Reciprocal polarization imaging of complex media

The vectorial evolution of polarized light interaction with a medium can reveal its microstructure and anisotropy beyond what can be obtained from scalar light interaction. Anisotropic properties (diattenuation, retardance, and depolarization) of a complex medium can be quantified by polarization imaging by measuring the Mueller matrix. However, polarization imaging in the reflection geometry, ubiquitous and often preferred in diverse applications, has suffered a poor recovery of the medium's anisotropic properties due to the lack of suitable decomposition of the Mueller matrices measured inside a backward geometry. Here, we present reciprocal polarization imaging of complex media after introducing reciprocal polar decomposition for backscattering Mueller matrices. Based on the reciprocity of the optical wave in its forward and backward scattering paths, the anisotropic diattenuation, retardance, and depolarization of a complex medium are determined by measuring the backscattering Mueller matrix. We demonstrate reciprocal polarization imaging in various applications for quantifying complex non-chiral and chiral media (birefringence resolution target, tissue sections, and glucose suspension), uncovering their anisotropic microstructures with remarkable clarity and accuracy. We also highlight types of complex media that Lu-Chipman and differential decompositions of backscattering Mueller matrices lead to erroneous medium polarization properties, whereas reciprocal polar decomposition recovers properly. Reciprocal polarization imaging will be instrumental in imaging complex media from remote sensing to biomedicine and will open new applications of polarization optics in reflection geometry

Green synthesis of Au-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles: Single-step bioreduction method with plant extract

A facile and eco-friendly method for the preparation of Au-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles (similar to 7 nm) has been developed based on simultaneous bioreduction of Au(III) and Pd(II) precursors with Cacumen Platycladi leaf extract in aqueous environment. The morphology, structure, and size were confirmed with the aid of transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction. UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the C=O and C-O groups in the plant extract played a critical role in capping the nanoparticles. Importantly, the process can be described as pure "green chemistry" technique since no additional synthetic reagents are used as reductants or stabilizers. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.National Natural Science Foundation of China[21036004, 20976146]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China[2010J05032, 2010J01052]WOS:00029506830004

Geometry and kinematics for a spherical-base integrated parallel mechanism

Parallel mechanisms, in general, have a rigid base and a moving platform connected by several limbs. For achieving higher mobility and dexterity, more degrees of freedom are introduced to the limbs. However, very few researchers focus on changing the design of the rigid base and making it foldable and reconfigurable to improve the performance of the mechanism. Inspired by manipulating an object with a metamorphic robotic hand, this paper presents for the first time a parallel mechanism with a reconfigurable base. This novel spherical-base integrated parallel mechanism has an enlarged workspace compared with traditional parallel manipulators. Evolution and structure of the proposed parallel mechanism is introduced and the geometric constraint of the mechanism is investigated based on mechanism decomposition. Further, kinematics of the proposed mechanism is reduced to the solution of a univariate polynomial of degree 8. Moreover, screw theory based Jacobian is presented followed by the velocity analysis of the mechanism

Inductive Method for Evaluating RFID Security Protocols

Authentication protocol verification is a difficult problem. The problem of “state space explosion” has always been inevitable in the field of verification. Using inductive characteristics, we combine mathematical induction and model detection technology to solve the problem of “state space explosion” in verifying the OSK protocol and VOSK protocol of RFID system. In this paper, the security and privacy of protocols in RFID systems are studied and analysed to verify the effectiveness of the combination of mathematical induction and model detection. We design a (r,s,t)-security experiment on the basis of privacy experiments in the RFID system according to the IND-CPA security standard in cryptography, using mathematical induction to validate the OSK protocol and VOSK protocol. Finally, the following conclusions are presented. The OSK protocol cannot resist denial of service attacks or replay attacks. The VOSK protocol cannot resist denial of service attacks but can resist replay attacks. When there is no limit on communication, the OSK protocol and VOSK protocol possess (r,s,t)-privacy; that is to say they can resist denial of service attacks

Green synthesis of Au/TS-1 catalysts via two novel modes and their surprising performance for propylene epoxidation

In this communication, we report on the preparation of active Au/TS-1 catalysts via two green modes, namely, sol-immobilization method and adsorption-reduction method by using plant extract. Experimental results manifested that bioreduction Au/TS-1 catalysts exhibited excellent performance in vapor phase propylene epoxidation with H(2)/O(2) mixture, especially in view of the fact that the optimal propylene conversion (12.6%) and H(2) efficiency (48.9%) are the highest in data reported so far. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt on the preparation of bioreduction Au/TS-1 catalysts for propylene epoxidation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.National Natural Science Foundation of China[21036004, 20576109, 20776120, 20976146, 30700020]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China[2010J05032, 2010J01052, 2008J0169

A novel internet sampling for HIV surveillance: feasibility of self-sampling and preparation of DBS for delivery detection of HIV total nucleic acid and complementarity to sentinel surveillance

