Motion detection using block based bi-directional optical flow method

Detecting moving objects from video frame sequences has a lot of useful applications in computer vision. This proposed method of moving object detection first estimates the bi-directional optical flow fields between (i) the current frame and the previous frame and between (ii) the current frame and the next frame. The bi-directional optical flow field is then subjected to normalization and enhancement. Each normalized and enhanced optical flow field is then divided into non-overlapping blocks. The moving objects are finally detected in the form of binary blobs by examining the histogram based thresholded values of such optical flow field of each block as well as the optical flow field of the candidate flow value. Our technique has been conceptualized, implemented and tested on real video data sets with complex background environment. The experimental results and quantitative evaluation establish that our technique achieves effective and efficient results than other existing methods.     

Synthesis and enrichment of a macromolecular surface modifier PP-b-PVP for polypropylene

Polypropylene-block-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) copolymer was synthesized through the esterification of dicarboxyl-terminated polypropylene with monohydroxyl-terminated poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and used as a macromolecular surface modifier to improve the surface hydrophilicity of PP. The results of ATR-FTIR and contact angles measurements indicated that PP-b-PVP could diffuse preferably onto the surface by the inducement of high energy interface and lower the water contact angle of polypropylene. Lower loading and lower molecular weight of PP and PVP segment would result in higher surface selective enrichment.     

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(ϵ-CAPROLACTONE) AND POLY(ϵ-CAPROLACTONE-b-ISOBUTYLENE-b-ϵ-CAPROLACTONE) BLOCK COPOLYMERS BY MALDI-TOF MASS SPECTROMETRY

Poly(?-caprolactone)(PC1) and PC1-polyisobutylene-PC1 (PC1-PIB-PC1) block copolymers were synthesized in anhydrous toluene by in situ conversion of 2-methyl-1-propanol (2M1P) and α,ω-dihydroxy PIB, respectively, to the corresponding aluminum alkoxide by reaction with a stoichiometric amount of triethylaluminum (TEA) followed by the addition of e-caprolactone. Structural characterization of 2M1P-initiated PCl by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) demonstrated the presence of cyclic oligomers, which are produced by intramolecular transesterification reactions that become significant at high monomer conversions. A minor fraction of chains bearing carboxylic acid termini was also observed in the MALDI-TOF mass spectrum; however, carboxylic acid chain ends could not be detected by ¹³C NMR analysis. Thus, the likely origin of the carboxylic acid termini is fragmentation of the initiator residue from the chain end during MALDI-TOF analysis. For PCl-PIB-PCl block copolymers, two different α,ω-telechelic PIB diols were used as macroinitiators, one derived from allyl and one from isopropenyl terminated PIB. Terminal olefins were converted to primary alcohols via regioselective hydroboration followed by alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation. After reaction with ?-caprolactone, formation of a block copolymer was evidenced by a shift of the polymer peak to lower elution volume in GPC analysis. Block copolymers possessed molecular weight distributions ≤1.4, and molecular weights of the PCl blocks calculated from GPC were in excellent agreement with those found using MALDI-TOF MS. Structural analysis indicated that the PCl end blocks were severed from the crude block copolymer during MS analysis, for both allyl- and isopropenyl-derived materials. For allyl-derived materials the PCl blocks were found to predominantly carry a C₂ residue at the point of detachment of the PIB block; however, the isopropenyl-derived block copolymers showed a complex mixture of different residues suggesting a complex fragmentation mechanism during loss of the PIB block.     

Further Studies on the Anionic Copolymerization of Styrene and Glycidyl Methacrylate in Toluene

Sequential anionic copolymerization of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was performed with the protection of argon under normal pressure, where styrene, GMA, toluene, THF, n-butyllithium and a small amount of lithium chloride (LiCl) were used as first monomer, second monomer, solvent, polar reagent, initiator and additive, respectively. Polystyrene-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers (PS-b-PGMA) with well-defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution were prepared by the copolymerization reaction of poly(styryl)lithium with GMA under certain temperatures. The copolymers were characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and hydrochloric acid-dioxane argentimetric methods. The effects of additives, copolymerization temperature and THF dosage on the copolymerization were studied. No chain transfer reaction of anionic polymerization of styrene in toluene was observed. Slightly broader molecular weight distribution of PS-b-PGMA was observed with the increase the GMA repeat units. Using THF/toluene blend solvent could reduce the polydispersity index (M _w /M _n ) and dissolve the copolymer better than toluene alone. Lower temperature (< -40°C) and LiCl are required to prepare PS-b-PGMA with narrower molecular weight distribution.     

SYNTHESIS OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)-SILICA NANO-COMPOSITES. II. POLY[METHYL METHACRYLATE-block-(METHYL METHACRYLATE-co-2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE)]

ABSTRACT

One kind of poly(methyl methacrylate [MMA]-block-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate [HEMA]) block copolymer and two kinds of poly[MMA1-block-(MMA-co-HEMA)] block-random copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. Then, poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA]-silica nano composites were synthesized by blending perhydropolysilazane (PHPS: NN-110) and block or block-random copolymers in 1,4-dioxane and casting the blend solutions. All composite films were transparent. Silica and organic domains were microphase separated in the composites. The effects of PHEMA content and blend ratio of PHPS to hydroxyl group on the microphase separation were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal properties of the composites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravitic analysis (TGA).     

