Sand-Dust Image Enhancement Using Chromatic Variance Consistency and Gamma Correction-Based Dehazing.

In sand-dust environments, the low quality of images captured outdoors adversely affects many remote-based image processing and computer vision systems, because of severe color casts, low contrast, and poor visibility of sand-dust images. In such cases, conventional color correction methods do not guarantee appropriate performance in outdoor computer vision applications. In this paper, we present a novel color correction and dehazing algorithm for sand-dust image enhancement. First, we propose an effective color correction method that preserves the consistency of the chromatic variances and maintains the coincidence of the chromatic means. Next, a transmission map for image dehazing is estimated using the gamma correction for the enhancement of color-corrected sand-dust images. Finally, a cross-correlation-based chromatic histogram shift algorithm is proposed to reduce the reddish artifacts in the enhanced images. We performed extensive experiments for various sand-dust images and compared the performance of the proposed method to that of several existing state-of-the-art enhancement methods. The simulation results indicated that the proposed enhancement scheme outperforms the existing approaches in terms of both subjective and objective qualities.

Substantial Improvement of Color-Rendering Properties of Conventional White LEDs Using Remote-Type Red Quantum-Dot Caps.

A new type of remote red quantum-dot (QD) component was designed and fabricated to improve the color-rendering properties of conventional white LED (light-emitting diode) lightings. Based on an optical simulation, the rectangular cavity-type QD cap was designed with an opening window on the top surface. Red QD caps were fabricated using a typical injection molding technique and CdSe/ZnS QDs with a core/shell structure whose average size was ~6 nm. Red QD caps were applied to conventional 6-inch, 15-W white LED downlighting consisting of 72 LEDs arrayed concentrically. The red QD caps placed over white LEDs enhanced the red components in the long-wavelength range resulting in the increase of the color rendering index (CRI) from 82.9 to 94.5. The correlated color temperature was tuned easily in a wide range by adopting various configurations consisting of different QD caps. The spatial and angular homogeneities were secured on the emitting area because QD caps placed over the white LEDs did not exhibit any substantial optical path length difference. The present study demonstrates that adopting QD caps in conventional LED lightings provides a flexible and efficient method to realize a high color-rendering property and to adjust correlated color temperature appropriately for a specific application.

A Study of the Wettability of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Films on Flat and Textured Si Substrates.

Contact angle measurements are investigated on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films directly formed on flat and textured Si substrates using a thermal chemical vapor deposition method. The SWNT films on the textured Si consist of a multiscale structure composed of nanoscale SWNTs and a microscale textured Si. They show superhydrophobic properties in which the water contact angle was around 161°. A direct surface treatment to them increase the contact angle to 174°. The reversible wettability of the SWNT films formed on the textured Si substrates is confirmed through the oxidation process using an acid mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids and a successive reduction procedure via heating treatment in an NH3 environment.

Factors affecting treatment compliance in new hypertensive patients in Korea.

This study aims to analyze continuity of care according to complications and examine the relationship between the continuity of care and health outcomes (hospitalization, emergency department visits, and complications) using data of new hypertensive patients from Korea's National Health Insurance Claims database. There were a total of 715,053 new hypertensive patients followed up for three years until 2011. Indices of continuity of care were Continuity of Care Index (COC), Modified, Modified Continuity Index (MMCI), and Most Frequent Provider Continuity (MFPC). The mean values of COC, MMCI, and MFPC were 0.79, 0.77, and 0.87, respectively, in new hypertensive patients with complications, and 0.80, 0.79, and 0.87, respectively, in those without complications. The factors affecting the continuity of care were sex, ambulatory care visits, number of providers, main medical institution, and Charlson's comorbidity score. Following analysis of the correlation between the treatment compliance and health outcomes, the low COC group had a higher association with hospitalization, the emergency department visit, and complications as compared with the high COC group. COC and medication adherence were associated with a reduction of hospitalization, emergency department visits, and complications. This indicates it would be mandatory to manage the patients' continuity of care.