Abstract Background To propose a new mode of HIV test and surveillance among population of men who have sex with men (MSM): Internet-based Self-sampling at home plus Laboratory testing of HIV total nucleic acid (TNA) in dried blood spot (DBS) (ISL of DBS TNA). Feasibility of ISL of DBS TNA was studied. Characteristics of the new mode and that of conventional surveillance mode at HIV voluntary counseling and testing clinic (VCT) were compared. Methods A non-governmental organization (NGO) published the recruitment information on the WeChat public account. MSM filled in the questionnaire online, applied for self-sampling service package, and mailed the self made DBS to professional laboratory. The laboratory performed HIV TNA test and submitted the test results to online platform. Participants queried test results online with their unique ID. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) followed up participants with positive nucleic acid results using IDs and contact information. Rates were compared by using the Chi-Square test or Fisher's exact test. Results Four hundred twenty-three questionnaires were completed. 423 self-sampling service packages were sent out and 340 DBSs were returned to professional laboratory within one month with qualified rate of sampling as high as 95.0% (323/340). Seven samples were found to be TNA positive. Comparing ISL of DBS TNA with sentinel surveillance, it was found that there was a significant difference in the composition ratio of the two modes of surveillance population (P < 0.05). HIV prevalence of ISL of DBS as 2.17% was significantly lower than sentinel site as 8.96% (χ 2  = 14.953, P = 0.000 < 0.05). Conclusions ISL of DBS TNA proposed is feasible and has a high self-sampling qualification rate, good confidentiality. It is an effective supplement to routine sentinel surveillance and has important promotion value

Energy and spectral analysis of confined solar flares from radio and X-ray observations

International audienceThe energy and spectral shape of radio bursts may help us understand the generation mechanism of solar eruptions, including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, eruptive filaments, and various scales of jets. The different kinds of flares may have different characteristics of energy and spectral distribution. In this work, we selected 10 mostly confined flare events during October 2014 to investigate their overall spectral behaviour and the energy emitted in microwaves by using radio observations from microwaves to interplanetary radio waves, and X-ray observations of GOES, RHESSI, and Fermi/GBM. We found that: all the confined flare events were associated with a microwave continuum burst extending to frequencies of 9.4 ∼ 15.4 GHz, and the peak frequencies of all confined flare events are higher than 4.995 GHz and lower than or equal to 17 GHz. The median value is around 9 GHz. The microwave burst energy (or fluence) and the peak frequency are found to provide useful criteria to estimate the power of solar flares. The observations imply that the magnetic field in confined flares tends to be stronger than that in 412 flares studied by Nita et al. (2004). All 10 events studied did not produce detectable hard X-rays with energies above ∼300 keV indicating the lack of efficient acceleration of electrons to high energies in the confined flares

The Structure, Function, and Regulation of Starch Synthesis Enzymes SSIII with Emphasis on Maize

Starch biosynthesis is a complex and highly controlled process that requires coordinated activities among multiple enzymes. Starch synthase III (SSIII) is the largest protein in the starch synthase complex and its function is to lengthen long-chain amylopectin in starch synthesis. It potentially affects the activity of other key enzymes in starch synthesis through protein–protein interactions; therefore, its function and regulation play a predominant role in starch synthesis. In this review, we summarized the main research of SSIII including its biochemical characteristics, structural features, expression atlas, and regulation means. Structural features and expressional analysis indicated that SSIIIa is the main functional protein in maize endosperm rather than SSIIIb-a and SSIIIb-b, even though they are similar in the tertiary structures. The regulation investigation of SSIIIa showed that there are 13 transcription factors that control the transcription of SSIIIa. Interaction network analysis showed that SSIIIa could be involved with ten other key enzymes in starch synthesis. In conclusion, this review considerably extends our understanding of SSIII and provides the theoretical basis for improving starch synthesis by SSIII in maize

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles by Cacumen Platycladi leaf extract and its simulated solution: toward the plant-mediated biosynthetic mechanism

In this study, biogenic fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), respectively, by Cacumen Platycladi leaf extract and the simulation of its active components were thoroughly investigated. The simulated solution was prepared based on components measurement and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of Cacumen Platycladi leaf extract before and after reaction. Several analytic methods such as UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric study were adopted to characterize the AuNPs. The results showed that flavonoid and reducing sugar were the main reductive and protective components in the extract vital in the biosynthesis of the AuNPs. In addition, pH of the reaction solution was proved to be the most significant factor upon the synthesis process. The bioreduction mechanism of chloroaurate ions and the formation mechanism of AuNPs were also discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on plausible elucidation of the biosynthetic mechanism through comparative study between a plant extract and its simulated solution.National Natural Science Foundation of China[21036004, 20776120, 20976146, 30700020]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China[2010J05032, 2010J01052]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[2010121051