Super-Resolution Reconstruction of Images Based on Microarray Camera

In the field of images and imaging, super-resolution (SR) reconstruction of images is a technique that converts one or more low-resolution (LR) images into a highresolution (HR) image. The classical two types of SR methods are mainly based on applying a single image or multiple images captured by a single camera. Microarray camera has the characteristics of small size, multi views, and the possibility of applying to portable devices. It has become a research hotspot in image processing. In this paper, we propose a SR reconstruction of images based on a microarray camera for sharpening and registration processing of array images. The array images are interpolated to obtain a HR image initially followed by a convolution neural network (CNN) procedure for enhancement. The convolution layers of our convolution neural network are 3×3 or 1×1 layers, of which the 1×1 layers are used to improve the network performance particularly. A bottleneck structure is applied to reduce the parameter numbers of the nonlinear mapping and to improve the nonlinear capability of the whole network. Finally, we use a 3×3 deconvolution layer to significantly reduce the number of parameters compared to the deconvolution layer of FSRCNN-s. The experiments show that the proposed method can not only ameliorate effectively the texture quality of the target image based on the array images information, but also further enhance the quality of the initial high resolution image by the improved CNN.     

Supramolecular Assembly of Aminoethylene‐Lipopeptide PMO Conjugates into RNA Splice‐Switching Nanomicelles

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) are oligonucleotide analogs that can be used for therapeutic modulation of pre‐mRNA splicing. Similar to other classes of nucleic acid‐based therapeutics, PMOs require delivery systems for efficient transport to the intracellular target sites. Here, artificial peptides based on the oligo(ethylenamino) acid succinyl‐tetraethylenpentamine (Stp), hydrophobic modifications, and an azide group are presented, which are used for strain‐promoted azide‐alkyne cycloaddition conjugation with splice‐switching PMOs. By systematically varying the lead structure and formulation, it is determined that the type of contained fatty acid and supramolecular assembly have a critical impact on the delivery efficacy. A compound containing linolenic acid with three cis double bonds exhibits the highest splice‐switching activity and significantly increases functional protein expression in pLuc/705 reporter cells in vitro and after local administration in vivo. Structural and mechanistic studies reveal that the lipopeptide PMO conjugates form nanoparticles, which accelerate cellular uptake and that the content of unsaturated fatty acids enhances endosomal escape. In an in vitro Duchenne muscular dystrophy exon skipping model using H2K‐mdx52 dystrophic skeletal myotubes, the highly potent PMO conjugates mediate significant splice‐switching at very low nanomolar concentrations. The presented aminoethylene‐lipopeptides are thus a promising platform for the generation of PMO‐therapeutics with a favorable activity/toxicity profile.     

Preparation of highly conductive reduced graphite oxide/poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate) composites via miniemulsion polymerization

Polymer/reduced graphite oxide (rGO) composite nanoparticles with a high electrical conductivity were synthesized using the miniemulsion polymerization technique. The rGO was modified with a reactive surfactant, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), to facilitate monomer intercalation into the rGO nanogalleries. The AMPS-modified rGO was emulsified in the presence of styrene (St) and butyl acrylate (BA) monomers, and the stable miniemulsion was polymerized to form poly(St-co-BA)/rGO composite latex nanoparticles. The transition in the composite nanoparticles from an electrical insulator to an electrical conductor occurred at an rGO content of 10 wt% (relative to the monolayer content), yielding an electrical conductivity of 0.49 S/cm. The electrical conductivity of the composite nanoparticles reached 2.22 S/cm at 20 wt% rGO, yielding a much better conductivity than other polymer composites prepared using a GO filler. Importantly, the miniemulsion polymerization method for fabricating poly(St-co-BA)/rGO composite nanoparticles is easy, green, low-cost, and scalable, providing a universal route to the rational design and engineering of highly conductive polymer composites.     

The Struggle to Compete: From comparative to competitive advantage in Northern British Columbia

The social, economic, and political landscape of northern British Columbia (BC), Canada, has undergone considerable transformation since a recession in the early 1980s. From this, there is an emerging recognition of the need to move from an economy based upon comparative advantage to one embracing competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper, drawn from ongoing regional research, is twofold. First, we apply a rural lens to the regional planning and development literature, which highlights the significance of competitive advantage as a tool for regional rejuvenation. Second, we add to this dialogue by exploring the relevance and meaning of competitive advantage in the non-metropolitan setting of northern BC.     

Morphology and mechanical properties of dual‐curable epoxyacrylate hybrid composites

A dual‐curable epoxyacrylate (EA) oligomer with one epoxide group and one vinyl group at each end was synthesized for the application as adhesive sealant in the liquid crystal display panels. However, after UV and thermal cure, the EA resin was brittle with a poor resistance to crack initiation and propagation. Liquid rubbers with different functional end groups were thus tried as toughening agents for the EA resin. Among all the rubber‐toughened EAs, the EA‐V5A5 added with vinyl‐terminated and amino‐terminated butadiene‐acrylonitrile copolymers (VTBN and ATBN) each at 5 phr had the highest fracture toughness, tensile strength, and elongation at break but a lower initial modulus. To raise the modulus, submicron‐sized silica particles (∼170 nm) with surface vinyl functional groups were further added to the EA‐V5A5 to prepare the hybrid composites. Because of interfacial chemical bonding provided by the surface vinyl functional groups, both modulus and fracture toughness were increased by adding silica particles, without any appreciable decrease in extensibility. For the hybrid composite at 20 phr silica particles, the initial modulus, fracture toughness, and fracture energy were raised by 10.3, 100, and 267%, respectively, when compared to the neat epoxyacrylate. Owing to their strong interfacial bonding, the increase of fracture toughness was mainly due to the crack deflection and bifurcation on silica particles, in addition to the rubber particle bridging and tearing as evidenced by SEM pictures on the fracture surface. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41820.     

