Abstract: A spraying device for quickly forming gas hydrates, includes a stable gas supply system, a saturated solution preparation system, a gas-liquid mixed sprayer, a temperature control system and a data collecting and processing system. Pressure atomization is achieved at a high atomization speed and the atomized fog drops are uniformly distributed within a scale range of 5-10 microns to form a gas-in-water contact mode, so as to effectively increase a gas-water contact superficial area and significantly shorten the induction time of forming the gas hydrates. The device achieves gas-liquid intensive mixing in a gas-liquid mixing cavity in a spray manner and consumes no energy, thereby reducing the total energy consumption of forming the gas hydrates and improving the energy consumption efficiency of forming the gas hydrates. The spraying device applies to thermodynamics and kinetics experiments of quick and continuous hydrate method gas separation and rapid formation of the gas hydrates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of measuring biofilm and biological activity on a surface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a biofilm, which includes one or more microorganisms, grown on a substrate. A viewing window is placed on a surface of the biofilm and a gas bubble is introduced between the viewing window and the surface of the biofilm. The space between the substrate and the viewing window may be enclosed in a casing that has an inlet and an outlet, forming a flow cell. A microscope system, such as a white light interferometer, captures data of the biofilm in situ and non-destructively. The 3D images of biofilm surface have high resolution while maintaining a large field of view. This invention will be useful for fundamental studies of biofilms, biomedical and environmental screening, and many other applications in biology and the life sciences.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pineapple leaf fiber fine treatment method and belongs to the technical field of fiber fine treatment. According to the method, fibers are firstly subjected to pretreatment by ultrasonic waves, then subjected to swelling treatment by a swelling additive, then subjected to chemical degumming treatment after the swelling treatment to prepare pineapple leaf fiber degummed ramie, and finally teased and refined to obtain pineapple leaf fiber ramie stripes. A loosening fiber structure makes fibers slip easily under the effect of an external teasing and refining force, while the invention may increase the fiber looseness, improve the fiber fineness, improve the fiber quality, enable a chemical degumming additive to enter the inside of the fiber more easily, reduce sewage discharge during degumming, and decrease the degumming treatment cost.

Abstract: Transmission microscopy imaging systems include a mask and/or other modulator situated to encode image beams, e.g., by deflecting the image beam with respect to the mask and/or sensor. The beam is modulated/masked either before or after transmission through a sample to induce a spatially and/or temporally encoded signal by modifying any of the beam/image components including the phase/coherence, intensity, or position of the beam at the sensor. For example, a mask can be placed/translated through the beam so that several masked beams are received by a sensor during a single sensor integration time. Images associated with multiple mask displacements are then used to reconstruct a video sequence using a compressive sensing method. Another example of masked modulation involves a mechanism for phase-retrieval, whereby the beam is modulated by a set of different masks in the image plane and each masked image is recorded in the diffraction plane.

Abstract: An operation verifying apparatus of a first embodiment acquires a log indicating the content of a sequence of operations performed on a predetermined device, identifies corresponding functions from the log, and automatically generates a program based on the identified functions. Input data, which is to serve as an argument of each of these functions, is set. Execution sets as well as test scenarios are each structured by combining a program and input data. Then each execution set is continuously executed. As a result, an operation test using a test program is executed.

Abstract: An electroplating method according to an embodiment is a electroplating method of generating a metal film on a cathode surface by setting a negative potential to a cathode of an anode and the cathode provided in a reaction bath, including mixing and accommodating a plating solution containing at least plated metal ions, an electrolyte, and a surface active agent and a supercritical fluid in the reaction bath and applying a current in a concentration of the supercritical fluid and a cathode current density in which a polarization resistance obtained from a cathode polarization curve while the plated metal ions are reduced is larger than before the supercritical fluid is mixed.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for testing an optical fiber in an optical distribution network, the apparatus being capable of synthetically testing an optical fiber by using a plurality of optical pulse signals.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for inputting a character The apparatus includes a recognition unit configured to measure lengths from arbitrary points on a user's hands to respective fingertips and recognize a click gesture using the measured lengths, a control unit configured to control character input according to the recognized click gesture, and a display unit configured to display a character pad for the character input and display a character input according to the click gesture recognized on the character pad.

