Image Super-Resolution Reconstruction Based On L1/2 Sparsity

Based on image sparse representation in the shearlet domain, we proposed a L1/2 sparsity regularized unconvex variation model for image super-resolution. The L1/2 regularizer term constrains the underlying image to have a sparse representation in shearlet domain. The fidelity term restricts the consistency with the measured imaged in terms of the data degradation model. Then, the variable splitting algorithm is used to break down the model into a series of constrained optimization problems which can be solved by alternating direction method of multipliers. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, both in its visual effects and in quantitative terms

Image Super-Resolution Reconstruction Based on L1/2 Sparsity

Based on image sparse representation in the shearlet domain, we proposed a L1/2 sparsity regularized unconvex variation model for image super-resolution. The L1/2 regularizer term constrains the underlying image to have a sparse representation in shearlet domain. The fidelity term restricts the consistency with the measured imaged in terms of the data degradation model. Then, the variable splitting algorithm is used to break down the model into a series of constrained optimization problems which can be solved by alternating direction method of multipliers. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, both in its visual effects and in quantitative terms

Anomalous thermo-osmotic conversion performance of ionic covalent-organic-framework membranes in response to charge variations

Authors of the article systematically investigated how the membrane charge populations affect permselectivity by decoupling their effects from the impact of the pore structure using a multivariate strategy for constructing covalent-organic-framework membranes. The complex interplay between pore-pore interactions in response to charge variations for ion transport across the upscaled nanoporous membranes helps explain the obtained results. This study has far-reaching implications for the rational design of ionic membranes to augment energy extraction rather than intuitively focusing on achieving high densities

Orbital angular momentum vector modes (de)multiplexer based on multimode micro-ring

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing has emerged as an important method to increase the communication capacities in future optical information technologies. In this work, we demonstrate a silicon integrated OAM (de)multiplexer with a very simple structure. By simply tapping the evanescent wave of two different whispering gallery modes rotating inside a multimodal micro-ring resonator, four in-plane waveguide modes are converted to four free-space vector OAM beams with high mode purity. We further demonstrate chip-to-chip OAM multiplexing transmission using a pair of silicon devices, which shows low-level mode crosstalk and favorable link performance

Integrated optical vortex beam receivers

A simple and ultra-compact integrated optical vortex beam receiver device is presented. The device is based on the coupling between the optical vortex modes and whispering gallery modes in a micro-ring resonator via embedded angular gratings, which provides the selective reception of optical vortex modes with definitive total angular momentum (summation of spin and orbital angular momentum) through the phase matching condition in the coupling process. Experimental characterization confirms the correct detection of the total angular momentum carried by the vortex beams incident on the device. In addition, photonic spin-controlled unidirectional excitation of whispering-gallery modes in the ring receiver is also observed, and utilized to differentiate between left- and right-circular polarizations and therefore unambiguously identify the orbital angular momentum of incident light. Such characteristics provide an effective mode-selective receiver for the eigen-modes in orbital angular momentum fiber transmission where the circularly polarized OAM modes can be used as data communications channels in multiplexed communications or as photonic states in quantum information applications

BnMs3 is required for tapetal differentiation and degradation, microspore separation, and pollen-wall biosynthesis in Brassica napus

7365AB, a recessive genetic male sterility system, is controlled by BnMs3 in Brassica napus, which encodes a Tic40 protein required for tapetum development. However, the role of BnMs3 in rapeseed anther development is still largely unclear. In this research, cytological analysis revealed that anther development of a Bnms3 mutant has defects in the transition of the tapetum to the secretory type, callose degradation, and pollen-wall formation. A total of 76 down-regulated unigenes in the Bnms3 mutant, several of which are associated with tapetum development, callose degeneration, and pollen development, were isolated by suppression subtractive hybridization combined with a macroarray analysis. Reverse genetics was applied by means of Arabidopsis insertional mutant lines to characterize the function of these unigenes and revealed that MSR02 is only required for transport of sporopollenin precursors through the plasma membrane of the tapetum. The real-time PCR data have further verified that BnMs3 plays a primary role in tapetal differentiation by affecting the expression of a few key transcription factors, participates in tapetal degradation by modulating the expression of cysteine protease genes, and influences microspore separation by manipulating the expression of BnA6 and BnMSR66 related to callose degradation and of BnQRT1 and BnQRT3 required for the primary cell-wall degradation of the pollen mother cell. Moreover, BnMs3 takes part in pollen-wall formation by affecting the expression of a series of genes involved in biosynthesis and transport of sporopollenin precursors. All of the above results suggest that BnMs3 participates in tapetum development, microspore release, and pollen-wall formation in B. napus

Analysis on the situation of subjective well-being and its influencing factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

BACKGROUND: To examine the subjective well-being (SWB) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared with the healthy controls, and to explore the associations between SWB and demographic characteristics, disease-specific variables in AS patients. METHODS: SWB was assessed with General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS) in 200 AS patients and 210 healthy controls. Comparisons among subgroups were performed to investigate how certain aspects operate as favorable or adverse factors in influencing SWB in the patients with AS. RESULTS: Both men and women with AS reported significantly impaired SWB on all scales of the GWBS except for the Control (O) scale. The results revealed that better sleep, lower disease activity and more family care predicted higher SWB. In AS patients, positive attitude towards therapy prospect was significantly associated with higher SWB. Therapy prospect refers to the hope of patients about the disease treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with general population, SWB might be affected by the onset of AS. There are significant associations between SWB and sleep quality, BASDAI, APGAR, therapy prospect

Chemical Detection using a Metal-Organic Framework Single Crystal Coupled to an Optical Fiber

The quantitative detection and real-time monitoring of target chemicals in the liquid phase are made possible by combining the tailored adsorption properties of metal-organic framework (MOF) material and the precise measuring capabilities of an optical fiber (OF) Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) device. As the single-crystal MOF host adsorbs target analyte guests from the environment, its dielectric properties change causing the reflection spectrum derived from the FPI device to shift. A single crystal of HKUST-1 was attached to the end-face of an OF to form the sensor OFUMOF (U, union). The sensor\u27s response curve was accurately measured using low concentrations of the target analyte nitrobenzene, an explosive simulant. Additionally, the uptake rate of nitrobenzene into the MOF single crystal was characterized. The experimental results show that the sensor achieved quantitative and real-time adsorption measurements of a target analyte

Reticular Synthesis of a Series of HKUST-like MOFs with Carbon Dioxide Capture and Separation

We reported a series of HKUST-like MOFs based on multiple copper-containing secondary building units (SBUs). Compound <b>1</b> is constructed by two SBUs: Cu₂­(CO₂)₄ paddle-wheel SBUs and Cu₂I₂ dimer SBUs. Compound <b>2</b> has Cu₂­(CO₂)₄ paddle-wheel SBUs and Cu₄I₄ SBUs. Furthermore, compound <b>3</b> possesses Cu₂­(CO₂)₄ paddle-wheel SBUs, Cu₂I₂ dimer SBUs, and Cu­(CO₂)₄ SBUs. These compounds are promising materials for CO₂ capture and separation, because they all display commendable adsorption of CO₂ and high selectivity for CO₂ over CH₄ and N₂. It is worthy to note that compound <b>1</b> exhibits the highest Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (ca. 901 m² g^–1) among the MOF materials based on Cu_<i>x</i>I_<i>y</i> SBUs. In addition, compound <b>3</b> is the first case that three copper SBUs coexist in MOFs