Abstract: An apparatus of producing a carbonate mineral includes a first reaction device including a fluid path along which an ion exchange solution moves; a cation exchange medium disposed in the fluid path, the cation exchange medium containing an alkaline earth metal; a second reaction device accommodating a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution and receiving the ion exchange solution containing an alkaline earth metal ion from the first reaction device; and a carbon dioxide supplying device supplying a carbon dioxide to the second aqueous solution.

Abstract: An apparatus for dehumidifying gas is provided which converts humid gas into dehumidified gas using a hydrophilic membrane that includes a superabsorbent polymer. A sub-dew point cooling tower, sub-dew point evaporative cooler and sub-dew point water harvesting system which utilize the apparatus for dehumidifying gas are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a network coordinator for a spatial reuse scheme includes receiving a reservation request for a time period for a data communication of a target transmitter/receiver pair that uses a directional antenna, searching for a time period reserved in advance for another transmitter/receiver pair, from a Channel Time Allocation Period (CTAP) that is a contention-free access period for the data communication, and reserving a time period for the target transmitter/receiver pair in the CTAP, so that the time period reserved for the target transmitter/receiver pair overlaps the time period reserved in advance for the other transmitter/receiver pair.

Abstract: A V-shaped arrangement of turbines adapted to orient in such a manner that crosswind enters the arrangement in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis bisecting the arrangement is described. The V-shaped arrangement includes clockwise rotating turbines and counterclockwise rotating turbines.

Abstract: There is disclosed a top foil for a foil thrust bearing including a main plate, a first hook comprising a first vertical portion bend upwardly from an end of the main plate and a first horizontal portion bend forwardly from an end of the first vertical portion, and a second hook comprising a second vertical portion bend downwardly from a rear end of the main plate and a second horizontal portion bend backwardly from an end of the second vertical portion.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting corrosion metal loss. One may provide a guided wave probe that includes an electromechanical device and a corrosion probe. This may be followed by measuring a baseline guided wave attenuation value of the corrosion probe with no corrosion. One may then periodically measure the guided wave attenuation of the corrosion probe and detect an increase in guided wave attenuation values and identify metal corrosion associated with the increase in guided wave attenuation values. This may then be followed by estimating the corrosion metal loss of the metallic component.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a filter medium including the following steps. An assembly of first fiber is formed by a first spinning device. A plurality of second fiber is formed by a second spinning device. On a reception device is collected a film having a three-dimensional non-woven structure constructed by the first fibers and the second fibers. Each of the first fibers has a diameter of 1-50 ?m. Each of the second fibers has a diameter of 1-1000 nm. The second spinning device is positioned between the first spinning device and the reception device. The first fibers and the second fibers stack with each other in a random manner to form the three-dimensional non-woven structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods of sensing intraocular pressure are described. An example miniaturized intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring system is provided using a nanophotonics-based implantable IOP sensor with remote optical readout that can be adapted for both patient and research use. A handheld detector optically excites the pressure-sensitive nanophotonic structure of the IOP-sensing implant placed in the anterior chamber and detects the reflected light, whose optical signature changes as a function of IOP. Optical detection eliminates the need for large, complex LC structures and simplifies sensor design. The use of nanophotonic components improves the sensor's resolution and sensitivity, increases optical readout distance, and reduces its size by a factor of 10-30 over previous implants. Its small size and convenient optical readout allows frequent and accurate self-tracking of IOP by patients in home settings.

Abstract: A method of assigning and managing reference signals in a multi-cell environment, and a network device and a terminal for applying the method, are provided. Reference signal patterns may be assigned to multiple femtocells through a long term coordination of a central control unit that is used to control multiple cells.

Abstract: A multi-granularity parallel FFT computation device including three memories, a butterfly computation device, a state control unit, a data reversing network and a first selector. The three memories are each a multi-granularity parallel memory, and store butterfly group data and twiddle factors corresponding to the butterfly group data. The butterfly computation device perform computations of a butterfly group based on the butterfly group data outputted from the first selector and the corresponding twiddle factors outputted from one of the memories, and write a computation result back to the other two memories. The device can read butterfly group data and corresponding twiddle factors in parallel from the multi-granularity parallel memories with a specific R/W granularity. No memory conflict will occur in the read operation, and no additional process is required for sorting the read/written data.

Abstract: A cracking catalyst, which contains alumina, phosphorus and molecular sieve, with or without clay, wherein said alumina is ?-alumina or a mixture of ?-alumina and ?-alumina and/or ?-alumina, and wherein the catalyst contains, on the basis of the total amount of the catalyst, 0.5-50 wt % of ?-alumina, 0-50 wt % of ?-alumina and/or ?-alumina, 10-70 wt % of molecular sieve, 0-75 wt % of clay, and 0.1-8 wt % of phosphorus, measured as P2O5. The catalyst not only has higher cracking activity and higher cracking ability for cracking heavy oil, but also improves significantly quality and yield of gasoline, LCO and LPG in cracking products.

