Abstract: The present invention relates to host cells that produce compounds that are characterized as benzylisoquinolines, as well as select precursors and intermediates thereof. The host cells comprise one, two or more heterologous coding sequences wherein each of the heterologous coding sequences encodes an enzyme involved in the metabolic pathway of a benzylisoquinoline, or its precursors or intermediates from a starting compound. The invention also relates to methods of producing the benzylisoquinoline, as well as select precursors and intermediates thereof by culturing the host cells under culture conditions that promote expression of the enzymes that produce the benzylisoquinoline or precursors or intermediates thereof.

Abstract: PU/ZnO nanocomposites are provided wherein the addition of less than 1 vol % 33 nm ZnO nanoparticles into a PU matrix effect a decrease in the Young's Modulus and storage modulus of the polymer, while simultaneously effecting an increase glass transition temperature of the polymer. Detailed experiments are described (e.g., FTIR, DMTA, FESEM and AFM) that suggest that the reaction between hydroxyl groups of the ZnO nanoparticles and isocyanate groups of the polyurethane prepolymer disrupts the self-assembly of the phase separation in PU. Phase separation is responsible for the good mechanical properties of PU. Further, detailed experiments suggest that the increase of the glass transition temperature results from the crosslinking effect of the ZnO nanoparticles.

Abstract: To provide a passive Q-switch-type solid laser apparatus for outputting a high peak-power pulse laser whose pulse energy is large and pulse-time width is small. A passive Q-switch-type solid laser apparatus has: two reflection elements for forming an oscillator; a solid gain medium being disposed between the two reflection elements; a saturable absorber being disposed between the two reflection elements; an excitation device for exciting the solid gain medium; and a cross section control device for making at least one of a stimulated emission cross section of the solid gain medium and an absorption cross section of the saturable absorber closer to another one of them; and the cross section control device is equipped with at least one or both of a temperature control device for retaining the solid gain medium at a predetermined temperature and an oscillatory-wavelength control device for fixating an oscillatory wavelength at a predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing the efficiency of exothermic CO2 capture processes. The method relates to withdrawing heat generated during the exothermic capture of CO2 with various sorbents via heat exchange with a working fluid. The working fluid is provided at a temperature and pressure such that it is in the liquid state, and has a vaporization temperature in a range such that the heat arising from the reaction of the CO2 and the sorbent causes a phase change from liquid to vapor state in whole or in part and transfers heat from to the working fluid. The resulting heated working fluid may subsequently be used to generate power.

Abstract: Provided are a method of generating and playing an object-based audio content that may effectively store preset information about an object-based audio content, and a computer-readable recording medium for storing data having a file format structure for an object-based audio service. The method of generating the object-based audio content may include: receiving a plurality of audio objects (310) generating at least one preset using the plurality of audio objects (320) and storing a preset parameter with respect to an attribute of the at least preset and the plurality of audio objects (330). The preset parameter may be stored in a form of a box that is defined in a media file format about the object-based audio content. Through this, it is possible to effectively store a preset about a plurality of audio objects.

Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an hLIGHT polypeptide; isolated nucleic acids encoding the antibodies; vectors and host cells comprising nucleic acids encoding the antibodies; methods of making the antibodies; and a method of treating a hLIGHT-mediated disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject the antibodies. In preferred embodiments, the anti-hLIGHT antibodies provided herein will ameliorate, neutralize or otherwise inhibit hLIGHT biological activity in vivo (e.g., the hLIGHT-mediated production or secretion of CCL20, IL-8 or RANTES from a cell expressing a hLIGHT receptor). Also provided herein is a method for the detection of hLIGHT in a sample as well as a method for ameliorating, neutralizing or otherwise inhibiting hLIGHT activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hLIGHT activity is detrimental.

Abstract: An aqueous liquid medium for analyzing, purifying or separating species in an element having walls or for treating the walls of an element. The medium includes at least a polymer consisting of several polymeric segments. The polymer is of the irregular block-copolymer or irregular comb-like polymer type and has on the average at least three junction points between polymeric segments of different chemical or topological nature. The medium may be used in methods for analyzing, purifying or separating species and methods for treating an element to be contacted with a fluid and/or species contained in the fluid during preservation, transport, analysis, purification or separation of the fluid.

Abstract: A plasma deposition apparatus includes a cathode assembly including a cathode disk and a water-coolable cathode holder supporting the cathode disk, an anode assembly including a water-coolable anode holder, a substrate mounted on the anode holder to serve as an anode, and a substrate holder mounting and supporting the substrate, and a reactor for applying a potential difference between opposing surfaces of the cathode assembly and the anode assembly under a vacuum state to form plasma of a raw gas. The cathode disk comes into thermal contact with the cathode holder using at least one of a self weight and a vacuum absorption force so as to permit thermal expansion of the cathode disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to solution-processable, p-type, low-optical gap oligothiophene compounds for use in solar cell application, comprising at least one thiophene-containing group, at least one electron-withdrawing dicyanovinyl or tricyanovinyl group, and at least one electron-donating diphenylaminofluorenyl or N-alkylcarbazole group.

Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a biometric sensor for generating a three-dimensional representation of a portion of a finger, the finger comprising a three-dimensional structure including a surface tissue layer and a subsurface tissue layer, the biometric sensor comprising: a platen; a first transducer; a drive system; a controller; and a software module. The platen is configured to receive the finger. The first transducer is arranged about the platen, configured to scan at least a portion of the finger by transmitting ultrasound waves toward the finger and receiving the ultrasound waves after the waves reflect off of the finger, and further configured to output signals based upon the received ultrasound waves. The drive system is configured to motivate the set of transducers accurately about a central axis substantially parallel to the length of the finger to be scanned. The controller is configured to control the motion of the drive system.

Abstract: A method for producing synthesis gas, including: 1) pre-treating a biomass raw material; 2) carrying out low-temperature carbonization to obtain pyrolysis gas and charcoal, cooling the charcoal at an outlet of an carbonization furnace, and conveying the cooled charcoal to a charcoal storage bin; 3) separating the pyrolysis gas from charcoal powder; 4) delivering part of a separated pyrolysis gas to a combustion bed for combustion, heating the other part of the separated pyrolysis gas, and delivering a heated pyrolysis gas to the carbonization furnace; delivering a waste hot flue gas after heat exchange to a pretreatment part for the biomass raw material for drying; conveying the separated charcoal powder to the charcoal storage bin; 5) milling the charcoal powder to prepare a charcoal slurry; and 6) using high-pressure charcoal slurry pump, introducing the charcoal slurry to a gasification furnace for gasification.

Abstract: A microfabricated optical gyroscope that utilizes a linear array of micron scale optical ring resonators closely spaced to allow evanescent coupling of electromagnetic fields in adjacent resonators. Within each resonator, the optical Sagnac effect produces a phase difference between clockwise and counterclockwise propagating light that is proportional to the inertial rotation rate perpendicular to the plane of the resonator. The disclosure enhances the overall sensitivity to rotations by varying the strengths of the evanescent coupling between resonators and/or the circumferences of the resonators. The size and coupling strengths control the optical interference between resonators.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adsorbent for removing sulfur from cracking gasoline or diesel fuel. The adsorbent has excellent abrasion-resistance and desulfurization activity. The adsorbent comprises from about 5 to about 35 wt % of alumina, from about 3 to about 30 wt % of silica, from about 10 to about 80 wt % of at least one oxide of metal selected from Groups IIB and VB, from about 3 to about 30 wt % of at least one metal accelerant selected from Groups VIIB and VIII, and from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % of at least one oxide of metal selected from Groups IA and IIA, based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to a layered polymeric monofilament fiber drug delivery device, where each layer of the device can contain a different polymer, drug, additive, or any combination or mixture thereof. The layered nature of the current monofilament polymeric monofilament device provides the capability to modulate the release of one or more drugs and/or the mechanical properties of the fiber so that drug release and device failure can be separately tuned to provide for the tailored introduction of therapeutically effective drugs or agents to a target tissue. Moreover, the fiber may comprise more than one distinct segments along its length, each segment itself having different combinations and/or numbers of layers thereby providing even greater freedom in the design of the therapeutic delivery device. The invention is also directed to a method of manufacturing such a layered polymeric monofilament fiber drug delivery device, and methods of treatment using such devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is to a method for manufacturing a cobalt boride coating layer on the surface of iron-based metals by using a pack cementation process. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cobalt boride coating layer by forming a composite coating layer on the surface of steels which is composed of an outmost layer having a composition of cobalt boride (Co2B) and an inner layer having a composition of iron-cobalt boride ((Fe,Co)2B). Since the cobalt boride coating layer is a compact coating layer having little defects such as pores, it can improve physical properties such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance and oxidation resistance of steels.

Abstract: To provide a surface plasmon sensor for measuring a refractive index by which a refractive index can be easily measured with high accuracy without relying on an absorption curve. The surface plasmon sensor includes: a reflection plate which includes a metal layer having a periodic structure and on which a specimen is arranged; a light source which irradiates an incident light to the reflection plate; a light receiving part which receives a reflected light reflected on the reflection plate; and a measurement part which measures a refractive index of the specimen based on phase information on two kinds of waves which are included in reflected light reflected on a periodic structure surface and differ in polarization direction.

Abstract: A substantially dispersion-free optical filter cavity includes a first multilayer mirror and a second multilayer mirror, wherein each mirror includes layers of a less-refractive material and layers of a more-refractive material, the more-refractive material having a higher index of refraction than the less-refractive material. The mirrors are separated by a spacing, and the thickness of a plurality of the layers in the second multilayer mirror differ from corresponding layers in the first multilayer mirror to provide the cavity with complementary group-delay dispersion across the cavity with a phase difference within, e.g., ±0.015 rad across a range of wavelengths spanning at least, e.g., 50 nm.

Abstract: A method of increasing the area of carbon nanotubes used in fabricating capacitors is described. The method involves reacting carbon nanotubes with electrically conductive ions, molecules or nanoparticles that increase the surface area of the nanotubes. The capacitance and the energy stored in the capacitor can be increased by such treatment. Devices constructed from such treated materials and their properties are described.

Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in the same frequency band at the same time. A signal is received using a dual polarization antenna, the main axis of the polarization of the reception signal is predicted by performing adaptive polarization tracking, and polarization filtering is performed in order to remove interference. A signal is transmitted through a polarization completely orthogonal to the tracked polarization. In accordance with the present invention, in a wireless communication system, signals can be transmitted and received in the same frequency band at the same time.