Compression of digital holograms via adaptive-sparse representation

Efficient storage and transmission of digital holograms (DHs) requires the development of appropriate compression techniques for such a special class of images. In this Letter, we investigate a method to compress DHs using a sparse matrix representation. Using digital holography to numerically manage complex wave fields, we are able to apply an adaptive mask, based on a threshold filter, to the object wave field. From there, we store the result of this filtering by sparse representation. In this Letter, we demonstrate that using sparse representation allows for a high compression factor with minimal loss in the quality of the reconstructed image. This technique is efficient for storage and transmission of DHs.     

Mechanism of Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis from Epoxides and CO2

Three interconnected catalytic cycles account for the title reaction catalyzed by a bimetallic aluminum(salen) complex and Bu₄NBr. In the first, Bu₄NBr acts as a nucleophile to activate the epoxide. In the second, Bu₃N generated in situ serves to activate CO₂. In the third, the aluminum(salen) complex brings the two activated species together so that the key bonds can be formed intramolecularly.

     

Semi‐Covalent Surface Molecular Imprinting of Polymers by One‐Stage Mini‐emulsion Polymerization: Glucopyranoside as a Model Analyte

This paper describes a new type of surface imprinting technique that combines the advantages of both the semi‐covalent approach and one‐stage miniemulsion polymerization. This process has been successfully applied for the preparation of glucose surface‐imprinted nanoparticles. The selective artificial receptors for glucopyranoside were fully characterized by IR, TEM and BET analyses, and their molecular recognition abilities by binding experiments carried out in batch processes. The molecular affinity and selectivity of the glucose molecularly imprinted polymers were accurately quantified. These characteristics are essential for verification of the efficiency of the developed surface imprinting process. The imprinting effect was clearly demonstrated using the batch rebinding method. We have found that the glucose imprinted polymers produced using the optimized one‐stage mini‐emulsion exhibited quite fast kinetics of binding and equilibration with glucopyranoside templates, compared to polymers prepared by bulk polymerization technique, as well as extremely low levels of unspecific bindings. We also demonstrated that glucose molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) exhibited very good selectivity for its original template compared to other glycopyranoside derivatives, such as galactose. Finally, the extraction of the binding properties from isotherms of binding by fitting to the bi‐Langmuir and Freundlich models allowed the determination of the affinity constant distribution of the binding sites. This imprinting protocol allowed the determination of an affinity constant (K_D), involving exclusively H‐bonding interactions, for the glucose MIP ( P2C ) with the best template 1 , in CH₃CN as the solvent system.

     

A note on the sum of uniform random variables

An inductive procedure is used to obtain distributions and probability densities for the sum S_n of independent, non-equally uniform random variables. Some known results are then shown to follow immediately as special cases. Under the assumption of equally uniform random variables some new formulas are obtained for probabilities and means related to S_n. Finally, some new recursive formulas involving distributions are derived.     

New class of aggregates in aqueous solution: an NMR, thermodynamic, and dynamic light scattering study

We investigated the aggregation properties of two classes of aromatic and hydrophobic compounds, namely chloroacetamides and ethyl 3-phenyl-2-nitropropionates, in moderately concentrated aqueous solution (millimolar range). The identification of all species present in solution under specific experimental conditions was performed by 1D and 2D NMR, pulsed gradient spin-echo NMR, and dynamic light scattering techniques. Some physical-chemical properties (viscosity, surface tension, and colligative properties) of the aqueous solutions were also determined. Both classes of compounds behave quite similarly: in solution, three distinct species, namely a monomeric species, small and mobile aggregates, and large and stiff aggregates, are observed. The results give insight into a new class of aggregates, held together by pi-pi interactions, which show an unusual associative behavior in water.     

Morphology of platinum electrodeposits in the three-dimensional sublayer to full layer range produced under different potential modulations on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

The topography of platinum electrodes produced by electrodeposition (19 to 200 mC cm-2) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) under different potential modulations was investigated by atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and H-atom electrosorption voltammetry. To modulate electrodeposition, (i) triangular potential cycling at 0.1 V s-1, (ii) a linear cathodic potential at 0.1 V s-1 and anodic potential step cycling, and (iii) square wave potential cycling at 5000 Hz were utilized. AFM and STM imaging showed that at lower platinum loading the HOPG surface was partially covered by a 3D sublayer of platinum. Electrodes produced by procedure (i) were made of faceted platinum aggregates of about 200 nm and nanoclusters in the range of 5-20 nm; those that resulted from procedure (ii) consisted of anisotropic aggregates of nanoclusters arranged as quasi-parallel domains. These electrodes from (i) and (ii) behaved as fractal objects. The electrodes resulting from procedure (iii) exhibited a flat surface that behaved as a Euclidean object. For all WEs, as the platinum loading was increased the HOPG surface was fully covered by a thin 3D layer of platinum aggregates produced by electrodeposition and coalescence phenomena. Large platinum loading led to electrodes with fractal geometry. Statistical parameters (root-mean-square height, skewedness, kurtosis, anisotropy, Abbot curve, number of protrusions and valleys, and fractal dimension) were obtained from the analysis of AFM and STM imaging data. Platinum electrodeposition coupled to either H-adatom formation for procedures (i) and (ii) or phonon dispersion for (iii) was involved in the surface atom rearrangements related to electrofaceting. The H-adatom electrosorption voltammetry data were used to evaluate the real electrode surface area via the voltammetric charge and to advance a tentative explanation of the contribution of the different crystallographic facets to the global electrochemical process dominated by weak H-Pt adsorption interactions.     

Antihepatotoxic and antioxidant activities of methanol extract and isolated compounds from Ficus chlamydocarpa

Free radicals, in particular radical oxygen species (ROS), play an important role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of various diseases. Current research in many countries focuses on the use of local medicinal plants as a promising source of liver protective agents. This paper describes the hepatoprotective effects of the methanol extract and four isolated compounds from Ficus chlamydocarpa on CCl4-induced liver damage, as well as the possible antioxidant mechanisms involved in this protection. The DPPH test, along with the beta-Carotene-Linoleic Acid Model System and Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power assays, as well as the inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation were used to measure radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities. Pretreatment of rats with the methanol extract of F. chlamydocarpa before CCl4 administration, significantly prevented serum increase of hepatic enzyme markers, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), in a dose-dependent manner. The hepatoprotection was also associated with a significant enhancement in hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and a marked decrease of liver malondialdehyde (MDA). Among the four compounds 1-4, isolated from the methanol extract, alpha-amyrin acetate (1) and luteolin (4) showed a significant hepatoprotective activity, as indicated by their ability to prevent liver cell death and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage during CCl4 intoxication.