Abstract: The devices and systems described herein include one or more fluid paths, e.g., channels, and one or more selectively permeable obstacles arranged in the fluid path(s), each including a plurality of aligned nanostructures, e.g., nanotubes or nanorods, defining an outer surface of the obstacle and an internal network of voids. The obstacle(s) can further include binding moieties applied to the outer surface and/or to the surfaces of the individual nanostructures within the obstacle(s). The devices can be manufactured by forming the dense groupings of nanostructures to extend outwards and upwards from a substrate; forming a fluidic channel, bonding the fluidic channel to the substrate; and optionally applying binding moieties to the obstacles. The devices can be used to manipulate cells within fluid samples.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting biochemical oxygen demand. Active sludge, surface water, domestic waste water, or industrial waste water comprising microorganism is taken as a water sample with microorganism in the method provided by the present invention. The water sample with microorganism is cultivated to obtain a microorganism film. The blank water sample and the target water sample are made to pass through the microorganism film respectively. The dissolved oxygen reduction current values of the blank water sample and the target water sample are detected. The difference value between the dissolved oxygen reduction current value of the target water sample and that of the blank water sample is obtained. On the basis of the difference value and the predetermined standard curve, the biochemical oxygen demand of the target water sample is acquired.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an automatic locking screw machine, which includes an automatic separating module, an automatic feeding module, and an automatic locking module. The automatic separating module separates a plurality of screws arranged in an array. The automatic feeding module is connected to the automatic separating module, and includes a feeding duct for conveying the screws separated by the automatic separating module. The automatic locking module is connected to the automatic feeding module, and includes a first spring ball mechanism and a screwdriver. The first spring ball mechanism supports the screws conveyed by the feeding duct, and the screwdriver locks the screws supported by the first spring ball mechanism onto a workpiece.

Abstract: Described is a process for the conversion of halophytic plant biomass containing saline organic solids into biogas through anaerobic digestion. Operation of the process with saline (e.g., seawater) as liquid media under the method conditions taught leads to biological conversion of the organic matter into biogas. Additionally described is a method for pretreatment of the biomass under mild physicochemical conditions to increase the bioavailable fraction of the biomass for conversion.

Abstract: A scanning projective lensless microscope device comprises a specimen surface, a scanning illumination source with a light element, a light detector outside the specimen surface, and a processor. The scanning illumination source scans the light element to a plurality of scanning locations to provide illumination to an object on the specimen surface. The light detector samples a sequence of sub-pixel shifted projection object images corresponding to the plurality of scanning locations. The processor constructs a high resolution image of the object based on the sequence of sub-pixel shifted projection images and a motion vector of the projections at a plane of interest.

Abstract: A system and methods for controlling pulse parameters during transcranial magnetic stimulation are provided. Multiple coils are placed on external body parts, and are controlled using an external control unit coupled to a stimulator having fast switches. The timing of the switches, as well as other parameters within the stimulator, determine the pulse parameters, such as pulse shape. The variety of pulse shapes obtainable using such a system and methods provides controlled physiologic effects within an internal body organ.

Abstract: This invention provides a platinum/carbon nanotube catalyst applicable to heterogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation, which is fabricated by supporting platinum on carbon nanotube carriers. The catalyst is prepared by the steps of: heating purified carbon nanotubes in nitric acid, filtering and washing the same with water until pH value of the filtrate becomes neutral, drying the carbon nanotubes; immersing the carbon nanotube carriers obtained in an aqueous chloroplatinic acid solution and carrying out ultrasonic treatment at room temperature; immersing the mixture of the carbon nanotubes and the aqueous chloroplatinic acid solution under stirring; drying the material by heating to 110° C. from room temperature and maintaining this temperature; grinding the product to fine powders, reducing the fine powders with an aqueous sodium formate solution under a heating condition, filtering and washing the product with deionized water, and drying the product.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a fault-tolerant energy conversion system. A fault-tolerant doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) for use with a wind energy conversion system (WECS) consistent with the present disclosure may allow for seamless operation during all kinds of grid faults. In one embodiment, a six-switch grid side converter (GSC) commonly used with such systems may be replaced with nine-switch converter circuitry. With three additional switches, the nine-switch converter can provide two independent three phase outputs. For example, one three-phase output may be coupled to the grid through interfacing inductors to realize normal GSC operation, while the other three-phase output may be coupled to neutral side of the stator windings to provide fault ride-through (FRT) capability to the DFIG. A control algorithm may be employed that both achieves seamless fault ride-through during any kind of grid faults and strictly satisfies grid codes requirements.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a manufacturing method for a porous carbon material including: preparing a first solution including a surfactant, a carbon source material and a solvent; pouring the first solution into a silica sol aqueous solution to form a second solution; preparing a silicate aqueous solution; pouring the silicate aqueous solution into the second solution to form a third solution and to precipitate out an intermediate, wherein the intermediate includes the surfactant, the carbon source material and a silica template; performing a heating process on the intermediate to carbonize the intermediate; and removing the silica template of the carbonized intermediate to form a porous carbon material. Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a porous carbon material. The other embodiment provides a supercapacitor.

