The design of error-correcting output codes algorithm for the open-set recognition

Applied Intelligence - The Open-Set recognition is an important topic in the pattern recognition research field. Different from the close-set recognition task, in the open-set recognition problem,...     

Replication of high-aspect-ratio nanopillar array for biomimetic gecko foot-hair prototype by UV nano embossing with anodic aluminum oxide mold

In this paper, we present a simple and cost-effective replication method of high-aspect-ratio polymer nanopillar array as a biomimetic gecko’s foot hair prototype. A UV nano embossing process was applied for the replication of polymer nanopillar arrays. Highly ordered straight nanoporous AAO (anodic aluminum oxide) templates were utilized as reusable master molds. Densely arranged high-aspect-ratio nanopillar arrays have been successfully fabricated by means of the UV nano embossing process with the AAO mold. Pull-off force measurements were carried out to characterize the adhesive force of the replicated nanopillar arrays on the polymer substrates based on the force–distance curves obtained from the atomic force microscope (AFM) with a modified AFM cantilever. The force measurement results showed that the larger diameter and the taller height of the nanopillars result in the larger adhesive force.     

Preparation of mesoporous activated carbon fibers by catalytic gasification

A commercial activated carbon fiber with micropores, CH700-20 (Kuraray), was reformed to a mesoporous one by catalytic gasification. The catalytic gasification was composed of two steps: CO₂ pretreatment and air oxidation. Cobalt was used as the catalyst and gasification was performed in the temperature range of 500–700 °C. BET surface area and pore volume of catalytically modified carbon fiber were analyzed by N₂ adsorption. BET surface area of the original CH700-20 was 1,711 m²/g, and the mesopore volume percentage was 11.9%. After catalytic gasification, BET surface area was similar to the original CH700-20, while mesopore volume percentage increased up to 56%. The average pore size of mesopores was 3–4 nm in diameter. The average size of mesopores could be controlled with nanometer resolution by varying the temperature and time of activation.     

Carbon nanotubes based on anodic aluminum oxide nano-template

The effect of reaction gas and catalyst on the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nano-template was investigated. A mechanism of CNT growth was proposed, which involves the competitive catalytic carbon deposition between on the Co catalyst particles electrodeposited at the bottom of the pores and on the AAO template itself. Presence of H₂ in the reacting gas mixture significantly affected the morphology and the wall structure of synthesized CNTs: CNTs of high crystallinity grew out of pores with H₂ while no CNTs overgrew in the absence of H₂. CNT synthesis by CO disproportionation showed a lower growth rate and a higher degree of ordering than those grown by C₂H₂ pyrolysis. The unified mechanism of CNT growth on AAO template is also proposed.     

Bioconjugated gold nanodots and nanoparticles for protein assays based on photoluminescence quenching

This study describes the first instance of the use of two differently sized Au nanoparticles (Au NPs), acting separately as donor and acceptor, in homogeneous photoluminescence quenching assays developed for the analysis of proteins. Introduction of a breast cancer marker protein, platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF AA), to a solution of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid-protected, 2.0-nm photoluminescent Au nanodots (L(AuND)) led to the preparation of PDGF AA-L(AuND) as the donor. Thiol-derivative PDGF binding aptamers (Apt) and 13-nm spherical Au NPs were used to synthesize the Apt-Q(AuNP) acceptor. The photoluminescence of PDGF AA-L(AuND) at 520 nm decreased when photoluminescence quenching occurred between Apt-Q(AuNP) and PDGF AA-L(AuND). We used the PDGF AA-L(AuND)/Apt-Q(AuNP)-based molecular light switching system to analyze PDGFs and PDGF alpha-receptor in separate homogeneous solutions. In the presence of PDGFs, the interaction between Apt-Q(AuNP) and PDGF AA-L(AuND) decreased as a result of competitive reactions between the PDGFs and Apt-Q(AuNP). Similarly, the interaction between Apt-Q(AuNP) and PDGF AA-L(AuND) reduced as a result of competitive reactions between PDGF alpha-receptor and PDGF AA-L(AuND). The limits of detection (LODs) for PDGF AA and PDGF alpha-receptor were 80 pM and 0.25 nM, respectively, resulting from a low background photoluminescence signal. When using the Apt-Q(AuNP) as selectors for (a) the enrichment of PDGF AA and (b) the removal of matrixes possessing intense background fluorescence from cell media and urine samples, the LOD for PDGF AA decreased to 10 pM. Unlike quantum dots, the L(AuND) provide the advantages of biocompatibility, ease of bioconjugation, and minimal toxicity.     