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable polymer blends from poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/poly(vinyl acetate)‐modified corn starch

Biodegradable polymer blends prepared by blending poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and corn starch do not form intact films due to their incompatibility and brittle behavior. For improving their compatibility and flexibility, poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was grafted from the corn starch to prepare the PVAc‐modified corn starch (CSV). The resulting CSV consisted of 47.2 wt% starch‐g‐PVAc copolymer and 52.8 wt% PVAc homopolymer and its structure was verified by FT‐IR analysis. In comparison with 35°C of the neat PVAc, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the grafted PVAc chains on starch‐g‐PVAc was higher at 44°C because of the hindered molecular mobility imposed from starch on the grafted PVAc. After blending PHB with the CSV, structure and thermal properties of the blends were investigated. Only a single T_g was found for all the PHB/CSV blends and increased with increasing the CSV content. The T_g‐composition dependence of the PHB/CSV blends was well‐fitted with the Gordon‐Taylor equation, indicating that the CSV was compatible with the PHB. In addition, the presence of the CSV could raise the thermal stability of the PHB component. It was also found that the presence of the PHB and PVAc components would not hinder the enzymatic degradation of the corn starch by α‐amylase. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1321–1329, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

High‐Throughput Continuous Flow Production of Nanoscale Liposomes by Microfluidic Vertical Flow Focusing

Liposomes represent a leading class of nanoparticles for drug delivery. While a variety of techniques for liposome synthesis have been reported that take advantage of microfluidic flow elements to achieve precise control over the size and polydispersity of nanoscale liposomes, with important implications for nanomedicine applications, these methods suffer from extremely limited throughput, making them impractical for large‐scale nanoparticle synthesis. High aspect ratio microfluidic vertical flow focusing is investigated here as a new approach to overcoming the throughput limits of established microfluidic nanoparticle synthesis techniques. Here the vertical flow focusing technique is utilized to generate populations of small, unilamellar, and nearly monodisperse liposomal nanoparticles with exceptionally high production rates and remarkable sample homogeneity. By leveraging this platform, liposomes with modal diameters ranging from 80 to 200 nm are prepared at production rates as high as 1.6 mg min⁻¹ in a simple flow‐through process.     

Hetero‐Nanonet Rechargeable Paper Batteries: Toward Ultrahigh Energy Density and Origami Foldability

Forthcoming smart energy era is in strong pursuit of full‐fledged rechargeable power sources with reliable electrochemical performances and shape versatility. Here, as a naturally abundant/environmentally friendly cellulose‐mediated cell architecture strategy to address this challenging issue, a new class of hetero‐nanonet (HN) paper batteries based on 1D building blocks of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs)/multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is demonstrated. The HN paper batteries consist of CNF/MWNT‐intermingled heteronets embracing electrode active powders (CM electrodes) and microporous CNF separator membranes. The CNF/MWNT heteronet‐mediated material/structural uniqueness enables the construction of 3D bicontinuous electron/ion transport pathways in the CM electrodes, thus facilitating electrochemical reaction kinetics. Furthermore, the metallic current collectors‐free, CNF/MWNT heteronet architecture allows multiple stacking of CM electrodes in series, eventually leading to user‐tailored, ultrathick (i.e., high‐mass loading) electrodes far beyond those accessible with conventional battery technologies. Notably, the HN battery (multistacked LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (cathode)/multistacked graphite (anode)) provides exceptionally high‐energy density (=226 Wh kg^?1 per cell at 400 W kg^?1 per cell), which surpasses the target value (=200 Wh kg^?1 at 400 W kg^?1) of long‐range (=300 miles) electric vehicle batteries. In addition, the heteronet‐enabled mechanical compliance of CM electrodes, in combination with readily deformable CNF separators, allows the fabrication of paper crane batteries via origami folding technique.     

Reinforced concrete and masonry arch bridges in seismic areas: typical deficiencies and retrofitting strategies

In recent years, appraisal of the condition and rehabilitation of existing bridges has become an ongoing problem for bridge owners and administrators in all developed countries. Reliable methodologies are therefore needed in the assessment and retrofit design phases, to identify the vulnerability of each bridge class. The specific problems of common arch bridge types are discussed herein, for both reinforced concrete and masonry structures, proper interventions for their static and seismic retrofitting are illustrated and several examples of applications are provided. Retrofitting is usually coupled with functional refurbishment, according to a methodological approach that takes into account bridge characteristics, state of maintenance and functional requirements, and environmental aspects connected with repair and strengthening systems.