Performance Enhancement of 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid-Capped CdSe Quantum-Dot Sensitized Solar Cells Incorporating Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

We fabricated a series of linker-assisted quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells based on the ex situ self-assembly of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) onto TiO2 electrode using sulfide/polysulfide (S(2-)/Sn(2-)) as an electrolyte and Au cathode. Our cell were combined with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by two techniques; One was mixing SWNTs with TiO2 electrode and the other was spraying SWNTs onto Au electrode. Absorption spectra were used to confirm the adsorption of QDs onto TiO2 electrode. Cell performance was measured on samples containing and not-containing SWNTs. Samples mixing SWNTs with TiO2 showed higher cell efficiency, on the while sample spraying SWNTs onto Au electrode showed lower efficiency compared with pristine sample (not-containing SWNTs). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis suggested that SWNTs can act as either barriers or excellent carrier transfers according their position and mixing method.

Enhancement of Photo-Current Conversion Efficiency in a CdS/CdSe Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell Incorporated with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) are sequentially assembled onto a nanocrystalline TiO2 film to create a quantum-dot (QD)-sensitized solar cell application by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The results show that CdS and CdSe QDs have a complementary effect in the performance of light harvest of solar cell. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are incorporated with a CdS/CdSe QDs solar cell by mixing them with TiC2 film to enhance electron transfer. SWNTs are also sprayed onto CdSe QDs (SWNTs onto CdSe) to apply p+ type properties of SWNTs. Absorbance is increased in a wide wavelength range. In particular, cells having the sprayed SWNTs onto the QDs show a clear increase in absorbance at a low wavelength region. The fill factor of CdS/CdSe QDs solar cell with SWNTs is higher than that without SWNTs, indicating the decrease in loss of electron from TiO2 to QDs. Short-circuit current in a QD-sensitized solar cell having SWNTs on CdSe shows maximum value. Photo-current conversion efficiency of cells is increased in both cell types containing SWNTs at 10~17% compared with pristine cells. We expect that solar cells using SWNTs will affect future energy technology and devices.

Structure and Hydrogen Adsorption Properties of SBA-15 Doped with Pd Nanoparticles.

Hydrogen adsorption properties of Pd-doped Santa Barbara amorphous No. 15 (Pd-SBA-15) were investigated and the results were compared with pure SBA-15 ones in terms of change of its structure and Pd concentration. Pd-SBA-15 samples were prepared by a hydrothermal reaction, using mixture of PEO20PPO70PEO20 (P123) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). For the doping of Pd on SBA-15, PdC2 solution was added into the mixture of P123 and TEOS, and the solution was annealed at 80 degrees C for 2 hours under 800 Torr of hydrogen atmosphere. According to the X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope data, Pd-doped SBA-15 samples form a hexagonal array of mesoporous structure with 20-30 nm size of Pd particles. Values of specific surface area decreased from 630 to 414 m2/g as increasing the Pd doping level due to the increasing of the volume density. In fact, the volume density increased from 0.103 to 0.276 g/cc as increasing the mass ratio of PdCl2 to TEOS from 0 to 0.5. For the Pd-doped SBA-15, the amount of adsorbed hydrogen significantly increased from 0.49 to 0.99 wt% as increasing the Pd doping level from 0 to 0.5 demonstrating that Pd doping is an effect method for SBA-1 5 as a potential use of hydrogen storage application.

Measurement of contact resistance in CdSe-single-walled carbon nanotube hybrids.

The CdSe-single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) hybrids are synthesized for measuring contact resistance between CdSe quantum dots and SWNTs in two hybrid samples, i.e., spray-deposited CdSe on SWNTs, and pyrene-self assembled CdSe on SWNTs. Currents are measured through indium-tin oxide (ITO), CdSe-SWNT hybrids and the tip of conductive AFM (c-AFM) with and without light at 532 and 655 nm.

Field emission properties of a three-dimensional network of single-walled carbon nanotubes inside pores of porous silicon.

We report characteristic field emission (FE) properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) synthesized inside the pores as well as on the top surface of a porous silicon (PS) substrate. Turn-on fields and emission current densities were measured and compared with those of other types of SWCNTs in similar environments. Investigation of the FE properties of SWCNTs synthesized inside the pores of a PS substrate revealed a low turn-on field of approximately 2.25 V/µm at 10 µA/cm2 and a high field-enhancement factor (6182) compared with other samples. A life-time stability test was performed by monitoring the current density before and after repeated exposure to O2, suggesting that the pore channel can effectively prevent O2(+) ion etching from destroying SWCNTs within the pores of the PS layer.

