Abstract: A process for producing highly monodisperse polystyrene particles includes steps of mixing water and styrene in a reactor, optionally adding an electrolyte to the mixture, purging the mixture of oxygen, adding a polymerization initiator while agitating and heating the mixture, and maintaining agitation and heating for a time sufficient to achieve a desired yield of monodisperse polystyrene particles having a particle size from 0.25 microns to 2.5 microns and a statistical quality factor greater than 10.

Abstract: This invention provides an information recording patch that allows accurate authenticity discrimination, a printed sheet, and an authenticity discrimination method therefor. An information recording patch includes a protective layer (1), intermediate layer (2), metal layer (3), and adhesive layer (4). The protective layer (1) made of a material having a predetermined dielectric constant is arranged at the uppermost layer. The intermediate layer (2) made of a material having a predetermined dielectric constant has, on its surface, a three-dimensional pattern corresponding to the design of a hologram forming layer including the intermediate layer and the metal layer. The metal layer (3) made of a material having a predetermined conductivity is arranged on the three-dimensional surface of the intermediate layer to form a conductive film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fusion polynucleotides for biosynthesis of beta-carotene and a method for producing beta-carotene using the same. More particularly, it relates to fusion polynucleotides encoding phytoene synthase, connective sequences of FMDV-derived 2A sequence or internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and carotene desaturase, and a method for producing beta-carotenes using the same. Fusion polynucleotides and the recombinant vector using the same of the present invention have the effect of expression both phytoene synthase gene and carotene desaturase gene stably within cell transformants. Accordingly, fusion polynucleotides of the present invention can be used to regulate the biosynthetic metabolism of plant producing beta-carotene. Furthermore, it can be applied to effectively increase the content of beta-carotene, a useful metabolite.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides ex vivo-derived mineralized three-dimensional bone constructs. The bone constructs are obtained by culturing osteoblasts and osteoclast precursors under randomized gravity vector conditions. Preferably, the randomized gravity vector conditions are obtained using a low shear stress rotating bioreactor, such as a High Aspect Ratio Vessel (HARV) culture system. The bone constructs of the disclosure have utility in physiological studies of bone formation and bone function, in drug discovery, and in orthopedics.

Abstract: A device used in making differential measurements of a flow includes an open-ended tubular flow obstruction and a support arm. The flow obstruction has an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall. The support arm has a first end coupled to an exterior wall of a conduit and a second end coupled to the flow obstruction. The support arm positions the flow obstruction in the conduit such that a first flow region is defined around the flow obstruction's outer annular wall and a second flow region is defined by the flow obstruction's inner annular wall. The support arm's first end and second end are separated from one another with respect to a length dimension of the conduit. Measurement ports provided in the flow obstruction are coupled to points at the exterior wall of the conduit by manifolds extending through the flow obstruction and support arm.

Abstract: In some implementations, apparatus and methods are provided through which a dynamic cryogenic seal is manufactured. In some implementations, the seal includes a retainer and a spring-seal assembly, the assembly being comprised of a main spring housing and fluorine-containing polymer seals. In some implementations, either a radial seal, or an axial (or “piston seal”) is provided. In some implementations, methods of manufacturing the dynamic cryogenic seal are also provided. In some implementations, the methods include assembling the components while either heated or cooled, taking advantage of thermal expansion and contraction, such that there is a strong interference fit between the components at room temperature. In some implementations, this process ensures that the weaker fluorine-containing polymer seal is forced to expand and contract with the stronger retainer and spring and is under constant preload.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an optically active 2-hydroxy ester, comprising selectively esterifying one enantiomer of a racemic 2-hydroxy ester in a solvent containing a catalyst such as tetramisole or benzotetramisole, and a carboxylic acid anhydride, or a carboxylic acid anhydride and a carboxylic acid. In particular, in the case where the solvent contains a carboxylic acid anhydride, but does not contain a carboxylic acid, as the carboxylic acid anhydride, a carboxylic acid anhydride containing a tertiary or quaternary carbon atom in the a-position is used. On the other hand, in the case where the solvent contains a carboxylic acid anhydride and a carboxylic acid, as the carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid containing a tertiary or quaternary carbon atom in the a-position is used.

Abstract: A method of assembling an energy harvesting system is provided. The method includes coupling at least one energy storage device in flow communication with at least one apparatus that is configured to generate thermal energy and to transfer the thermal energy into at least one fluid stream. The energy storage device is configured to store the fluid stream. Moreover, the method includes coupling at least one fluid transfer device downstream from the energy storage device. The fluid transfer device receives the fluid stream from the energy storage device. A bladeless turbine is coupled in flow communication with the fluid transfer device, wherein the bladeless turbine receives the fluid stream to generate power.