Porous ZnO-ZnSe nanocomposites for visible light photocatalysis

We report the synthesis of porous ZnO-ZnSe nanocomposites for use in visible light photocatalysis. Porous ZnO nanostructures were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction then converted into porous ZnO-ZnSe nanocomposites by a microwave-assisted dissolution-recrystallization process using an aqueous solution containing selenium ions. ZnO and ZnSe nanocrystallites of the nanocomposites were well-mixed (rather than forming simple core-shell (ZnO-ZnSe) structures), particularly, in the outer regions. Both ZnO and ZnSe were present at the surface and exposed to the environment. The porous ZnO-ZnSe nanocomposites showed absorption bands in the visible region as well as in the UV region. The porous ZnO-ZnSe nanocomposites had much higher activities than the porous ZnO nanostructures. Control experiments using cutoff filters revealed that the main photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanostructures arose from photo-excitation of the semiconductor (ZnO or ZnSe) via absorption of light of an energy equal to or exceeding the band gap energy.     

Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes using hemoglobin-based iron catalyst

Hemoglobin (Hb) was used as a catalyst for the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Hb was deposited onto a hydrophilic treated substrate by spin coating method. After oxidation at 800 °C, protein chains were decomposed and iron oxide nanoparticles remained with an average diameter of 2.29 nm. High quality SWCNTs were synthesized with an average diameter of 1.22 nm. The protein chains prevent iron atoms aggregation and so the size of the nanoparticles is smaller than that from ferritin-like proteins.     

Formation of quasi-single crystalline porous ZnO nanostructures with a single large cavity

We report a method for synthesizing quasi-single crystalline porous ZnO nanostructures containing a single large cavity. The microwave-assisted route consists of a short (about 2 min) temperature ramping stage (from room temperature to 120 °C) and a stage in which the temperature is maintained at 120 °C for 2 h. The structures produced by this route were 200-480 nm in diameter. The morphological yields of this method were very high. The temperature- and time-dependent evolution of the synthesized powders and the effects of an additive, vitamin C, were studied. Spherical amorphous/polycrystalline structures (70-170 nm in diameter), which appeared transitorily, may play a key role in the formation of the single crystalline porous hollow ZnO nanostructures. Studies and characterization of the nanostructures suggested a possible mechanism for formation of the quasi-single crystalline porous ZnO nanostructures with an interior space.     

Estimation of the heating value of oily mill sludges from steel plant

Heating values of oily mill sludges were measured and calculated. The calculated values with conventional equations showed severe discrepancies with measured ones. Most of the oxygen was confirmed to be associated with iron rather than with combustibles by a series of experiments such as proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, thermal analysis and chemical analysis. The heating value of the sludge was predicted well by using a modified Dulong's equation which ignores the oxygen content in the sludge.     

Ensemble component selection for improving ICA based microarray data prediction models

Independent component analysis (ICA) has been widely used to tackle the microarray dataset classification problem, but there still exists an unsolved problem that the independent component (IC) sets may not be reproducible after different ICA transformations. Inspired by the idea of ensemble feature selection, we design an ICA based ensemble learning system to fully utilize the difference among different IC sets. In this system, some IC sets are generated by different ICA transformations firstly. A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is designed to select different biologically significant IC subsets from these IC sets, which are then applied to build base classifiers. Three schemes are used to fuse these base classifiers. The first fusion scheme is to combine all individuals in the final generation of the MOGA. In addition, in the evolution, we design a global-recording technique to record the best IC subsets of each IC set in a global-recording list. Then the IC subsets in the list are deployed to build base classifier so as to implement the second fusion scheme. Furthermore, by pruning about half of less accurate base classifiers obtained by the second scheme, a compact and more accurate ensemble system is built, which is regarded as the third fusion scheme. Three microarray datasets are used to test the ensemble systems, and the corresponding results demonstrate that these ensemble schemes can further improve the performance of the ICA based classification model, and the third fusion scheme leads to the most accurate ensemble system with the smallest ensemble size.