A novel technique based on the statistical autoregressive (AR) model has recently been developed as a solution to estimate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. In another research study, the authors also developed an algorithm by cascading the AR model with the Lagrange time delay (LTD) estimator. This technique is named the mixed Lagrange time delay estimation autoregressive (MLTDEAR) model. In this paper, the fundamental performance limits for the problem of single-image SNR estimation as derived from the Cramer-Rao inequality is presented. We compared the experimental performances of several existing methods--the simple method, the first-order linear interpolator, the AR-based estimator as well as the MLTDEAR method--with respect to this performance bound. In a few test cases involving different images, the efficiency of the MLTDEAR single-image estimation technique proved to be significantly better than that of the other three methods. Study of the effect of different SEM setting conditions that affect the autocorrelation function curve is also discussed.
Nephelium lappaceum is a popular tropical fruit belonging to the Sapindaceae family. The plant originated in Malaysia and Indonesia and is commonly called rambutan. Because of its refreshing flavor and exotic appearance, rambutan is widely accepted in the World. Due to its significant medicinal properties, the fruit has also been employed in traditional medicine for centuries. The chloroplast genome of rambutan was sequenced, assembled, and annotated in the present study. The chloroplast genome length was 161,356 bp and contained 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. It possessed the typical quadripartite circle structure with a large single-copy region (86,009 bp), a small single-copy region (18,153 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (28,597 bp). A total of 35 SSR markers were found in the chloroplast genome of Nephelium lappaceum, of which 33 were monomer, 1 was dimer and 1 was tetramer. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete chloroplast genome sequences of 21 plant species showed that rambutan was closely related to Pometia tomentosa. These results provide a foundation for further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of the Sapindaceae family.
Dental implants made of pure titanium suffer from abrasion and scratch during routine oral hygiene procedures. This results in an irreversible surface damage, facilitates bacteria adhesion and increases risk of peri-implantitis. To overcome these problems, titanium nitride (TiN) coating was introduced to increase surface hardness of pure titanium. However, the osteoconductivity of TiN is considered to be similar or superior to that of titanium and its alloys and therefore surface modification is necessary. In this study, TiN coating prepared through gas nitriding was partially oxidized by hydrothermal (HT) treatment and ozone (O3) treatment in pure water to improve its osteoconductivity. The effects of HT treatment and O3 treatment on surface properties of TiN were investigated and the osteoconductivity after undergoing treatment was assessed in vitro using osteoblast evaluation. The results showed that the critical temperature for HT treatment was 100°C since higher temperatures would impair the hardness of TiN coating. By contrast, O3 treatment was more effective in oxidizing TiN surfaces, improving its wettability while preserving its morphology and hardness. Osteoblast attachment, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and mineralization were improved on oxidized specimens, especially on O3 treated specimens, compared with untreated ones. These effects seemed to be consequences of partial oxidation, as well as improved hydrophilicity and surface decontamination. Finally, it was concluded that, partially oxidized TiN is a promising coating to be used for dental implant.
The Artocarpus heterophyllus, native to Western Ghats of India, Malaysia and south-eastern Asia, is a tree member of the mulberry family (Moraceae). Chloroplast genome sequences play a significant role in the development of molecular markers in plant phylogenetic and population genetic studies. In this study, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of A. heterophyllus for the first time. The chloroplast genome is 160,387 bp long and includes 113 genes. Its LSC, SSC and IR regions are 88,422, 18,869 and 26,548 bp long, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis exhibited that A. heterophyllus was clustered with other Moraceae species with high bootstrap values.
The Lucuma nervosa, native to Western Ghats of India, Malaysia and south-eastern Asia, is a tree member of the mulberry family (Sapotaceae). Chloroplast genome sequences play an significant role in the development of molecular markers in plant phylogenetic and population genetic studies. In this study, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of L. nervosa for the first time. The chloroplast genome is 157,920 bp long and includes 113 genes. Its LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 88,123, 18,861, and 25,468 bp long, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis exhibited that L. nervosa was clustered with other Sapotaceae species with high bootstrap values.
Cultural differences-as well as similarities-have been found in explicit color-emotion associations between Chinese and Western populations. However, implicit associations in a cross-cultural context remain an understudied topic, despite their sensitivity to more implicit knowledge. Moreover, they can be used to study color systems-that is, emotional associations with one color in the context of an opposed one. Therefore, we tested the influence of two different color oppositions on affective stimulus categorization: red versus green and red versus white, in two experiments. In Experiment 1, stimuli comprised positive and negative words, and participants from the West (Austria/Germany), and the East (Mainland China, Macau) were tested in their native languages. The Western group showed a significantly stronger color-valence interaction effect than the Mainland Chinese (but not the Macanese) group for red-green but not for red-white opposition. To explore color-valence interaction effects independently of word stimulus differences between participant groups, we used affective silhouettes instead of words in Experiment 2. Again, the Western group showed a significantly stronger color-valence interaction than the Chinese group in red-green opposition, while effects in red-white opposition did not differ between cultural groups. Our findings complement those from explicit association research in an unexpected manner, where explicit measures showed similarities between cultures (associations for red and green), our results revealed differences and where explicit measures showed differences (associations with white), our results showed similarities, underlining the value of applying comprehensive measures in cross-cultural research on cross-modal associations.