Efficient adaptive feature aggregation network for low-light image enhancement.

Existing learning-based methods for low-light image enhancement contain a large number of redundant features, the enhanced images lack detail and have strong noises. Some methods try to combine the pyramid structure to learn features from coarse to fine, but the inconsistency of the pyramid structure leads to luminance, color and texture deviations in the enhanced images. In addition, these methods are usually computationally complex and require high computational resource requirements. In this paper, we propose an efficient adaptive feature aggregation network (EAANet) for low-light image enhancement. Our model adopts a pyramid structure and includes multiple multi-scale feature aggregation block (MFAB) and one adaptive feature aggregation block (AFAB). MFAB is proposed to be embedded into each layer of the pyramid structure to fully extract features and reduce redundant features, while the AFAB is proposed for overcome the inconsistency of the pyramid structure. EAANet is very lightweight, with low device requirements and a quick running time. We conducted an extensive comparison with some state-of-the-art methods in terms of PSNR, SSIM, parameters, computations and running time on LOL and MIT5K datasets, and the experiments show that the proposed method has significant advantages in terms of comprehensive performance. The proposed method reconstructs images with richer color and texture, and the noises is effectively suppressed.

A low-light image enhancement method with brightness balance and detail preservation.

This paper proposes a new method for low-light image enhancement with balancing image brightness and preserving image details, this method can improve the brightness and contrast of low-light images while maintaining image details. Traditional histogram equalization methods often lead to excessive enhancement and loss of details, thereby resulting in an unclear and unnatural appearance. In this method, the image is processed bidirectionally. On the one hand, the image is processed by double histogram equalization with double automatic platform method based on improved cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, where the image histogram is segmented firstly, and the platform limit is selected according to the histogram statistics and improved CS technology. Then, the sub-histograms are clipped by two platforms and carried out the histogram equalization respectively. Finally, an image with balanced brightness and good contrast can be obtained. On the other hand, the main structure of the image is extracted based on the total variation model, and the image mask with all the texture details is made by removing the main structure of the image. Eventually, the final enhanced image is obtained by adding the mask with texture details to the image with balanced brightness and good contrast. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed algorithm significantly enhances the visual effect of the low-light images, based on human subjective evaluation and objective evaluation indices. Experimental results show that the proposed method in this paper is better than the existing methods.

Determination of butyrylcholinesterase activity based on thiamine luminescence modulated by MnO2 nanosheets.

In this paper, a novel strategy for biosensing butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity is developed based on manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanosheets to modulate the photoluminescence of thiamine (TH). The oxidase-like activity of MnO2 nanosheets enables them to catalyze the oxidation of non-fluorescent substrate TH to generate strong fluorescent thiochrome (TC). When the target BChE is introduced to form thiocholine in the presence of S-butyrylthiocholine iodide (BTCh), MnO2 nanosheets are reduced by thiocholine to Mn2+, resulting in the loss of their oxidase-like activity and the reduction of TC fluorescence. Based on this, a BChE activity fluorescence biosensor is constructed utilizing the luminescence behavior variation of TH and the oxidase-like activity of MnO2 nanosheets. The fluorescence biosensor shows a sensitive response to BChE, and the detection limit reaches 0.036 U L-1. In addition, the feasibility of the biosensor in real samples analysis is studied with satisfactory results.

A dual-channel ratiometric fluorescent probe for determination of the activity of tyrosinase using nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots and dopamine-modified CdTe quantum dots.

