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An image compression-encryption scheme utilizing the combination of fiber specklegram-based compressive sensing (CS) and double random phase encoding (DRPE) was demonstrated. The original image is compressed and encrypted by CS and then re-encrypted by DRPE. The measurement matrices for CS are constructed from multimode fiber specklegrams resulting from modes excitation and interference, which show better performance compared with those based on Gaussian random variables. Since fiber specklegrams have strong dependence on configuration, such measurement matrix can be constructed either by one specklegram or by specklegrams from different launched wavelengths. The double-encrypted image demonstrated good safety and reliability in several common attacks and presented high key sensitivity, which indicates good performance of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influences of fiber preform structure and thread engagement length on the mechanical properties of Carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix ( C/SiC) threaded joints were studied. The results show that stacking 3K carbon fiber cloth followed by stitching is a good preform for preparing a C/SiC nut because of its high bearing ability. Stacking 1K carbon fiber cloth followed by stitching is a preferred preform to prepare a C/SiC bolt, and its minimum thread engagement length resulting in bolt rupture instead of thread spalling failure is 4 mm, which is obviously smaller than those of other bolts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method to form helical C/ Si C spring is proposed. Using paraffin mold as a sacrificial core, unidirectional carbon fiber bundles (infiltrated with resin) are wrapped around the mold to form helical spring, and after resin curing, the mold is removed, leaving a preform of C/ Si C spring. Following densification is finished with precursor infiltration and pyrolysis ( PIP) process. The spring constant of C/ Si C spring reaches 7.88 N/mm and could be regulated by varying composite density and carbon fiber content. The spring properties could be improved by twisting the carbon fibers at 35-50 twist/m. The restoration ratio reaches 100%, but energy dissipation happens during unloading process. After oxidation in air at 1200°C for 10 min, the spring has an 82.4% spring constant remaining ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populus tomentosa is a dominant poplar species in North China. Clarifying the short-term response of fine roots to soil water gradient in the P. tomentosa plantation is helpful to have a better understanding on the ecological adaption strategy of plant roots to soil moisture. Three irrigation treatments were set in a two-year-old P. tomentosa stand planted on the sandy loam, i.e. full irrigation (DIFI), controlled irrigation (DICI), and control (CK). After 2 months of irrigation, root sampling down to 150 cm depth was conducted in each treatment using the soil core method. Through the measurement of root samples, the root growth, distribution and morphology data in each treatment, soil depth and horizontal distance were obtained. Vertically, in each soil layer, there is no significant difference in fine root biomass density (FRBD) among treatments (p > 0.05). In the whole root zone and the area with a large moisture difference in shallow soil layer among treatments, the distribution depth of fine root showed a characteristic of CK > DICI > DIFI. However, this characteristic was not observed in the area with less difference in soil water content. Horizontally, FRBD in CK decreased gradually with the increase of the distance from tree, but this trend was very weak in DIFI and DICI treatment. There was no significant difference of FRBD among treatments at each horizontal distance (p > 0.05), except for the distance of 30 cm from tree, where FRBD of CK was obviously higher than DIFI and DICI treatment (p < 0.05). On a two-dimensional scale, fine roots distribution tended to be shallower with the increasing distance from tree. Under irrigation, fine roots mainly concentrated in the shallow soil layers at both sides of the dripper, while a majority of fine roots in CK distributed in the relatively deeper soil layers close to the tree. For each soil layer within 0–50 cm, no significant difference in fine root morphology was found among treatments (p > 0.05). Both the variation of the total fine root biomass and length among the treatments followed an order of CK > DIFI > DICI. In conclusion, when a short-term moisture difference occurred in the shallow soil layers, 1) the fine roots of P. tomentosa distributed deeper and tended to concentrate closer to the tree with the aggravation of drought stress, 2) P. tomentosa preferentially adjusted the fine root distribution rather than the fine root morphology in the shallow soil layer to adapt to soil water stress, 3) as to the total amount of fine roots, P. tomentosa adopted a regulation strategy of slight decrease at first and then distinct increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes were confirmed to confer resistance to drought and water deficiency. An LEA gene from Tamarix androssowii (named TaLEA) was transformed into Xiaohei poplar (Populus simonii × P. nigra) via Agrobacterium. Twenty-five independent transgenic lines were obtained that were resistant to kanamycin, and 11 transgenic lines were randomly selected for further analysis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) gel blot indicated that the TaLEA gene had been integrated into the poplar genome. The height growth rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative electrolyte leakage and damages due to salt or drought to transgenic and non-transgenic plants were compared under salt and drought stress conditions. The results showed that the constitutive expression of the TaLEA gene in transgenic poplars could induce an increase in height growth rate and a decrease in number and severity of wilted leaves under the salt and drought stresses. The MDA content and relative electrolyte leakage in transgenic lines under salt and drought stresses were significantly lower compared to those in non-transgenic plants, indicating that the TaLEA gene may enhance salt and drought tolerance by protecting cell membranes from damage. Moreover, amongst the lines analyzed for stress tolerance, the transgenic line 11 (T11) showed the highest tolerance levels under both salinity and drought stress conditions. These results indicated that the TaLEA gene could be a salt and drought tolerance candidate gene and could confer a broad spectrum of tolerance under abiotic stresses in poplars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes were confirmed to confer resistance to drought and water deficiency. An LEA gene from Tamarix androssowii (named TaLEA) was transformed into Xiaohei poplar (Populus simonii × P. nigra) via Agrobacterium. Twenty-five independent transgenic lines were obtained that were resistant to kanamycin, and 11 transgenic lines were randomly selected for further analysis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) gel blot indicated that the TaLEA gene had been integrated into the poplar genome. The height growth rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative electrolyte leakage and damages due to salt or drought to transgenic and non-transgenic plants were compared under salt and drought stress conditions. The results showed that the constitutive expression of the TaLEA gene in transgenic poplars could induce an increase in height growth rate and a decrease in number and severity of wilted leaves under the salt and drought stresses. The MDA content and relative electrolyte leakage in transgenic lines under salt and drought stresses were significantly lower compared to those in non-transgenic plants, indicating that the TaLEA gene may enhance salt and drought tolerance by protecting cell membranes from damage. Moreover, amongst the lines analyzed for stress tolerance, the transgenic line 11 (T11) showed the highest tolerance levels under both salinity and drought stress conditions. These results indicated that the TaLEA gene could be a salt and drought tolerance candidate gene and could confer a broad spectrum of tolerance under abiotic stresses in poplars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]