Recent developments in engineering and computer sciences have heightened the need for digital image enhancement. Most of previously reported works, however, focused on enhancement using classical methods like mathematical transformations spatial frequency-domain methods. Hence, recently, there has been an increasing interest nature-inspired optimization techniques processing purposes. The water...

Biocompatible polymer brushes were successfully synthesized on diamond-like carbon (DLC) films via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of 2-mtharyloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). The DLC film with a water contact angle (WCA) approximately 71.9° was modified into highly hydrophilic surface WCA 15.0° after MPC brush modification. Protein adsorption tests using qu...

a Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Agricultural Economics, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium b Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agronomy and Ethnobotany, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium c World Agroforestry Centre, West and Central African Region (ICRAF-WCA), PO Box 16317 Yaounde, Cameroon d...

Aniline-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces have successfully reacted with ArSO2NHOSO2Ar (Ar = 4-MeC6H4 or 4-FC6H4) resulting in monolayers with sulfamide moieties and different end groups. Moreover, the sulfamide groups on the SAMs can be hydrolyzed showing the partial regeneration of the aniline surface. SAMs were characterized by water contact angle (WCA) measurement...

Developing new optimization algorithms and data mining has improved traditional engineering structural analysis models (meaning basically swarm-based solutions). Additionally, an accurate quantification of in situ friction capacity (ISFC) driven piles is paramount importance design/construction geotechnical infrastructures. A number studies have underscored the use developed via artificial neur...

Abstract Carbon black was often used as a UV stabilizer, due to its ability absorb high-energy ultraviolet radiation. In this study, carbon added PVDF resin, and film with (PVDF/CB composite film) fabricated using precision co-extrusion casting mechanism. The properties of the films were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), field emission e...

In response to upstream signals, proteins in the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP) family regulate actin nucleation via the Arp2/3 complex. Despite intensive study of the function of WASP family proteins in nucleation, it is not yet understood how their distinct structural organization contributes to actin-based motility. Herein, we analyzed the activities of WASP and Scar1 truncation der...

The blue land crab Cardisoma guanhumi is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical estuarine regions in the Western Central Atlantic (WCA). Patterns of population genetic structure and historical demographics of the species were assessed by mtDNA control region sequence analysis to examine the connectivity among five populations (n = 97) within the region for future conservation st...