Abstract: A composite conductor includes a conductor that has a high temperature polyimide insulation formed around it. This polyimide layer may include reinforcing fibers such as, for instance, glass fibers. The insulation layer may further include grading layers. The conductor is placed inside an earth layer. The composite conductor may be protected with a stainless steel enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for imaging a target area. Light is emitted from a device and separated into individual rays of light. These rays are then directed to a target area where they are reflected and returned to a receiving device. The time of flight for the individual rays of light is calculated to determine the range and shape of objects in the target area.

Abstract: Successfully produced are cruciferous plants resistant to clubroot by introducing the clubroot resistance gene (Crr1) isolated by map-based cloning into cruciferous plants and expressing the gene.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous separator using cellulose nanofibrils is provided. The method includes preparing a sheet using a solution including cellulose nanofibrils and a pore-forming resin and removing the pore-forming resin included in the sheet to form micropores.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photocurable composition which contains a photobase generator capable of generating a satisfactory amount of a base in a high quantum yield when irradiated even with a small quantity of light for a short time, and contains a curable compound that is rapidly cured by the generated base such that the composition is cured into a cured product. The photocurable composition comprises: a photobase generator (A) which is a salt of a carboxylic acid (a1-1) represented by the following formula (1-1) with a basic compound (a2), and a curable compound (B) which has, in one molecule thereof, at least two functional groups selected from among epoxy group, (meth)acryloyl group, isocyanato group, acid anhydride group, and alkoxysilyl group, where R1 to R7 in the above formula (1-1) each are hydrogen or an organic group, R1 to R7 may be the same or different, and two of R1 to R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds that have been demonstrated to be modulators of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and subtypes, iso forms and variants thereof). These compounds are useful as antagonists of the ghrelin receptor as well as inverse agonist, partial agonist or a combination of these activities as medicaments for treatment and prevention of a range of medical conditions including, but not limited to, metabolic and/or endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, obesity and obesity-associated disorders, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, and hyperproliferative disorders.

Abstract: The present invention is a mass gauging interferometry system used to determine the volume contained within a tank. By using an optical interferometric technique to determine gas density and/or pressure a much smaller compression volume or higher fidelity measurement is possible. The mass gauging interferometer system is comprised of an optical source, a component that splits the optical source into a plurality of beams, a component that recombines the split beams, an optical cell operatively coupled to a tank, a detector for detecting fringes, and a means for compression. A portion of the beam travels through the optical cell operatively coupled to the tank, while the other beam(s) is a reference.

Abstract: The method of the invention promotes single crystal growth during fabrication of melt growth semiconductors. A growth ampoule and its tip have a semiconductor source material placed therein. The growth ampoule is placed in a first thermal environment that raises the temperature of the semiconductor source material to its liquidus temperature. The growth ampoule is then transitioned to a second thermal environment that causes the semiconductor source material in the growth ampoule's tip to attain a temperature that is below the semiconductor source material's solidus temperature. The growth ampoule so-transitioned is then mechanically perturbed to induce single crystal growth at the growth ampoule's tip.

Abstract: A new fabrication method for nanovoids-imbedded bismuth telluride (Bi—Te) material with low dimensional (quantum-dots, quantum-wires, or quantum-wells) structure was conceived during the development of advanced thermoelectric (TE) materials. Bismuth telluride is currently the best-known candidate material for solid-state TE cooling devices because it possesses the highest TE figure of merit at room temperature. The innovative process described here allows nanometer-scale voids to be incorporated in Bi—Te material. The final nanovoid structure such as void size, size distribution, void location, etc. can be also controlled under various process conditions.

Abstract: A simple and practical image restoring device capable of improving the performance of image restoration. An image restoring device (100) is provided with a first restoration processing unit (160a) and estimates original image information from the degraded image information into which information unnecessary for the original image information is incorporated. A correlation calculating section (164) calculates the correlation value of the estimation error of when the state amount of a system at time n+1 including the original image information is estimated by information up to time n or the time n+1 with respect to the degraded image information of only the time n.

Abstract: A flame holder system includes a modified torch body and a ceramic flame holder. Catch pin(s) are coupled to and extend radially out from the torch body. The ceramic flame holder has groove(s) formed in its inner wall that correspond in number and positioning to the catch pin(s). Each groove starts at one end of the flame holder and can be shaped to define at least two 90°turns. Each groove is sized to receive one catch pin therein when the flame holder is fitted over the end of the torch body. The flame holder is then manipulated until the catch pin(s) butt up against the end of the groove(s).

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material excellent in piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type complex oxide represented by the following General Formula (1). A(ZnxTi(1-x))yM(1-y)O3??(1) wherein A represents at least one kind of element containing at least a Bi element and selected from a trivalent metal element; M represents at least one kind of element of Fe, Al, Sc, Mn, Y, Ga, and Yb; x represents a numerical value satisfying 0.4?x?0.6; and y represents a numerical value satisfying 0.1?y?0.9.