Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the properties of a fluid, such as water, in a steam pipe without mechanically penetrating the wall of the pipe. The system uses a piezoelectric transducer to launch an ultrasonic probe signal into the pipe. Reflected ultrasonic signals are captured in a transducer, which can be the same transducer that launched the probe signal. The reflected signals are subjected to data processing, which can include filtering, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion and autocorrelation analysis. A result is extracted which is indicative of a property of the fluid, such as a height of the condensed fluid, a cavitation of the condensed fluid, and a surface perturbation of the condensed fluid. The result can be recorded, displayed, and/or transmitted to another location. One embodiment of the system has been constructed and tested based on a general purpose programmable computer using instructions recorded in machine-readable non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A microlaser system includes an optical source, a microlaser, an actuator switch, and a photovoltaic power source. The microlaser, which includes a control element, is optically pumped by at least a portion of light emitted by the optical source. The actuator switch is configured to be activated by a triggering event. Furthermore, the photovoltaic power source is coupled in a series connection with the actuator switch and the control element, the series connection configured to connect the photovoltaic power source to the control element of the microlaser when the actuator switch is activated by the triggering event.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a direct carbon fuel cell in which a coal fuel is oxidized electrochemically so as to create electrons to cause the electrons to generate electricity by a voltage difference between two electrodes. Specifically, a membrane-electrode assembly for operating a low rank coal fuel, a direct carbon fuel cell including the same, and a method of preparing the same are provided.

Abstract: Fluid-based no-moving part logic devices are constructed from complex sequences of micro- and nanofluidic channels, on-demand bubble/droplet modulators and generators for programming the devices, and micro- and nanofluidic droplet/bubble memory elements for storage and retrieval of biological or chemical elements. The input sequence of bubbles/droplets encodes information, with the output being another sequence of bubbles/droplets or on-chip chemical synthesis. For performing a set of reactions/tasks or process control, the modulators can be used to program the device by producing a precisely timed sequence of bubbles/droplets, resulting in a cascade of logic operations within the micro- or nanofluidic channel sequence, utilizing the generated droplets/bubbles as a control. The devices are based on the principle of minimum energy interfaces formed between the two fluid phases enclosed inside precise channel geometries.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement micro- and nanoscale capacitors that incorporate a conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array elongated bodies. In one embodiment, a capacitor that incorporates a conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array of elongated bodies includes: a first conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array of elongated bodies; a second conductive element that conforms to the shape of an array of elongated bodies; and a dielectric material disposed in between the first conductive element and the second conductive element, and thereby physically separates them.

Abstract: Improved lithium-sulfur energy storage systems can utilizes LixSy as a component in an electrode of the system. For example, the energy storage system can include a first electrode current collector, a second electrode current collector, and an ion-permeable separator separating the first and second electrode current collectors. A second electrode is arranged between the second electrode current collector and the separator. A first electrode is arranged between the first electrode current collector and the separator and comprises a first condensed-phase fluid comprising LixSy. The energy storage system can be arranged such that the first electrode functions as a positive or a negative electrode.

Abstract: Provided are method and apparatus to nanoposition ink, the apparatus including: a substrate; a pattern index; an atomic force microscope (AMF) tip configured to form a pattern on the pattern index; a first ink reservoir including a first ink; a second ink reservoir including a second ink; a first cleaning portion configured to remove the first ink from the AMF tip; a second washing portion configured to remove the second ink from the AMF tip; a position determining portion configured to interact with the AMF tip; an electrode connection portion configured to apply a voltage to the position determining portion, in order to determine a position of the AMF tip when the AMF tip interacts with the position determining portion. The AMF tip is configured to configured to interact with the position determining portion, prior to forming the pattern using the first and second inks.

Abstract: Purine scaffold Hsp90 inhibitors are useful in therapeutic applications and as radioimaging ligands.

Abstract: A data transmission method for Machine Type Communication (MTC) and a MTC apparatus are disclosed. The data transmission method for MTC includes: dividing each of a plurality of subframes configured with time resources and frequency resources into a first region for transmitting control information and a second region for transmitting data; and allocating resources for MTC to the second region of each subframe according to a predetermined hopping period and a predetermined hopping frequency interval. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the data transfer rate of a MTC apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for detecting virus production, determining frequency and identity of HIV reservoirs, or evaluating gene expression on a single-cell basis using microengraving and RT-PCR.

