Abstract: Provided is a method of forming graphene having an increased grain size. In the method, a substrate including a catalyst layer formed of a transition metal is loaded into a chamber and a gaseous carbon source is supplied into the chamber. A continuous heat treatment in which the catalyst layer is locally heated while moving a heated area of the catalyst layer is performed to dissolve a carbon component in the catalyst layer and extract graphene on a surface of the catalyst layer from the dissolved carbon component.

Abstract: A new lettuce variety designated ‘Bondi’ is described. ‘Bondi’ is a romaine lettuce variety exhibiting stability and uniformity.

Abstract: A device may include an image sensor configured to capture an image of an object in front of the image sensor, an image analyzer configured to analyze the captured image to calculate a transmittance of a light that is transmitted from outside of the object to the image sensor via the object, a command mapper configured to translate the transmittance into a command, and an executor configured to execute the command.

Abstract: A plasma generation apparatus includes a vacuum container, dielectrics connected to through-holes formed in the vacuum container, RF coils of the same structure disposed in the vicinity of the respective dielectrics and electrically connected in parallel, an RF power source to supply power to the RF coils, an impedance matching circuit disposed between the RF power source and the RF coils, and a power distribution unit disposed between the impedance matching circuit and one ends of the RF coils to distribute the power of the RF power source to the RF coils. The power distribution unit includes a power distribution line and a conductive outer cover enclosing the power distribution line. Distance between an input end of the power distribution unit and the RF coils are equal to each other, and the other ends of the RF coils are connected to the conductive outer cover to be grounded.

Abstract: An identification device adapted to be attached to a tool comprising a holder formed as a curved stratum having a C-shaped cross-section, the stratum having at least one opening thereon, and the internal surface of the holder being micro-etched; an identification tag placed within the holder; and hardening material for fixing the identification tag within the holder. The identification device is created from a holder, shaped as a curved stratum having a C-shaped cross-section and at least one opening thereon, micro-etching the internal surface of the holder; and fixing an identification tag within the holder by a hardening material. Fixing the tag within the holder may comprise placing the holder within a container; filling the holder to about half the height with a hardening material; placing the identification tag within the holder; filling the holder with the hardening material; and hardening the hardening material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of fermentation products such as alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes employing in situ product removal methods.

Abstract: An implantable microphone, comprising a rigid housing, a sensor membrane for being exposed to surrounding soft tissue, the sensor membrane being arranged to seal an opening of the housing, a transducer, for generating an output signal corresponding to the deflection of the sensor membrane, and a compliant suspension arrangement located opposite to the sensor membrane for being exposed to soft tissue and for supporting the housing on soft tissue in a manner that the housing is moveable relative to said soft tissue upon acceleration of the housing and the soft tissue, the suspension arrangement comprising means for adjusting the spring constant of the suspension arrangement when the microphone is implanted.

Abstract: A system and method for providing video compression that includes encoding using an encoding engine a YUV stream wherein Y, U and V color values are encoded in parallel and patching together the Y, U and V color streams to form a compressed YUV output stream. The encoding engine further includes encoding each color value of the YUV stream in parallel using parallel encoding engines and a control engine for controlling operation all of the encoding engines in parallel. The YUV stream has an average bits per pixel value that varies from a first value to a second value that is double the first value. The encoding engine includes encoding the YUV stream in generally the same amount of time regardless of the average bits per pixel value.

Abstract: A receptacle connector, for being inserted by a plug connector and contacted with a casing of the plug connector, includes a housing, a plurality of elastic pieces and a plurality of auxiliary fastening members. The housing includes a plurality of first surfaces and a plurality of second surfaces. The second surfaces are connected to two ends of the first surfaces so as to form an inserting window. The elastic pieces are disposed on the first surfaces. The auxiliary fastening members are disposed on the first surfaces. Each auxiliary fastening member includes a contacting portion formed extendedly at an inner side of the inserting window. When the contacting portions connected with the casing, the contact area between the casing and the auxiliary fastening members can be increased by the contacting portions so as to reduce the contact resistance between the plug connector and the receptacle connector.

