WavNet — Visual saliency detection using Discrete Wavelet Convolutional Neural Network

In the recent advancements in image and video analysis, the detection of salient regions in the image becomes the initial step. This plays a crucial role in deciding the performance of such algorithms. In this work, a Multi-Resolution Feature Extraction (MRFE) technique that makes use of Discrete Wavelet Convolutional Neural Network (DWCNN) for generating features is employed. An Enhanced Feature Extraction (EFE) module extracts additional features from the high level features of the DWCNN, which are used to frame both channel as well as spatial attention models for yielding contextual attention maps. A new hybrid loss function is also proposed, which is a combination of Balanced Cross Entropy (BCE) loss and Edge based Structural Similarity (ESSIM) loss that effectively identifies and segments the salient regions with clear boundaries. The method is tested exhaustively with five different benchmark datasets and is proved superior to the existing state-of-the-art methods with a minimum Mean Absolute error (MAE) of 0.03 and F-measure of 0.956.     

A Highly Sensitive,Reversible, and Bidirectional Humidity Actuator by Calcium Carbonate Ionic Oligomers Incorporated Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)

Sensitivity and multi-directional motivation are major two factors for developing optimized humidity-response materials, which are promising for sensing, energy production, etc. Organic functional groups are commonly used as the water sensitive units through hydrogen bond interactions with water molecules in actuators. The multi-coordination ability of inorganic ions implies that the inorganic ionic compounds are potentially superior water sensitive units. However, the particle forms of inorganic ionic compounds produced by classical nucleation limit the number of exposed ions to interact with water. Recent progress on the inorganic ionic oligomers has broken through the limitation of classical nucleation, and realized the molecular-scaled incorporation of inorganic ionic compounds into an organic matrix. Here, the incorporation of hydrophilic calcium carbonate ionic oligomers into hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is demonstrated. The ultra-small calcium carbonate oligomers within a PVDF film endow it with an ultra-sensitive, reversible, and bidirectional response. The motivation ability is superior to other bidirectional humidity-actuators at present, which realizes self-motivation on an ice surface, converting the chemical potential energy of the humidity gradient from ice to kinetic energy.     

Non-Halogenated-Solvent Processed and Additive-Free Tandem Organic Solar Cell with Efficiency Reaching 16.67%

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have recently reached a remarkably high efficiency and become a promising technology for commercial application. However, OSCs with top efficiency are mostly processed by halogenated solvents and with additives that are not environmentally friendly, which hinders large-scale manufacture. In this study, high-performance tandem OSCs, based on polymer donors and two small-molecule acceptors with different bandgaps, are fabricated by solution processing with non-halogenated solvents without additive. Importantly, the two active layers developed from non-halogenated solvents show better phase segregation and charge transport properties, leading to superior performance than halogenated ones. As a result, a tandem OSC with high efficiency of up to 16.67% is obtained, showing unique advantages in future massive production.     

Non-Platinum Group Metal Electrocatalysts toward Efficient Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction

Developing non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) electrocatalysts for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) represents the efforts towards the more economical use of hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen energy, which has attracted tremendous attention recently. However, non-PGM electrocatalysts for the HOR are still in their early development stages as compared with the significant advances in those for the oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, this paper summarizes the recent progresses and highlights the key challenges for the rational design of non-PGM electrocatalysts, aiming to promote the development of non-PGM HOR electrocatalysts. Fundamental understandings of the HOR mechanism are firstly reviewed, where theoretical interpretations on the low HOR kinetics in alkaline media, including the hydrogen binding energy theory, the bifunctional mechanism, and the water molecule reorganization, are particularly discussed. Subsequently, progresses of typical non-PGM HOR electrocatalysts in acid and alkaline media are summarized separately. For the HOR under alkaline conditions, the superiorities and challenges of Ni-based catalysts are discussed with a particular focus as they are the most promising non-PGM electrocatalysts. Finally, this paper highlights the challenges and provide perspectives on the future development directions of non-PGM HOR electrocatalysts.     

Engineering Bioactive M2 Macrophage-Polarized Anti-Inflammatory,Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Scaffolds for Rapid Angiogenesis and Diabetic Wound Repair

Diabetic wound healing still faces great challenges due to the excessive inflammation, easy infection, and impaired angiogenesis in wound beds. The immunoregulation of macrophages polarization toward M2 phenotype that facilitates the transition from inflammation to proliferation phase has been proved to be an effective way to improve diabetic wound healing. Herein, an M2 phenotype-enabled anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial conductive hydrogel scaffolds (GDFE) for producing rapid angiogenesis and diabetic wound repair are reported. The GDFE scaffolds are fabricated facilely through the dynamic crosslinking between polypeptide and polydopamine and graphene oxide. The GDFE scaffolds possess thermosensitivity, self-healing behavior, injectability, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ability, and electronic conductivity. GDFE effectively activates the polarization of macrophages toward M2 phenotype and significantly promotes the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, the migration, and in vitro angiogenesis of endothelial cells through paracrine mechanisms. The in vivo results from a full-thickness diabetic wound model demonstrate that GDFE can rapidly promote the diabetic wound repair and skin regeneration, through fast anti-inflammation and angiogenesis and M2 macrophage polarization. This study provides highly efficient strategy for treating diabetic wound repair through designing the M2 polarization-enabled anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial bioactive materials.     

