Abstract: A wavelength demultiplexer is equipped with a spectroscopic means (which separates light that is input from multiple input light paths, and outputs the light to multiple output light paths) and a light path switching device (a device that switches the light paths that are input to the spectroscopic means, with the switching being performed by an external operation), and the light path switching device may be a device that distributes the input from one input port to multiple output ports. The light path switching device and the spectroscopic means are polarization-independent, with the input light paths, the output light paths, and the light paths between the light path switching device and the spectroscopic means being polarization-maintaining light paths, so the relative polarization configuration is the same for the input light and the output light.

Abstract: A heterogeneous catalyst for selectively hydrogenating a copolymer is provided, which includes a porous support, a metal oxide wrapping a part of the surface of the porous support, and a plurality of palladium particles on the porous support and the metal oxide. A method for selectively hydrogenating a copolymer is also provided, which includes contacting a heterogeneous catalyst to a copolymer to process hydrogenation. The copolymer includes aromatic rings and nonaromatic double bonds, and the nonaromatic double bonds are hydrogenated, and the aromatic rings are substantially not hydrogenated. The heterogeneous catalyst includes a porous support, a metal oxide wrapping a part of the surface of the porous support, and a plurality of palladium particles formed on the porous support and the metal oxide.

Abstract: A water separation composite membrane is provided. The water separation composite membrane includes a carrier with a plurality of pores, wherein the carrier is made of a polymer having a repeat unit of and a selective layer disposed on the porous carrier, wherein the selective layer consists of a plurality of graphene oxide layers.

Abstract: A stretcher has a rectangle-shaped subject placement portion on which a subject is placed and a carrying device carrying the subject placement portion, comprising: a switching part switched to any one of at least two states; and a switching device switching a state of the switching part in accordance with a supplied gas pressure. The at least two states include a state in which the switching part prevents movement of the subject placement portion and a state in which the switching part allows the movement.

Abstract: A local processing apparatus and a data transceiving method thereof are provided. The local processing apparatus includes a communication module configured to transceive the data with the one or more distributed storage units, a memory configured to store a program for transceiving the data and the one or more key-value data pairs, and a processor configured to execute the program, the processor confirms whether a first key-value data exists in the memory by executing the program, and determines whether to prefetch one or more key-value data corresponding to the first key-value data based on the confirmation result.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a functional polymer gel which is able to be practically used as an ocular lens having excellent transparency and mechanical strength by uniformly dispersing organic nanotubes in a polymer gel without the formation of agglomerates of the organic nanotubes in the case where the organic nanotubes are complexed into the polymer gel; and a method for producing this functional polymer gel. The above-mentioned purpose is achieved by: a functional polymer gel which is characterized by containing organic nanotubes and having a light transmittance of 80% or more; and a method for producing this functional polymer gel.

Abstract: A separator is provided, which includes a porous polyolefin layer and a nano fiber web thereon, wherein the nano fiber web includes a plurality of nano fibers interwoven with each other. The nano fiber includes polyimide polymerized of diamine and dianhydride, wherein at least one of the diamine and the dianhydride is aliphatic or cycloaliphatic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to A method for promoting the differentiation of myoblasts comprising treating myoblasts with butylpyridinium, a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; a method for strengthening muscles comprising administering butylpyridinium, a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a subject in need thereof; a feed or feed additive for strengthening muscles comprising butylpyridinium, a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; a method for treating a disease associated with muscle weakness comprising administering butylpyridinium, a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A cathode composite material is disclosed. The cathode composite material comprises a cathode active material and a polymer composed with the cathode active material. The polymer is obtained by polymerizing a maleimide type monomer with an organic diamine type compound. The maleimide type monomer comprises at least one of a maleimide monomer, a bismaleimide monomer, a multimaleimide monomer and a maleimide type derivative monomer. A method for making the cathode composite material and a lithium ion battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a stabilizing circuit structure using a sense field effect transistor (sense-FET). A power semiconductor module includes a depletion-mode field effect transistor (D-mode FET) and the sense FET that has same structure as the D-mode FET and varies in area. Also the power semiconductor module includes not only an enhancement-mode field effect transistor (E-mode FET), but also the stabilizing circuit including circuit elements such as a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, or a diode.