A dual-channel ratiometric fluorometric assay is described for the determination of the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase (TYR). It is making use of blue-emitting nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (bQDs) and of red-emitting dopamine-modified CdTe quantum dots (DA-rQDs). A mixture of the two kinds of quantum dots was prepared, with the ratiometric fluorescence intensity of red to blue adjusted to 5:1. The dopamine on the rQDs is catalytically oxidized by TYR to form dopamine quinone, and this leads to a reduction of the intensity of red fluorescence (peaking at 644 nm). The emission of the bQDs (peaking at 440 nm) represents a stable reference signal. After adding different activities of TYR, the color of the fluorescence of the system continuously changes from red to blue. This can also be visually observed. The ratio of luminescence intensities (at 644/440 nm) can be used to quantify the activity of TYR, and the detection limit is 4.5 mU mL-1. In addition, a test strip is described based on the above method. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the ratiometric fluorometric method for determination of the activity of tyrosinase (TYR). (The full name of the abbreviation in the Scheme: 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)-propyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), dopamine (DA), N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (bQDs), CdTe quantum dots (rQDs)).

Study of Bi-directional detection for ascorbic acid and sodium nitrite based on Eu-containing luminescent polyoxometalate.

Eu-containing polyoxometalate K13Eu(SiMoW10O39)2·28H2O (Eu-SiMoW) owns the stimu-chromic and photoluminescence properties. An ingenious test of ascorbic acid (AA) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) was carried out based on the dual properties of Eu-SiMoW in solutions. First, the redox reaction of Eu-SiMoW and AA generated the blue reduced Eu-SiMoW, accompanied by fluorescence quenching; then the redox reaction of the reduced Eu-SiMoW and NaNO2 made Eu-SiMoW back to its original pale yellow state with red luminescence. Accordingly, the content of AA and NaNO2 could be measured by the reversible change of color and luminescence of Eu-SiMoW. This bi-directional detection method is first discovered and proven to be a simple and effective method for the detection of AA and NaNO2. The proposed method exhibited a linear response range (LRR) from 0.1 to 0.9 mmol L-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.53 µmol L-1 in UV-vis spectra and 4.67 µmol L-1 in luminescence spectra for AA as well as a LRR from 0.05 to 0.4 mmol L-1 with a LOD of 1.16 µmol L-1 in UV-vis spectra and 5.39 µmol L-1 in luminescence spectra for NaNO2. Moreover, the fluorescence switching of Eu-SiMoW could be realized by reacting with reductant and oxidant through the redox reaction. The detection mechanism is considered as a fluorescence resonance energy transfer process between discolor component SiMoW and luminescence component Eu in Eu-SiMoW.

A multilayer assembly of two mixed-valence Mn16-containing polyanions and study of their electrocatalytic activities towards water oxidation.

Herein, two mixed-valence Mn16-containing polyanions, (Mn16) [MnIII10MnII6O6(OH)6(PO4)4(A-a-SiW9O34)4]28- (Mn16-Cs) and [MnIII4MnII12(OH)12(PO4)4(A-a-SiW9O34)4]28- (Mn16-Rb), were successfully fabricated on an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass electrode and a glass carbon electrode (GCE) by a layer-by-layer assembly method. Moreover, four composite films, i.e. [PDDA/Mn16-Cs]n, [PDDA/Mn16-Rb]n, [Mn16-Cs/Rubpy]n, and [Mn16-Rb/Rubpy]n (PDDA: poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride); Rubpy: tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) chloride; n = 1-10), were constructed for comparison and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their electrocatalytic activities towards water oxidation were studied under the same experimental conditions. The results of the controlled experiments indicate that (1) all the four films exhibit expected electrocatalytic activities towards water oxidation; (2) the electrocatalytic activity of Mn16-Cs is better than that of Mn16-Rb in solution and composite films; and (3) the electrocatalytic activities of the composite film [Mn16/Rubpy]n are better than those of the composite film [PDDA/Mn16]n.

Simple and efficient polyoxomolybdate-mediated synthesis of novel graphene and metal nanohybrids for versatile applications.