Embedding carbon dots in Eu3+-doped metal-organic framework for label-free ratiometric fluorescence detection of Fe3+ ions

Fluorescent detection is a new spectroscopic measurement for ions sensing due to the advantages of real-time determination with high selectivity, accuracy, and low cost. However, chemosensors based on fluorescent detection are usually determined by absolute intensity from a monochromatic emission signal, which is easy to be fluctuated by the external environment, especially for Fe³⁺ detection in complex fluids. Herein, we rationally design a dual-emission Eu³⁺: CDs@ZIF-8 to construct a ratiometric fluorescent sensor with self-calibrating ability for Fe³⁺ determination. High efficient carbon dots (CDs) are embedded in europium ions (Eu³⁺)-doped MOF by simple stirring preparation at room temperature. The label-free ratiometric fluorescent probe (I_CDs@ZIF-8/I_Eu) exhibits simultaneous blue and red emission under the same excitation at 365 nm. Remarkably, Eu³⁺: CDs@ZIF-8 displays the superiority of high selectivity to Fe³⁺, which shows ratiometric fluorescence characteristics (I₀/I) in a range of 0-6 μmol\L with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.897 μmol\L. Besides, the CDs-MOF nanocomposite holds good aqueous dispersibility and low cytotoxicity, which shows great potential applications in medical aid including biological detection and clinical diagnosis.     

Nanocrystallization and optical properties of CsPbBr3−xIx perovskites in chalcogenide glasses

The confinement of CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, and I) perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) in a stabilized inorganic glass matrix is a new strategy for improving their long-term stability and promoting their applications in the optoelectronic field. Here, in situ nanocrystallization strategy is developed to precipitate CsPbBr_3?xI_x NCs with arbitrary I/Br ratio among an elaborately designed GeS₂–Sb₂S₃-based chalcogenide glass matrix. Spherical CsPbBr_3?xI_x NCs are homogeneously distributed in the glass matrix after thermal treatment. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra show that the emission peaks of CsPbBr_3?xI_x NCs can be tuned from 570 nm to 722 nm with the replacement of Br by I. The fs transient absorption (TA) spectra reveal that there exists some structural defects in the NCs, leading to short PL decay life. This work would shed light on confining CsPbX₃ NCs into glassy matrices, facilitating their future applications in photoelectronic fields.     

Enhanced methanol oxidation on PtNi nanoparticles supported on silane-modified reduced graphene oxide

Developing low cost, highly efficient, and long-term stability electrocatalysts are critical for direct oxidation methanol fuel cell. Despite huge efforts, designing low-cost electrocatalysts with high activity and long-term durability remains a significant technical challenge. Here, we prepared a new kind of platinum-nickel catalyst supported on silane-modified graphene oxide (NH₂-rGO) by a two-step method at room temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, Raman, FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirm that GO was successfully modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), which helps to uniformly disperse PtNi nanoparticles. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, CO-stripping and rotating disk electrode (RDE) results imply that PtNi/NH₂-rGO catalyst has significantly higher catalytic activity, enhance the CO toxicity resistance, higher stability and much faster kinetics of methanol oxidation than commercial Pt/C under alkaline conditions.     

基于心流理论的民艺体验产品设计要素研究

目的 探索民艺体验产品的设计方法，帮助用户实现沉浸式体验，提高用户对民艺产品的认同感，促进民艺的活态传承。方法 以竹编体验产品为例，通过用户观察、访谈并以用户体验地图的方式提取出“乌镇竹编”民艺产品在用户体验上的优点和痛点，结合心流理论，提出民艺体验产品的设计策略，同时优化“乌镇竹编”民艺体验产品。结论 经用户测试验证，最优的民艺体验产品除了要具备符合现代审美、工艺流程简化以及材料工具模块化等特征之外，还应具备以下设计要素:产品选择层次化、目标设置精细化、学习形式交互化、背景知识通俗化、作品分享社区化。     

Investigation of corrosion properties with Ni–P/TiNO coating on aluminum alloy bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Aluminum alloy bipolar plates have unique application potential in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) due to the characteristics of lightweight and low cost. However, extreme susceptibility to corrosion in PEMFC operation condition limits the application. To promote the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy bipolar plates, a Ni–P/TiNO coating was prepared by electroless plating and closed field unbalanced magnetron sputter ion plating (CFUMSIP) technology on the 6061 Al substrate. The research results show that Ni–P interlayer improves the deposition effect of TiNO outer layer and increase the content of TiN and TiO_xN_y phases. Compared to Ni–P and TiNO single-layer coatings, the Ni–P/TiNO coating samples exhibited the lowest current density value of (1.10 ± 0.02) × 10^?6 A·cm^?2 in simulated PEMFC cathode environment. Additionally, potential cyclic polarization measurements were carried out aiming to evaluate the durability of the aluminum alloy bipolar plate during the PEMFC start-up/shut-up process. The results illustrate that the Ni–P/TiNO coating samples exhibit excellent stability and corrosion resistance.