Abstract: A bamboo composite material for structural applications and method of fabricating the same are provided. The method can comprise the steps of providing a bamboo culm; separating a slice or sheet from the bamboo culm such that the slice or sheet has a longitudinal axis along a fiber direction of the bamboo culm; at least partially detaching individual fiber bundles of the slice or sheet from each other along the longitudinal axis of the slice or sheet; applying a glue to the slice or sheet; and curing the glued slice or sheet.

Abstract: An additive for a lithium ion battery is disclosed. The additive is a polymer obtained by polymerizing a maleimide type monomer with an organic diamine type compound. The maleimide type monomer comprises at least one of a maleimide monomer, a bismaleimide monomer, a multimaleimide monomer and a maleimide type derivative monomer. An electrolyte liquid and a lithium ion battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for automatic facial impression transformation includes extracting landmark points for elements of a target face whose facial impression is to be transformed as well as distance vectors respectively representing distances of the landmark points, comparing the distance vectors to select a learning data set similar to the target face from a database, extracting landmark points and distance vectors from the learning data set, transforming a local feature of the target face based on the landmark points of the learning data set and score data for a facial impression, and transforming a global feature of the target face based on the distance vectors of the learning data set and the score data for the facial impression. Accordingly, a facial impression may be transformed in various ways while keeping an identity of a corresponding person.

Abstract: To provide a novel agent for ameliorating a skin symptom such as pigmented macules or ephelides, a novel hair growth agent, and a novel slimming agent. The agent for ameliorating a skin symptom, the hair growth agent, or the slimming agent contains a dopamine agonist as an active ingredient, in which the skin symptom is selected from pigmented macules, periorbital dark circles, darkish skin, black darkish skin, moles, ephelides, birth marks, and seborrheic keratosis.

Abstract: Method and system for presenting a lesson plan having a plurality of keyframes is provided. The method includes initializing a fixed variable for a first keyframe; detecting an input from a user at an interactive display device; correlating the input with a gesture from a gesture set and one or more of database domains from among a plurality of database domains; displaying an image at the interactive display device when all mutable variables for the first keyframe content are determined based on the input; manipulating the image using a gesture associated with the displayed image and any associated database domains; and transitioning to a next keyframe using animation.

Abstract: A method and a communication device for network address translation (NAT) traversal is provided. The method includes following steps. An NAT device information is exchanged between a communication device and another communication device. A relay connection is established between the communication device and the another communication device through a relay server. Whether it is feasible to establish a P2P connection between the communication device and the another communication device is determined according to the NAT device information. When it is feasible to establish the P2P connection between the communication device and the another communication device, an attempt of establishing the P2P connection between the communication device and the another communication device is made. If the P2P connection is not established successfully, an attempt of establishing the P2P connection between the communication device and the another communication device is made again.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for forming particles is provided. The method may allow biocompatible particles comprising an agent (e.g., pharmaceutically active agent) to be produced absent one or more purification step (e.g., removal of excess reagent). In certain embodiments, particles, produced as described herein, can be utilized in a pharmaceutical composition and/or administered to a subject without further purification. The lack of one or more purification step may simplify manufacturing and/or minimize or eliminate the loss of agent from the particle after formation. In some embodiments, the method comprises associating albumin with an agent and crosslinking to form particles, such that little or no cytotoxic molecules are produced and/or remain after particle formation. Cross-linked albumin particles formed via the methods described herein may serve as biocompatible carriers for a variety of agents.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides VEGF-A-binding proteins and HER-2-binding proteins having a reduced tendency to aggregate. Compositions and methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a transformed Synechococcus elongatus strain capable of producing biodiesel directly from carbon dioxide and a method for producing biodiesel and a method for removing carbon dioxide using the same. In an aspect, the transformed Synechococcus elongatus strain of the present disclosure can produce biodiesel in large scale using carbon dioxide as a carbon source. The Synechococcus elongatus strain is environment-friendly because it can be used to remove or reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The strain of the present disclosure is advantageous in that it can produce biodiesel in large scale because it grows faster and exhibits excellent carbon dioxide fixation capability as compared to other photosynthetic microorganisms.

Abstract: A conductor including a graphene layer and a method of manufacturing the conductor are provided. The conductor may further include a nano pattern disposed on a substrate, and the graphene layer may be formed on the nano pattern. The nano pattern may have any various shapes and include a material that interacts with the graphene layer. The nano pattern and the graphene layer included in the conductor may interact with each other, such that the electric characteristics of the conductor are maintained while the heat transfer characteristics thereof are improved.