Abstract: Provided is a coating composition for a transparent electrode passivation layer, the coating composition including a metal oxide and at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol. When a passivation layer formed using the coating composition for a transparent electrode passivation layer according to the present invention is applied to a transparent electrode, the passivation layer is capable of ensuring the heat resistance and durability of the transparent electrode while maintaining the transmittance of the transparent electrode. Particularly, the coating composition for a transparent electrode passivation layer according to the present invention exhibits excellent hardness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a force torque sensor, a force torque sensor frame, and a force torque measurement method. The force torque sensor includes a central hub, a plurality of beams each having one side connected to the hub, and a rim connected to the other side of each beam to surround the hub and the plurality of beams. The force torque measurement method includes: a step of forming a gradient shape in a longitudinal direction thereof so that a section is provided in which a strain rate on each of the beams due to a force or torque is maintained within a predetermined value; and a step of measuring a strain rate in X-axis, Y-axis, or Z-axis directions after a strain gauge is attached to a corresponding section. Thus, a measurement center of the strain gauge may be positioned within a predetermined section.

Abstract: An automated workpiece processing apparatus including a processing section including a processing module configured for processing a workpiece at a process location, a transport module including a first shuttle stage, a second shuttle stage independent of the first stage, and an end effector connected to at least one of the first and second stages, the end effector being configured to hold and transport the workpiece into and out of the processing module, and having a range of motion, defined by a combination of the first and second stage, extending from a workpiece holding station outside the processing module to the processing location inside the processing module so the end effector defines a processing stage of the processing module, and an automated loading and transport section including a load port module through which workpieces are loaded into the automated loading and transport section, and being communicably connected to the transport module.

Abstract: A method of making a pharmaceutical tablet comprises (a) combining (i) an aqueous networked cellulose gel with (ii) filler and (iii) an active agent to form a mixture thereof; (b) casting the mixture to form a wet tablet; (c) drying the wet tablet to form a dry pharmaceutical tablet; and then (d) optionally coating the tablet (e.g., with an enteric coating). Pharmaceutical tablets produced by such methods are also described.

Abstract: A coupling clamp-type pulse injection apparatus, which can couple a high-voltage wideband pulse having a peak voltage of several tens of kV and having a rising time of several hundreds of ps or less to a cable without causing dielectric breakdown and a 50 ohm impedance mismatch, is provided. The pulse injection apparatus includes an input connector, an output connector, and a main body including an inner plate connected at a first end thereof to the input connector and at a second end thereof to the output connector, and a coupling plate connected to the inner plate and configured to fix a cable to the inner plate and to couple a high-power electromagnetic pulse input through the input connector to the cable.

Abstract: A method and system of measuring non-methane hydrocarbons in exhaust gas. The method includes sampling exhaust gas, wherein the exhaust gas includes native carbon dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbons and methane. The native carbon dioxide present in the exhaust gas is removed followed by oxidation of the non-methane hydrocarbons to produce carbon dioxide. The concentration of carbon dioxide is then measured and provides a direct indication of the non-methane hydrocarbon concentration.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] To provide a ZnO coating having low friction not only in a vacuum but in a liquid such as oil. [Solution] The low-friction ZnO coating, comprising (002) and (103) planes, and further comprising (100), (101), (102), and (104) planes in lower proportions than those of the (002) and (103) planes, has been prepared by sputtering using a zinc target in a sputter gas environment, wherein the sputter gas comprises an inert gas and oxygen gas, and the oxygen gas ratio is controlled. This coating has a specifically good low friction coefficient due to the piezoelectric effect, and this friction reduction mechanism is maintained even in oil such as n-hexadecane. Thus, this coating has been found to have excellent low-friction properties.

Abstract: Gene targeting is a technique to introduce genetic change into one or more specific locations in the genome of a cell. For example, gene targeting can introduce genetic change by modifying, repairing, attenuating or inactivating a target gene or other chromosomal DNA. In one aspect, this disclosure relates to methods and compositions for gene targeting with high efficiency in a cell. This disclosure also relates to methods of treating or preventing a genetic disease in an individual in need thereof. Further disclosed are chimeric nucleases and vectors encoding chimeric nucleases.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to olefin metathesis. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for Z-selective ring-closing metathesis.

Abstract: An active imaging system, which includes a light source and light sensor, generates structured illumination. The light sensor captures transient light response data regarding reflections of light emitted by the light source. The transient light response data is wavelength-resolved. One or more processors process the transient light response data and data regarding the structured illumination to calculate a reflectance spectra map of an occluded surface. The processors also compute a 3D geometry of the occluded surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal complex including: a tin oxide; titanium oxide nanorods in a rutile phase formed on the tin oxide; and titanium oxide nanoparticles in an anatase phase formed on the titanium oxide nanorods in a rutile phase, and a preparation method thereof, and can be used as a catalyst support in various forms.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a graphene oxide material in which oxidation is confined within the graphene layer and that possesses a desired band gap is provided. The method allows specific band gap values to be developed. Additionally, the use of masks is consistent with the method, so intricate configurations can be achieved. The resulting graphene oxide material is thus completely customizable and can be adapted to a plethora of useful engineering applications.