Current flow of single-walled carbon nanotubes upon the encapsulation of beta-carotene by using conducting probe atomic force microscopy.

Beta-carotene was inserted into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by using the encapsulation method in a solution phase, and the energy transfer process was studied under irradiation of visible light. The encapsulation of beta-carotene inside SWCNTs was confirmed by ultraviolet (UV)/visible (Vis) and near-IR (N-IR) spectroscopy, and the stability of encapsulated beta-carotene was also confirmed by a UV irradiation experiment. The N-IR absorption spectrum revealed that the beta-carotene donated electrons to the SWCNTs upon encapsulation. We measured current flow through SWCNT bundles by using conducting probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) while the samples were irradiated by green light (532 nm) and red light (650 nm). The current changed with the irradiation of 532 nm light, where the beta-carotene has its own absorption, but not with the irradiation of 650 nm light. From these results, we concluded that the encapsulated beta-carotene inside SWCNTs efficiently absorbed 532 nm light and excited electrons of beta-carotene might be transferred to the SWCNTs like an energy transfer process. Our conclusion was consistent with a previously suggested energy transfer theory between beta-carotene and SWCNTs.

Formation of ZnO nanostructures grown on Si and SiO2 substrates.

ZnO nanorods are grown on Si-based substrate by chemical bath deposition method in aqueous solution using zinc nitrate hexahydrate. Various substrates having different surface morphology are used to evaluate their effect on growing ZnO nanorods, such as flat Si(100) wafer, small and large textured-Si wafer, porous silicon, flat SiO2 wafer, small and large textured-SiO2 wafer. The length, diameter, geometry, and coverage density of ZnO nanorods are investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and summarized. SiO2 is a preferred substrate for the growth of ZnO nanorods to Si if the surface morphology of substrate is same, and the textured surface has much higher coverage density (> 95%) than the flat surface. Each nanorod is vertically grown along the c-axis on the top of each pyramid face for textured substrate, and forms the 3D sea sponge-like ZnO structure. The characteristics of ZnO nanorods grown on various substrates are analyzed by grazing-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements.

Electron transfer properties of iodine-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes using field effect transistor.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are known to have a p-type charge transfer character in the atmosphere. The energy state of SWNTs can be modulated by doping with either an electron donor or an acceptor. In this study, iodine molecules are chosen for intercalation to SWNTs to predict the charge transfer tendency between them. Field-effect transistors (FETs) using iodine intercalated SWNTs (I-SWNTs) are fabricated and their electronic properties are investigated to better understand the charge transfer between iodine and SWNTs by changing gate voltages. Under vacuum, I-SWNT FETs exhibit weak n-type character, indicating that electrons are transferred slightly from the iodine to the SWNTs. After exposure to O2 gas, n-type characters are reduced; however, they still retain their original type.

Large scale synthesis and enhanced field emission properties from hybrid CuO/ZnO nanorod.

Upper-directionally grown nanorods were synthesized on a large scale by a simple method of direct heating of Cu foil in air. Hybrid CuO/ZnO nanorods were fabricated by ZnO thin film coating using magnetron sputtering. Field emission (FE) measurements of CuO and hybrid CuO/ZnO nanorod films show that they have turn-on field of 3.81 and 3.24 V/microm and a current density of 0.39 and 1.1 microA/cm2 under an applied field of about 6.6 V/microm, respectively. By comparing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and the FE properties of two types of samples, we concluded that the narrowing of band gap due to the change of electron binding energy of hybrid CuO/ZnO nanorods effectively improved FE.

Photoluminescence study of encapsulated dye inside single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in solvents.

Photo-luminescent dye, 1-(2-amino-phenyl) naphthalene-2-ylamine (APNA) molecules were synthesized and encapsulated inside single-walled carbon nanotubes (APNA@SWNTs) in vacuum. Here we measured X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectrum to confirm the encapsulation of APNA molecules inside SWNTs. Strong photoluminescence (PL) spectrum was observed around 400 nm at an excitation of 326 nm. We employed the PL intensity of the dye to reveal suspension stability of SWNTs in solvents. The intensity of PL spectrum increased as a function of SWNTs suspension stability, i.e., the PL intensity was proportional to suspension stability of SWNTs in various solvents.