The application of nanohybrids based on polyoxomolybdates, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and/or metal nanoparticles (NPs) high-performance electrode materials in electrocatalysis and energy storage devices is promising but still limited due to the complexity and the cost of the synthesis. Here we introduce a simple polyoxomolybdate, [MoV4O8(OH)2(H2O)2(C4O4)2]2- (MoS), as reducing and stabilizing agent for the facile and one-pot syntheses of large quantity of highly stable MoS/rGO and MoS/Au NPs nanohybrids in aqueous solution without any catalyst or toxic co-solvent. They were characterized by various physical techniques and electrochemistry which confirm strong interaction between MoS and rGO sheets. We also used DFT calculations to investigate the affinity between MoS or its neutral form with graphene. The adsorption energy for the most stable configuration is -1.97 eV, indicating a strong adsorption process of MoS, which can also be confirmed by the distance (3.04 Å) and the charge transfer (0.86 e) between MoS and graphene. These observations are also consistent with the electrochemical results which underscore the excellent redox properties and high stability of MoS/rGO. Importantly, the MoS/rGO nanohybrids are excellent noble metal-free electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide reduction with high sensitivity, large detection range and low detection limit. Finally, the preliminary tests reveal that the electrode materials based on MoS/rGO and a low-cost carbon cloth (CC) composite MoS/rGO/CC may have a potential for an application in energy storage as performant and flexible supercapacitor, showing specific capacitance as high as 870 F g-1 at 10 mV s-1 and excellent stability after 5000 cycles.

Highly Efficient, Near-Infrared and Visible Light Modulated Electrochromic Devices Based on Polyoxometalates and W18O49 Nanowires.

Over the past years the performance of electrochromic smart windows with the promising potential for significant energy savings has been progressively improved; however, the electrochromic windows have not yet to come into use at scale mainly because the electrochromic materials suffer from some significant drawbacks such as low coloration efficiency, slow switching time, bad durability and poor functionality. Herein, we fabricate the optically modulated electrochromic smart devices through sequential deposition of the crown-type polyoxometalates, K28Li5H7P8W48O184·92H2O (P8W48), and W18O49 nanowires. Unlike most reported electrochromic smart devices, the resulting P8W48 and W18O49 nanocomposites allow active and selective manipulation of the transmittance of near-infrared (750-1360 nm) and visible light (400-750 nm) by varying the applied potential. Furthermore, thanks to the stable nature of both P8W48 and W18O49 and precise structural control over the nanocomposites, the prepared electrochromic smart devices exhibit high efficiency, quick response and excellent stability.

Reference Intervals of Thyroid Function During Pregnancy: Self-Sequential Longitudinal Study Versus Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: A self-sequential longitudinal reference interval may be expected to minimize the inter-individual variation of thyroid function. Comparison between the self-sequential longitudinal reference interval (SLRI) and cross-sectional reference interval (CSRI) in pregnancy has not been well investigated. The objectives of this study were to establish a stringent SLRI of thyroid function in pregnant women and to compare it with the conventional CSRI. METHODS: Three cohorts were enrolled: group 1, pregnant women for an SLRI (n = 99); group 2, pregnant women for a CSRI (n = 1318); group 3, non-pregnant control women (NC) as a control group (n = 301) according to the criteria of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. Thyrotropin (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (fT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), serum ferritin (SF), and urine iodine concentration (UIC) were measured in the three groups. RESULTS: Compared with CSRI, the reference interval of the SLRI group had narrower reference intervals of fT4 in the first and second trimesters (p < 0.05). The median of TSH was at a low level during the first trimester, and then gradually elevated in the second and third trimesters. The median of fT4 persistently decreased from 12 weeks, and did not return to the level of the NC group until 12 months postpartum. The TT4 increased to 131.4 nmol/L at gestational week 8, and reached a peak (170.0 nmol/L) at gestational week 12. In the first trimester, the prevalence of hypothyroxinemia was 9.1%, 4.0%, and 2.0% with a fT4 value below the 10th, 5th, and 2.5th percentile, respectively. In contrast, 29.3% of TT4 values were below the lower non-pregnancy reference limit multiplied by 1.5. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was found between a SLRI and a CSRI, even in a stringent self-sequential longitudinal reference interval of thyroid function in pregnant women. In addition, the limit of TT4 below the non-pregnant level multiplied by a factor 1.5 is not appropriate for diagnosing hypothyroxinemia in the first trimester.

