Search for: All records

Robustness and confidence are crucial in super-resolution tasks for X-ray radiological imaging, both in terms of X-ray sensors and image processing techniques. Due to the extremely short wavelengths of X-rays, optical modulation in X-ray imaging systems is highly challenging. Consequently, single-image super-resolution techniques in computer vision have become a popular approach in medical imaging. However, these methods can lead to artifacts and the plasticity phenomenon, potentially compromising image quality and diagnostic accuracy. In this manuscript, we introduce an on-chip coded aperture design that is both cost-effective and helps overcome the additional constraints and limitations commonly found in traditional computational-imaging-based super-resolution X-ray systems. This design generates sub-pixel physical coding on X-ray sensors, and thus a three-dimensional (3D) computational decoding approach is presented that transforms the two-dimensional (2D) super-resolution reconstruction into a 3D compressed sensing problem. Unlike super-resolution restoration in computer vision, this problem can be mathematically solved to yield interpretable reconstructions under the constraints of the restricted isometry property. Our experimental results, complemented by qualitative analysis, demonstrate the superiority of our design in X-ray radiological imaging, effectively mitigating artifacts and the “plastic-like” appearance frequently associated with conventional super-resolution techniques.

 

The starch metabolic network was investigated in relation to other metabolic processes by examining a mutant with altered single-gene expression of ATP citrate lyase (ACL), an enzyme responsible for generating cytosolic acetyl-CoA pool from citrate. Previous research has shown that transgenic antisense plants with reduced ACL activity accumulate abnormally enlarged starch granules. In this study, we explored the underlying molecular mechanisms linking cytosolic acetyl-CoA generation and starch metabolism under short-day photoperiods. We performed transcriptome and quantification of starch accumulation in the leaves of wild-type and antisense seedlings with reduced ACL activity. The antisense-ACLA mutant accumulated more starch than the wild type under short-day conditions. Zymogram analyses were conducted to compare the activities of starch-metabolizing enzymes with transcriptomic changes in the seedling. Differential expression between wild-type and antisense-ACLA plants was detected in genes implicated in starch and acetyl-CoA metabolism, and cell wall metabolism. These analyses revealed a strong correlation between the transcript levels of genes responsible for starch synthesis and degradation, reflecting coordinated regulation at the transcriptomic level. Furthermore, our data provide novel insights into the regulatory links between cytosolic acetyl-CoA metabolism and starch metabolic pathways.

 

Coordination polymers (CPs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted significant research interest in the past several decades due to their reticular structures and modularity. However, realizing electrically conductive CPs or MOFs with comparable properties to classic conducting organic polymers has only been a recent development. This emerging class of materials has found wide application in many fields due to the combined features of structural rigidity, chemical tunability, porosity, and charge transport. Alongside many studies revealing myriad design approaches to access these materials, the role that redox chemistry plays in both material synthesis and modulation of electronic properties has been an emerging theme. This Perspective provides a brief overview of select examples where redox chemistry mediates the control of morphology and properties in electrically conductive CPs/MOFs. The challenges and limitations in this area are also discussed. Particular challenges include the characterization of redox states in these materials and measuring and understanding highly correlated electronic properties and other unusual physical phenomena that may be important for potential applications.