Abstract: Methods and devices for altering the power of a lens, such as an intraocular lens, are disclosed. In one method, the lens comprises a single polymer matrix containing crosslinkable pendant groups, wherein the polymer matrix increases in volume when crosslinked. The lens does not contain free monomer. Upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, crosslinking causes the exposed portion of the lens to increase in volume, causing an increase in the refractive index. In another method, the lens comprises a polymer matrix containing photobleachable chromophores. Upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, photobleaching causes a decrease in refractive index in the exposed portion without any change in lens thickness. These methods avoid the need to wait for diffusion to occur to change the lens shape and avoid the need for a second exposure to radiation to lock in the changes to the lens.

Abstract: Compounds represented by Formula I are provided that include synthetic transtaganolide and basiliolide products. Derivatives of these compounds and methods of synthesis are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing electrodes of flow cell having high power density. A plurality of seeds are distributed on a surface of a conductive carbon material. The seeds are etched into nanoparticles to form carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes. The present invention can be applied to vanadium redox flow cell with advantages of the CNT electrodes, such as conductivity, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength and specific and electrochemical surface area. Electrons are directly passed to the material through CNTs and then to an external electronic load for improving power density of flow cell, making a cell pack more compact and reducing energy consumption on charging and discharging without using noble metal material.

Abstract: Provided is a porcine CD28 receptor molecule, which is: 1) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, or 2) a protein derived from 1) by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 and having equivalent activity with 1). Further provided is a gene for coding the porcine CD28 receptor, the nucleotide sequence of which is shown as SEQ ID NO:1. When the provided co-stimulating receptor CD28 is expressed specifically and highly in a T cell, the activation, proliferation and cell factor secretion activity of the T cell when stimulated by an antigen can be enhanced, thereby enhancing the acquired immune response of a host and enhancing the immune effect of a vaccine.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a FinFET semiconductor device is provided, wherein the semiconductor fins are formed in a parallel arrangement which intersects the gates arranged in parallel. The polycrystalline silicon layer is deposited and then converted into a single crystal silicon layer such that the single crystal silicon layer and the semiconductor fins are integrated in essence, i.e., the source/drain region in the semiconductor fins is raised and the top area of the semiconductor fins is extended. Subsequently, the single crystal silicon layer above the top of the semiconductor fins is converted into a metal silicide so as to form a source/drain region contact. The source/drain region contact in the present invention has a larger area than that in a conventional FinFET, which decreases the contact resistance and facilitates the formation of a self-aligned metal plug in the follow-up process.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a tomographic image in a medical imaging apparatus includes: acquiring a first image of an object and a second image of the object corresponding to an image to be reconstructed; determining, in the first image, a reference region corresponding to a unit region in the second image; and updating data in the unit region based on data contained in the reference region. Thus, a medical image having both high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution is reconstructed to have substantially reduced artifacts.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing a user's posture in a horse-riding simulator, the apparatus comprising: a standard posture model generation module configured to find out a standard posture model by selecting feature points from an expert database, and generate the standard posture model; and a posture recognizing module configured to obtain a user's posture from the horse-riding simulator, recognize a user's horse-riding posture by matching the obtained user's posture with the standard posture model generated in the standard posture model generation module, and suggest a standard posture model appropriate for a user's level.

Abstract: The invention relates to inhibitory nucleotide signal sequences or “INS” sequences in the genomes of lentiviruses. In particular the invention relates to the AGG motif present in all viral genomes. The AGG motif may have an inhibitory effect on a virus, for example by reducing the levels of, or maintaining low steady-state levels of, viral RNAs in host cells, and inducing and/or maintaining in viral latency. In one aspect, the invention provides vaccines that contain, or are produced from, viral nucleic acids in which the AGG sequences have been mutated. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions for affecting the function of the AGG motif, and methods for identifying other INS sequences in viral genomes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for configuring and transmitting control channel for radio communication. A method for configuring control channel comprises a step of configuring a control channel by using a plurality of tiles, wherein numbers of resource elements in the plurality of tiles are configured to be the same or different. If a method for transmitting control information comprising a small number of bits according to the present invention is used, quality of communication and efficiency of resource may be increased at the same time.

Abstract: Provided is a photo active layer for a solar cell or a light emitting diode and a fabricating method thereof. The photo active layer is formed by alternately stacking silicon quantum dot layers in which a plurality of silicon quantum dots containing conductive type impurities are formed in a medium, which is a silicon compound, and conductive layers, which are polycrystalline silicon layers, containing the same conductive type impurities as those of the silicon quantum dots.