Fabrication of white luminescence composite films containing Dy-polyoxometalate and the study of their luminescence switching behaviors.

White luminescence composite films containing Dy-polyoxometalate (Dy-POM) were firstly constructed by a layer-by-layer assembly method for the realization of electrically controlled luminescence switching. Additionally, blue-white luminescence could be switched by the choice of POM structural types and control of the concentration ratio of POM/Dy-POM in solution and composite films.

First Orange Fluorescence Composite Film Based on Sm-Substituted Tungstophosphate and Its Electrofluorochromic Performance.

We chose a Sm-containing sandwich-type tungstophosphate K3Cs8[Sm(PW11O39)2]·10H2O (SmPW11) as a molecular dyad, which contains photoluminescence and electrochromism components in a skeletal structure, and investigated its electrofluorochromic performance both in solution and in composite films. First, the electrochemical activity and luminescence property of SmPW11 were studied in different pH solutions to determine the optimal pH solution medium; and then, the electrofluorochromic performance of SmPW11 was investigated under the optimized pH solution medium. Subsequently, the composite films containing SmPW11 were prepared on quartz substrates and conductive ITO substrates through a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method, using PDDA and PEI as molecular linkers. Characterization methods of the composite films include UV-vis spectra, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), bulk electrolysis with coulometry, chronoamperometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Finally, in situ UV-vis and fluorescence spectroelectrochemical systems were used to research electrofluorochromic properties for the composite films under electrochemical modulation. The results indicate that the composite films display not only orange luminescence emission but also reversible orange luminescence switching behaviors manipulated by the redox process of tungstophosphate species PW11 via the energy transfer between the orange luminescence component Sm and electroreduced species of tungstophosphate PW11.

High Body Mass Index Is an Indicator of Maternal Hypothyroidism, Hypothyroxinemia, and Thyroid-Peroxidase Antibody Positivity during Early Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Maternal thyroid dysfunction in early pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy complications and neurocognitive deficiencies in the developing fetus. Currently, some researchers demonstrated that body mass index (BMI) is associated with thyroid function in nonpregnant population. Hence, the American Thyroid Association recommended screening thyroid function in obese pregnant women; however, the evidence for this is weak. For this purpose, our study investigated the relationship between high BMI and thyroid functions during early pregnancy in Liaoning province, an iodine-sufficient region of China. METHODS: Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) concentration, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), and BMI were determined in 6303 pregnant women. RESULTS: BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) may act as an indicator of hypothyroxinemia and TPOAb positivity and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) was associated with increases in the odds of hypothyroidism, hypothyroxinemia, and TPOAb positivity. The prevalence of isolated hypothyroxinemia increased among pregnant women with BMI > 24 kg/m(2). CONCLUSIONS: High BMI during early pregnancy may be an indicator of maternal thyroid dysfunction; for Asian women whose BMI > 24 kg/m(2) and who are within 8 weeks of pregnancy, thyroid functions should be assessed especially.

An effective combination of electrodeposition and layer-by-layer assembly to construct composite films with luminescence switching behavior.