Synthesis and Complexation Studies of a Convex Bis-porphyrin Tweezer—A Molecular Capsule Precursor

The synthesis and spectroscopic studies of a convex bis-porphyrin based molecular tweezer are reported. The complexation of small bidentate ligands by metallated derivatives of the bis-porphyrin host were monitored through UV–visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and yielded large association constants.     

Interactions Between Polymers and Nanoparticles: Formation of “Supermicellar” Hybrid Aggregates

Abstract

When polyelectrolyte‐neutral block copolymers are mixed in solutions to oppositely charged species (e.g., surfactant micelles, macromolecules, proteins, etc.), there is the formation of stable “supermicellar” aggregates combining both components. The resulting colloidal complexes exhibit a core‐shell structure, and the mechanism yielding to their formation is electrostatic self‐assembly. In this contribution, we report on the structural properties of “supermicellar” aggregates made from yttrium‐based inorganic nanoparticles (radius 2 nm) and polyelectrolyte‐neutral block copolymers in aqueous solutions. The yttrium hydroxyacetate particles were chosen as a model system for inorganic colloids, and also for their use in industrial applications as precursors for ceramic and opto‐electronic materials. The copolymers placed under scrutiny are the water‐soluble and asymmetric poly(sodium acrylate)‐b‐poly(acrylamide) diblocks. Using static and dynamical light‐scattering experiments, we demonstrate the analogy between surfactant micelles and nanoparticles in the complexation phenomenon with oppositely charged polymers. We also determine the sizes and the aggregation numbers of the hybrid organic–inorganic complexes. Several additional properties are discussed, such as the remarkable stability of the hybrid aggregates and the dependence of their sizes on the mixing conditions.     

Recent developments in polymer–block–polypeptide and protein–polymer bioconjugate hybrid materials

In the last few years, polymer bioconjugates have been shown to be useful in many emerging areas of materials science. Consequently, the synthesis of polymer bioconjugates has suddenly become a central topic in polymer chemistry. The versatility and robust nature of modern synthetic methods such as controlled radical polymerisation (CLRP),¹ ring-opening polymerisation (ROP), and ‘click’ chemistry make them excellent tools for the preparation of tailor-made polymer bioconjugates. CLRP in combination with other techniques has been shown to be a mature technology for building tailor-made block copolymers and protein–polymer conjugates with a wide range of applications, especially in biomedical domains. This review describes the recent advances and progress in the rapidly expanding field of bioconjugation, outlining the work performed up to 2012.     

Collagen and collagen mimetic peptide conjugates in polymer science

Collagen, the most abundant protein in animal kingdom, has attracted scientists in supramolecular chemistry, biomedical and materials science. This review describes the recent developments and progress of collagen mimetic peptide based materials. Research on collagen mimetic peptides was initially developed by biochemists to elucidate the structure and stability of collagen, followed by biologists and polymer chemists to produce nanostructured fibrous scaffolds with collagen mimetic peptides as the building blocks. Modern synthesis methods have been developed and particular ligation chemistries basing on activated ester, click chemistry, carbodiimide chemistry or other ligation chemistries provide versatile methods to prepare collagen–polymer conjugates. These conjugates with collagen mimetic peptides as the building blocks show exciting stimuli responsive or spontaneously assembly behavior. The corresponding synthetic techniques of well-defined collagen architectures and assembly behaviors are discussed in detail in the present review.     

Local environment influence on the optical properties of block copolymers containing an epoxy-based azo-prepolymer

The aim of this contribution was the study of the influence of polymer matrix on the photo-induced orientation of azobenzene groups. Notably, an azo-prepolymer bearing hydroxyl groups was selectively confined in self-assembled phases of different block copolymers, randomly-epoxidized polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene (SBSep) and polystyrene-b-poly-4-vinylpyridine (S4VP). The formation of hydrogen bonds between the azo-prepolymer and poly-4-vinylpyridine block, as well as the effect of the local environment surrounding the azo-prepolymer were investigated by Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopies. In addition, the reversible optical storage properties of the developed materials were also studied. Birefringent properties of the systems based on S4VP were strongly enhanced by intermolecular interactions with the azo-prepolymer. Specifically, the maximum birefringence level attained by a system containing 13 wt% of azobenzene was around 2.3 × 10⁻² and its remaining birefringence was nearly three times higher than that of the neat azo-prepolymer. Furthermore, a morphological analysis of the designed materials was carried out by atomic force microscopy. Taking into account that the control of the microdomains ordering in block copolymer films is of current interest, special attention was focused on the influence of different variables on the arrangement of the block copolymer microdomains.