Abstract: A mixed powder of an Ni—Al alloy and alumina is produced by heating a first mixed powder, which is prepared by mixing an Ni—Al mixed powder as prepared by mixing an Al powder with Ni in such a manner that Al therein could fall within a range of from 25 atomic % to 60 atomic %, and an alumina powder in a range of from 40% by mass to 60% by mass, in vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature falling within a range of from 600° C. to 1300° C. for at least 1 hour, and then grinding the resulting product.

Abstract: Provided is a fine paper powder-containing resin molded object with a content of a thermoplastic resin being reduced to offer a lighter weight and a superior mechanical strength, and a manufacturing method thereof. The fine paper powder-containing resin molded object (1) is made from a thermoplastic resin containing fine paper powder and is composed of a non-foam layer (2) formed on the surface and a foam layer (3) formed in the inner side. The foam layer (3) has, in the order from the surface side, a first foam layer (3a) containing cells having an average cell diameter ranging from 10 to 100 ?m, a second foam layer (3b) containing cells having an average cell diameter from 5 to 50 ?m, and a third foam layer (3c) containing cells having an average cell diameter from 20 to 500 ?m. The molded object (1) contains an aromatizing ingredient.

Abstract: To provide an I-V characteristic measuring apparatus that can, even though a solar simulator of a flash light type is used, accurately measure a true I-V characteristic of a solar cell that exhibits a different I-V characteristic depending on a sweep direction when a sweep time of applied voltage is short, an internal division ratio calculation part that, at each voltage value, calculates an internal division ratio at which a current value of a dark state stationary I-V characteristic internally divides a gap between a current value of a dark state forward I-V characteristic and a current value of a dark state reverse I-V characteristic; and a light state stationary I-V characteristic estimation and calculation part that, on the basis of the internal division ratio, a light state forward I-V characteristic, and a light state reverse I-V characteristic, estimates and calculates a light state stationary I-V characteristic are provided.

Abstract: Provided is an oxide sintered body suitably used for producing an oxide semiconductor film for a display device, the oxide sintered body capable of forming an oxide semiconductor film exerting excellent conductivity, having high relative density and excellent in-plane uniformity, and exhibiting high carrier mobility. This oxide sintered body is obtained by combining and sintering a zinc oxide powder, a tin oxide powder, and an indium oxide powder. The oxide sintered body satisfies the following equation (1) when the oxide sintered body is subjected to X-ray diffraction, Equation (1): [A/(A+B+C+D)]×100?70. In equation (1), A represents the XRD peak intensity in the vicinity of 2?=34°, B represents the XRD peak intensity in the vicinity of 2?=31°, C represents the XRD peak intensity in the vicinity of 2?=35°, and D represents the XRD peak intensity in the vicinity of 2?=26.5°.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating and separating only specific cells in cell samples is provided. The cell separation operation includes inserting a needle-shaped body, on which a substance that selectively binds to a marker substance within each target cell has been immobilized, into each of the cell samples on a substrate, thereby causing the marker substance within each target cell in the cell samples to bind to the needle-shaped body through the substance that selectively binds to the marker substance, and then, pulling up the needle-shaped body. The binding force between the needle-shaped body and each target cell when the marker substance within each target cell has bound to the needle-shaped body is made greater than an adhesion force of each of the cell samples to the substrate, so that only target cells each containing the marker substance are pulled up and separated from the substrate.

Abstract: Organic compounds and organic electroluminescence devices employing the same are provided. The organic compound has a chemical structure represented below: wherein, R1 are independently a hydrogen, or C1-8 alkyl; and R2 is a hydrogen, hydroxy, or C1-8 alkoxy. The organic compounds have a high triplet energy (tEg) gap and apt to transmit the energy to a guest emitter.

Abstract: Provided herein are new methods for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases affecting the spinal cord, including the use of biodegradable polymers to treat spinal cord tumor recessing, i.e., to patch open zones left by spinal tumor removal. Biocompatible polymeric materials are tailored to fill areas previously occupied by tumors, e.g., materials in the form of tubular articles configured for insertion into the spinal column after surgical removal of a tumor. These protective articles may also include medicinal agents that stimulate spinal column neural regeneration, such as medicines or donor neuronal cells such as human neural stem cells, thus assisting patients to recover motorsensory function after spinal tumor surgery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to norbornene-ester-based derivatives, to a method for preparing same, and to the uses thereof. This compound may be used as a plasticizer which can replace a phthalate-based plasticizer.

Abstract: A new and distinct apricot variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from controlled crossing of the varieties ‘Bhart’ (not patented), marketed as Orangered™, and an unreleased selection (not patented) which was the result of crossing ‘Cluthagold’ (not patented) and ‘Late Moorpark’ (not patented). The new variety is distinguished from others by the deep rose over color of the mature fruit accompanied by deep orange colored firm flesh with high soluble solids content. Fruit of ‘Mac12/45’ matures in early February in Otago, New Zealand and is notably precocious, fruiting in the second year after planting in Otago, New Zealand.