This article presents a combination strategy of electrodeposition and a layer-by-layer assembly to fabricate functional composite films with luminescence switching behavior. Firstly, a novel green luminescence film consisting of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt (HOPTS) was first obtained on ITO by a facile electrodeposition method. Then, the multilayer films containing different layers of tungstophosphate K12.5Na1.5[NaP5W30O110]·15H2O (P5W30) were further fabricated on the green luminescence film to form the composite films [(HOPTS)50/(PDDA/P5W30)n] (n = 10, film 1; n = 27, film 2; n = 57, film 3). Cyclic voltammetry and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the electrochemical activity of P5W30 and the luminescence property of HOPTS in the composite films, respectively. Lastly, in situ UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical and fluorescence spectroelectrochemical measurements were applied to investigate the luminescence switching behaviors of the composite films controlled by the electrochromism component of P5W30 upon electrochemical modulation. In summary, the investigation results revealed that the electrodeposition method is convenient and rapid, and thus-prepared composite films showed improved luminescence switching performance in terms of switching process, activation cycles, coloration efficiency, and bleached-state transparency as well as good stability, wide voltage range and good reversibility. Therefore, the present study offers a new fabrication route for the multifunctional composite films through an effective combination of electrodeposition and layer-by-layer assembly technique.

Iron deficiency, an independent risk factor for isolated hypothyroxinemia in pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age in China.

CONTEXT: Isolated hypothyroxinemia during early pregnancy may irreversibly damage the neurodevelopment of offspring. However, the causes are not well clarified. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of iron deficiency (ID) with hypothyroid function of women in early pregnancy and nonpregnant women. DESIGN: A total of 7953 pregnant women of ≤ 12 weeks gestation and 2000 childbearing-aged women were recruited. A subpopulation including 3340 pregnant women and 1052 nonpregnant women with sufficient iodine intake and negative thyroid peroxidase antibody were studied. Mild and severe cases of hypothyroxinemia were defined as free T4 levels below the 10th percentile and the 5th percentile, respectively, with normal TSH. Total body iron, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptor were used as indicators for iron nutrition. RESULTS: Serum free T4 levels were significantly lower in both pregnant and nonpregnant women with ID compared with the corresponding groups without ID (both P < .05). The prevalence of mild and severe hypothyroxinemia was markedly higher in women with ID than those without, in both pregnant and nonpregnant women (all P < .01). Logistic regression indicated that ID was an independent risk factor for both mild and severe hypothyroxinemia in pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.440, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.324-4.496, P = .004; and OR = 3.278, 95% CI: 1.443-7.446, P = .005, respectively) and nonpregnancy (OR = 2.662, 95% CI: 1.330-5.329, P = .006; and OR = 3.254, 95% CI: 1.375-7.700, P = .007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: An association between ID and isolated hypothyroxinemia was found in both pregnant and nonpregnant childbearing-aged women, independent of the effects of iodine and thyroid autoimmunity. We speculate that ID may be a pathogenic factor for hypothyroxinemia, even in pregnant women during the first trimester.

Assessment of thyroid function during first-trimester pregnancy: what is the rational upper limit of serum TSH during the first trimester in Chinese pregnant women?

CONTEXT: Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) proposed that the upper limit of the TSH reference range should be 2.5 mIU/L in first trimester, but the reported ranges in China are significantly higher. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to establish a rational reference range of serum TSH for diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism in the first trimester of pregnant women in China. DESIGN: We screened 4800 pregnant women in the first trimester and 2000 women who planned to become pregnant and evaluated 535 pregnant women in follow-up visits during the second and third trimester. RESULTS: Median concentrations of serum TSH decreased significantly from the seventh week of gestation. The median of TSH from 4 to 6 weeks was significantly higher than from 7 to 12 weeks (2.15 [0.56-5.31] mIU/L vs 1.47 [0.10-4.34] mIU/L, P<.001); however, there was no significant difference compared with nonpregnant women (2.07 [0.69-5.64] mIU/L; P=.784). The median of free T4 was not significantly altered in the first trimester. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the 4800 pregnant women was 27.8% on the diagnostic criteria of TSH>2.5 mIU/L and 4.0% using the reference interval derived by our laboratory (0.14-4.87 mIU/L).Additionally, of 118 pregnant women who had serum TSH>2.5 mIU/L in the first trimester, only 30.0% and 20.3% of them at the 20th and 30th week of gestation had TSH>3.0 mIU/L. CONCLUSIONS: The reference range for nonpregnant women can be used for the assessment of pregnant women at 4 to 6 weeks of gestation. The upper limit of serum TSH in the first trimester was much higher than 2.5 mIU/L in Chinese pregnant women.

