Object panorama construction using large-parallax images

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Conventional panorama techniques create a wide-angle image by stitching images taken from the same viewpoint. In contrast, the method proposed in this work...     

Loss of SP-A in the Lung Exacerbates Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating and common chronic lung disease that is pathologically characterized by the destruction of lung architecture and the accumulation of extracellular matrix in the lung. Previous studies have shown an association between lung surfactant protein (SP) and the pathogenesis of IPF, as demonstrated by mutations and the altered expression of SP in patients with IPF. However, the role of SP in the development of lung fibrosis is poorly understood. In this study, the role of surfactant protein A (SP-A) was explored in experimental lung fibrosis induced with a low or high dose of bleomycin (BLM) and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic deletion of SP-A. Our results showed that lung SP-A deficiency in mice promoted the development of fibrotic damage and exacerbated inflammatory responses to the BLM challenge. In vitro experiments with murine lung epithelial LA-4 cells demonstrated that in response to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), LA-4 cells had a decreased protein expression of SP-A. Furthermore, exogenous SP administration to LA-4 cells inhibited the TGF-β1-induced upregulation of fibrotic markers. Overall, these findings suggest a novel antifibrotic mechanism of SP-A in the development of lung fibrosis, which indicates the therapeutic potential of the lung SP-A in preventing the development of IPF.     

Synthesis of novel photoacid generator containing resist polymer for electron beam lithography

Photoacid generators (PAGs) have been widely used as a key material in the development of novel photoresist materials. One of the important uses of PAGs is found in chemically amplified photoresists (CARs) because of their high photosensitivity and high resolution capability. Triphenylsulfonium salt methacrylate (TPSMA) as the PAG has been bounded in the main polymer backbone. TPSMA was employed for synthesis of terpolymers, poly(MMA-co-tBVPC-co-TPSMA) and poly(tBVPC-co-tBOCPOMI-co-TPSMA) as a positive tone photoresists by free radical polymerization using AIBN. Terpolymers with various ratio of TPSMA, MMA, tBVPC and tBOCOPMI were synthesized and well characterized by FTIR, NMR. Molecular weight distribution was analyzed by GPC. Thermal properties were studied using TGA, DSC which showed thermal stability of terpolymer up to 150 degrees C. We have applied E-beam lithography and KrF lithography in order to demonstrate the effect of the polymer bounded PAG resists. These positive tone resists were successfully applied for fabrication of nano-scale patterns.     

Triphenylsulfonium salt methacrylate bound polymer resist for electron beam lithography

A new photoacid generator (PAG) bound polymer containing triphenylsulfonium salt methacrylate (TPSMA) was synthesized and characterized. The PAG bound polymer was employed to improve electron beam lithographic performance, including sensitivity and resolution. The PAG bound polymer resist exhibited a higher sensitivity (120 μC/cm²) than the PAG blend polymer resist (300 μC/cm²). Eliminating the post exposure baking process during development improved the resolution due to decreased acid diffusion. A high-resolution pattern fabricated by electron beam lithography had a line width of 15 nm and a high aspect ratio. The newly developed patterns functioned well as masks for transferring patterns on Si substrates by reactive ion etching.     

Influence of ionic surfactants on the hydrogen peroxide bleaching of wool fabric

We have studied the influence of ionic surfactants on the bleaching of wool with hydrogen peroxide under acidic and alkaline conditions, comparing anionic sodium alkyl sulphates with eight, 12 and 16 carbon atoms and the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). Addition of ionic surfactants to both acidic and alkaline bleaching baths improved the whiteness of wool, especially at above 0.01 mol/l. Anionic surfactants prevented fibre damage during bleaching of wool, whereas DTAB accelerated it. The fibre damage decreased with increasing concentration of alkyl sulphates and with increasing length of hydrocarbon chain.