. Furthermore, the reactivity of all the newly synthesized products was evaluated. The most active compounds towards all the three tumor cancer cell lines used such as MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and SF-268 (CNS cancer), and normal fibroblasts human cell line (WI-38) were compounds 6d , 8 , and 10b , which compared with the antiproliferative effects of the reference control doxorubicin. Also, some of the novel compounds indicate higher inhibition than doxorubicin against some of the cancer cell lines used such as 6c (especially towards MCF-7) and 2b , 6b (especially towards SF-268).     

Adsorption and inhibition performance of the novel cationic Gemini surfactant as a safe corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in hydrochloric acid

The new synthesized cationic Gemini surfactant (CGS) was tested as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel (CS) in 1.0?M hydrochloric acid using weight loss, electrochemical spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization. The inhibition efficiency is increased by increasing the CGS concentration and is almost constant within the temperature range studied. The inhibition was explained by adsorption of the CGS molecule on the CS surface. A mixed-type inhibitor is suggested for the inhibitory effects of CGS as revealed by the potentiodynamic polarization technique. The changes in impedance parameters suggested that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the CGS surface led to the formation of protective films. The adsorption of the CGS on the surface of CS obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were calculated and discussed.     

Nitrile functionalized silver(I) <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-heterocyclic carbene complexes: DFT calculations and antitumor studies

A series of aliphatic nitrile functionalized benzimidazolium salts and their respective mononuclear N-heterocyclic carbene Ag(I)-NHC complexes are reported. The benzimidazolium salts were synthesized by N-alkylation of 1H-benzimidazole with an appropriate alkyl bromide, followed by reaction with either 5-bromovaleronitrile or 6-bromohexanenitrile. The respective mononuclear Ag(I)-NHC complexes were prepared by the reaction of the benzimidazolium salts with Ag₂O. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures of the two complexes were elucidated through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Density functional theory was used to model the structures of the other complexes. The benzimidazolium salts and their complexes were screened for cytotoxicity against a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), using the MTT assay. All the Ag(I)-NHC complexes gave IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.0 ± 1.06 to 12.9 ± 1.55 µM which are comparable to the standard drug, tamoxifen (IC₅₀ = 11.2 ± 1.84 µM), while all of the benzimidazolium salts proved to be inactive.     

Simultaneous preconcentration flotation-separation and spectrophotometric determination of thorium, lanthanum and yttrium in some geological and enviromental samples

The extraction and preconcentration of a metal complex via surfactant-mediated phase separation was studied. A sensitive, selective and low-cost methodology for the determination of micro amounts of thorium, lanthanum and yttrium ions, using Eriochrome Cyanine R (ECR) with a flotation step prior to spectrophotometric determination was developed. The precipitate in the scum layer was quantitatively collected, stripped with 4 ml of 3% HCl and measured spectrophotometrically at 540 nm for Th(IV) and at 650 nm for both La(III) and Y(III). The stripping of Th(IV), La(III) and Y(III) from the scum layer was carried out in one step with different mineral acids. The stripping efficiency was found to be quantitative in the case of HCl. An excess amount of ECR was used to eliminate the interfering effects of various foreign species. The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of Th(IV), La(III) and Y(III) spiked in natural water samples and in some ore samples. Additionally, the mechanism of flotation of the metal chelate was proposed to be due to a physical interaction between the metal chelate and the oleic acid surfactant through the Van der Waals force.     

Relative Entropies for Kinetic Equations in Bounded Domains (Irreversibility,Stationary Solutions,Uniqueness)

(Accepted December 3, 2002) Published online June 2, 2003 Communicated by C. M. Dafermos     

X-ray study of microdroplet plasma formation under the action of superintense laser radiation

We have measured the X-ray emission spectra of a plasma generated by laser radiation with an intensity above 10¹⁹W/cm² and a pulse duration of 30 fs acting upon an argon jet target with a large abundance of micron-sized clusters. The time variation of the X-ray yield from ions of various multiplicities, calculated within the framework of a nonstationary kinetic model, shows a good qualitative agreement with the experimental time-integrated spectrum.     

Optical,structural, and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured ln-doped ZnO via electrodepositing method

Indium-doped zinc oxide nanorods were electrochemically deposited at low temperature on ITO substrates. The synthesized ZnO-arrayed layers were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis transmittance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and photocurrent spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that the electrodeposited films are crystalline and present the hexagonal Würtzite ZnO phase with preferential (002) orientation. The ZnO films obtained forms aligned hexagonal nanorods, and depending on the increasing In concentration, the surface morphologies of the films are changed. The ln-doped ZnO nanorods (NRs) are well-aligned with the c-axis being perpendicular to the substrates when the ln concentration was between 0 and 2 at.%. of In, the grown films with In contents up to 4 at.%, changes in the optical band gap from 3.31 to 3.39 eV, and the blue shift in the band gap energy was attributed to the Burstein–Moss effect. The effect of In concentration on the photocurrent generated by films shows that the obtained thin films can be used as a photovoltaic material. Changes in the photocurrent response and the electronic disorder were also discussed in the light of In doping. It was found that the carrier density of IZO thin films varied between 1.06?×?10¹⁸ and 1.88?×?10¹⁸ cm^?3 when the In concentration was between 0 and 4 at.%.

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Graphical Abstract Photocurrent response of IZO samples