Polyoxometalate-modulated self-assembly of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine).

Polyoxometalates can serve as active components to induce and modulate the micellization behavior of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine).

A novel detection of hydrogen peroxide based on a luminescent polyoxometalate.

In this paper, we attempt to construct a simple and sensitive detection method for hydrogen peroxide based on reversible colour change and luminescence switching modulated by the electrochemical stimulation and redox reaction of H(2)O(2) with electroreduced polyoxometalate. This method successfully combines the electrochromic and luminescent properties of the polyoxometalate to develop a novel detection method for H(2)O(2) with good reversibility, which displays high sensitivity, a wide linear range and a low detection limit to H(2)O(2).

Hierarchical self-assembly of surfactant-encapsulated and organically grafted polyoxometalate complexes.

A series of surfactant-encapsulated and organically grafted polyoxometalates (SEOPs) were prepared through a co-precipitation procedure. Through a rational selection of the molecular components in the structure of the complex, SEOP complexes self-assemble into ordered aggregates with two different hierarchical self-assembled structures in an organic solvent mixture of dichloromethane and methanol in different volume ratios. FTIR, (1)H NMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the self-assembly process and the involved driving forces. In a weakly polar solvent, SEOPs aggregated into fibers with a lamellar structure. When the solvent polarity was increased, SEOPs formed ribbonlike aggregates with a tetragonal structure. The change of the hierarchical self-assembled structure was deduced in regard to the arrangement of alkyl chains, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding between the pyridyl groups and terminal oxygen atoms of the polyoxometalates. The ribbonlike aggregates exhibit birefringence due to the ordered arrangement of SEOPs in the microstructure.

An electroswitchable fluorescence thin-film based on a luminescent polyoxometalate cluster.

We selected a Eu(3+)-containing tungstogermanate [(CH(3))(4)N](2.5)H(7.5)[Eu(GeW(11)O(39))(H(2)O)(2)](2)·4.5H(2)O (EuGeW) as a molecular dyad combining fluorescence and electroactivity components within the same framework and studied its electroswitchable fluorescence in solution and in the thin-film, which can be reversibly switched by electrochemical stimulation.

Incorporation of polyoxotungstate complexes in silica spheres and in situ formation of tungsten trioxide nanoparticles.

In this paper, we demonstrated a new convenient route for in situ fabrication of well separated small sized WO(3) nanoparticles in silica spheres, through a predeposition of surfactant encapsulated polyoxotungates as tungsten source, and followed by a calcination process. In a typical procedure, selected polyoxotungates with different charges were enwrapped with dioctadecyldimethylammonium cations through electrostatic interaction. Elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and spectral characterization confirmed the formation of prepared complexes with the anticipated chemical structure. The complexes were then phase-transferred into aqueous solution that predissolved surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and finally incorporated into silica spheres through a joint sol-gel reaction with tetraethyl orthosilicate in a well dispersed state under the protection of organic layer for polyoxotungates from the alkaline reaction condition. Transmission electron microscopic images illustrated the well dispersed WO(3) nanoparticles in the size range of ca. 2.2 nm in the silica spheres after the calcination at 465 °C. The sizes of both the silica spheres and WO(3) nanoparticles could be adjusted independently through changing the doping content to a large extent. Meanwhile, the doped polyoxotungate complexes acted as the template for the mesoporous structure in silica spheres after the calcination. Along with the increase of doping content and surfactant, the mesopore size changed little (2.0-2.9 nm), but the specific surface areas increased quite a lot. Importantly, the WO(3)-nanoparticle-doped silica spheres displayed an interesting photovoltaic property, which is favorable for the funtionalization of these nanomaterials.