Abstract: Strong nonwoven fabrics can be used as a sheet in a silt screen fence or other temporary silt screen barrier. The fabrics can be without reinforcements. Enhanced features of these strong nonwoven fabrics can enable them to be used as a sheet in a silt screen fence or other temporary silt screen barrier without adding additional processing steps. A strong nonwoven fabric without internal or external reinforcement that does not tear easily and has excellent light stability can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bead incubating and washing on a droplet actuator. Methods for incubating magnetically responsive beads that are labeled with primary antibody, a sample (i.e., analyte), and secondary reporter antibodies on a magnet, on and off a magnet, and completely off a magnet are provided. Also provided are methods for washing magnetically responsive beads using shape-assisted merging of droplets. Also provided are methods for shape-mediated splitting, transporting, and dispensing of a sample droplet that contains magnetically responsive beads. The apparatuses and methods of the invention provide for rapid time to result and optimum detection of an analyte in an immunoassay.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a detection facility configured to detect an input sound level of an audio signal presented to an auditory prosthesis patient; and an adaptive gain control (AGC) facility configured to 1) determine whether the detected input sound level is in a quiet region, an intermediate region, or a loud region, and 2) apply a gain to the audio signal in accordance with an AGC gain function that specifies the gain to be substantially equal to or less than a first gain threshold if the detected input sound level is in the quiet region, substantially equal to or less than a second gain threshold if the detected input sound level is in the loud region, and greater than the first and second gain thresholds if the detected input sound level is in the intermediate region. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An LED bulb includes a connecting member having an Edison male screw base and an LED module engaging with the connecting member. The LED module includes a circuit board, a first LED and a plurality of second LEDs mounted on the circuit board. The first LED is arranged on a center of the circuit board. The second LEDs are located surround the first LED. The LED bulb furthermore includes a plurality of lens. Each lens covers a corresponding second LED. Each lens includes a light-guiding portion which includes a light input surface and a light output surface. Light emitted from each of the second LEDs travels into the lens via the light input surface, and is refracted out to lateral directions of the LED bulb by the light output surface of the light-guiding portion to obtain a wider illumination range.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of compressing images generated on an image generating device, the method including responsive to a generated image and position and orientation data associated with an image generating device which generated the image, selecting a previously generated image having a similar position and a similar orientation as the generated image; and if a comparison between the selected previously generated image and the generated image indicates the difference between one of the previously generated images and the generated image is less than a threshold difference, then compressing the generated image using the previously generated image. The method may include generating the generated image from light incident to the image generating device, and generating the position and orientation associated with the image generating device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fermentative production of alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes for improving alcohol fermentation employing in situ product removal methods.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process and method of screening an avian embryo feather color (pre-hatching) and determining the sex of the avian embryo, based at least in part, on the feather color or the color of feather precursors is provided. In an alternate embodiment, a process and method of screening chick embryo sex is provided, comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a chicken egg; (ii) exposing the chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation emitted from an electromagnetic radiation source; (iii) determining the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg by using an imaging system; (iv) comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database; and (v) determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg, at least in part, as a result of the comparing step.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for placement in soft tissue, comprising a sensor arrangement comprising a housing, a first pressure sensor having a first membrane for being exposed to surrounding soft tissue and a second pressure sensor having a second membrane for being exposed to surrounding soft tissue and a compensation circuitry for combining the output signals of the first and second sensor in a manner so as to eliminate signals resulting from acceleration forces acting on the sensor arrangement, wherein the first and the second sensor are of a mirror-symmetric design with regard to each other, with the first and the second membrane being arranged parallel to each other.

Abstract: To make it possible to form a metal electrode of low electrical contact resistance on a conductive indium-containing oxide semiconductor layer constituting a device active layer of a thin-film transistor or the like. Between an indium-containing oxide semiconductor layer and a metal electrode layer provided above this layer for passing device operating current, which can reduce indium oxide or the like of the oxide semiconductor layer. A metallic oxide layer and a metal layer are formed using as material a metal film including an easily oxidable metal, and further an indium-rich layer in which reduced indium is accumulated is formed at a boundary between the metallic oxide layer and the metal layer.

Abstract: A solar panel mounting system includes first and second mounting supports, at least one having a lower mounting ledge, and at least the other having an upper mounting ledge. At least two brackets each have a first platform coupled to the lower mounting ledge and a second platform spaced apart therefrom. Each bracket includes a first hinge portion with a curved channel and a first catch. A first frame, at a first end, has a panel gripping portion for gripping an edge of a solar panel oriented generally parallel to the lower mounting ledge, and at an opposing second end has a second hinge portion with a flange and a curved hook extending therefrom. The first hinge portion is configured to rotatably receive the second hinge portion. The hook is received in the channel and retained by the first catch and the flange is supported on the second platform.

Abstract: The present invention tracks or locates small moving objects, or generates a 3-D frame of data by using 3-D focal plane arrays with low laser energy and few mechanically moving parts. The invention may be used to determine the direction of a laser designating a target, for target tracking, used as a 3-D movie/video camera or used to provide data for autonomous navigation.