Abstract: A dual-mode display including a substrate and a plurality of sub-pixels on the substrate, in which each sub-pixel includes, a reflective device having an optical filter function which reflects different color according to electrical signals applied from outside the display, and an emissive device disposed on the reflective device, wherein the emissive device includes a cathode and an anode, and the cathode and the anode include a carbon-based material including graphene sheets, graphene flakes, and graphene platelets, and a binary or ternary transparent conductive oxide including indium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide.

Abstract: A multi-core apparatus includes cores each including an active cycle counting unit configured to store an active cycle count, and a stall cycle counting unit configured to store a stall cycle count. The multi-core apparatus further includes a job scheduler configured to determine an optimal number of cores in an active state based on state information received from each of the cores, and adjust power to maintain the optimal number of cores.

Abstract: A cylindrical screw feeder main body, catalyst feeding portions for introducing a catalyst into the screw feeder main body, low hydrocarbon feeding portions for introducing a low hydrocarbon into the screw feeder main body as a raw material, a screw for conveying the catalyst and nanocarbon produced by pyrolysis of the low hydrocarbon in the feeder main body, a solid matter discharging portion for discharging the catalyst and the nanocarbon conveyed by the screw out of the screw feeder main body and a gas discharging portion for discharging the unreacted low hydrocarbon and hydrogen produced by the pyrolysis of the low hydrocarbon out of the screw feeder main body are provided. Nanocarbon grown with the catalyst as top with time is continuously discharged out of the screw feeder main body while unused catalyst is being fed thereto at the same amount as that of nanocarbon, allowing efficient continuous reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spin-transfer torque type injection locking oscillator which improves both power and noise performance by using pair of spin-transfer torque devices. One is optimized for high power and the other is optimized for low noise characteristics. The output signal of the low noise spin-transfer torque device is injected into the high output power spin-transfer torque for phase locking. The present invention has several advantages such as the miniaturization, the high quality and low cost, and the mass production of integrated chips by the nanoscale.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits that may be used to detect and quantify the presence of Coccidioides species. The methods include quantification real-time PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the use of Group 8 transition metal carbene complexes as catalysts for olefin cross-metathesis reactions. In particular, ruthenium and osmium alkylidene complexes substituted with an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand are used to catalyze cross-metathesis reactions to provide a variety of substituted and functionalized olefins, including phosphonate-substituted olefins, directly halogenated olefins, 1,1,2-trisubstituted olefins, and quaternary allylic olefins. The invention further provides a method for creating functional diversity using the aforementioned complexes to catalyze cross-metathesis reactions of a first olefinic reactant, which may or may not be substituted with a functional group, with each of a plurality of different olefinic reactants, which may or may not be substituted with functional groups, to give a plurality of structurally distinct olefinic products.

Abstract: This invention relates to modified hydroxylases. The invention further relates to cells expressing such modified hydroxylases and methods of producing hydroxylated alkanes by contacting a suitable substrate with such cells.

Abstract: A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprises at least a first stage and a second stage. Each stage includes a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet, as well as a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet. The carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath. The carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage.

Abstract: A dual-mode display including a substrate and a multiple sub-pixels on the substrate, in which each sub-pixel includes, a color selection reflector, and an optical shutter disposed on the color selection reflector, and an emissive devised disposed on the shutter, wherein the emissive device includes a cathode and an anode, and the cathode and the anode include a carbon-based material including graphene sheets, graphene flakes, and graphene platelets, and a binary or ternary transparent conductive oxide including indium oxide, tin oxide, and zinc oxide.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the disclosure, a flexible device and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The flexible device has a first area and a second area, and the stiffness of a portion of the first area is greater than the stiffness of the second area. The flexible device may include a flexible substrate and a rigid element. The flexible substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The second surface has a coarse structure. The surface roughness of the second surface is greater in the first area than in the second area. The rigid element is disposed on the first surface of the flexible substrate and located in the first area. The stiffness of the rigid element is greater than the stiffness of the flexible substrate. A projection area of the coarse structure on the flexible substrate overlaps an area of the rigid element.