Abstract: A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that includes performing a pulse sequence using the MRI system, the pulse sequence including a phase-based flow encoding to collect a time-series of image data from the portion of the vasculature of the subject and identifying at least a portion of the time series of image data corresponding to a period of reduced flow through the portion of the vasculature. The portion of the time series of image data is subtracted from the time series of image data to create a time series of images of the portion of the vasculature having background tissue surrounding the portion of the vasculature substantially suppressed.

Abstract: A concentration photovoltaic module includes a radiator, solar cell units, a datum plate, an optical unit and an alignment unit. The radiator includes apertures defined therein. The solar cell units are located on the radiator. The datum plate is located on the radiator. From a lower face of the datum plate extend positioning columns corresponding to the apertures defined in the radiator. The datum plate is provided with marks corresponding to some of the solar cell units. The optical unit is provided with lines near edges thereof. The alignment unit includes a board and light sources. The board is formed with corners corresponding to the lines provided on the datum plate. The light sources are located on the board. The light sources cast light on the solar cell units through the marks.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for preparing cycloastragenol monoglucoside CMG (cycloastragenol-6-O-?-D-glucoside), comprising the steps of: a. using astragaloside IV or Astragali extracts prepared by a conventional method as raw materials and adding an appropriate solvent thereinto to form a raw material solution; b. adding hydrolase and allowing for hydrolysis at a constant temperature to obtain a hydrolysate; c. separating the hydrolysate with macroporous adsorption resin; and d. obtaining the product by purification and separation. The present invention further provides cycloastragenol-6-O-?-D-glucoside prepared according to the method of this invention as well as its use in the preparation of a medicament for treating cardiovascular diseases and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same.

Abstract: Passive stamp alignment system. The system includes a stamp supported by a stamp holder resting on three balls affixed to a top platform. A bottom platform supports a substrate to be aligned with the stamp. Means are provided for moving either the top or the bottom platform and holding the other platform stationary so as to contact the substrate with the stamp whereby the stamp holder is lifted away from each of the balls in sequence resulting in alignment of the stamp and the substrate parallel to each other.

Abstract: An image detecting method and a system thereof are provided. The image detecting method includes the following steps. An original image is captured. A moving-object image of the original image is created. An edge-straight-line image of the original image is created, wherein the edge-straight-line image comprises a plurality of edge-straight-lines. Whether the original image has a mechanical moving-object image is detected according to the length, the parallelism and the gap of the part of the edge-straight-lines corresponding to the moving-object image.

Abstract: A medical implant device having a substrate with an oxidized surface and a silane derivative coating covalently bonded to the oxidized surface. A bioactive agent is covalently bonded to the silane derivative coating. An implantable stent device including a stent core having an oxidized surface with a layer of silane derivative covalently bonded thereto. A spacer layer comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) is covalently bonded to the layer of silane derivative and a protein is covalently bonded to the PEG. A method of making a medical implant device including providing a substrate having a surface, oxidizing the surface and reacting with derivitized silane to form a silane coating covalently bonded to the surface. A bioactive agent is then covalently bonded to the silane coating. In particular instances, an additional coating of bio-absorbable polymer and/or pharmaceutical agent is deposited over the bioactive agent.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for utilizing a nanodevice to distinguish molecules with different structure. The molecules translocate through or across a nanochannel filled with a electrolyte solution. An electrical signal through the nanochannel is measured for every translocation event. Inner surfaces of the nanochannel include a functional layer, which is a coating to functionalize the nanochannel, in which the functional layer is configured to interact with predetermined ones of the molecules during translocation events. It is determined that a combination of at least two different molecules is formed based on predetermined ones of the molecules interacting with the functional layer to change the electrical signal and/or change a translocation time for the translocation event.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of determining the sequence and/or positions of modified bases in a nucleic acid sample present in a circular molecule with a nucleic acid insert of known sequence comprising obtaining sequence data of at least two insert-sample units. In some embodiments, the methods comprise obtaining sequence data using circular pair-locked molecules. In some embodiments, the methods comprise calculating scores of sequences of the nucleic acid inserts by comparing the sequences to the known sequence of the nucleic acid insert, and accepting or rejecting repeats of the sequence of the nucleic acid sample according to the scores of one or both of the sequences of the inserts immediately upstream or downstream of the repeats of the sequence of the nucleic acid sample.

Abstract: A method of determining service routes for a plurality of crews is provided. Outage data identifying a plurality of service outage source locations, a number of affected customers associated with each location of the plurality of locations, and a type of repair to perform at each location of the plurality of locations is received. A repair time is estimated for each location. Crew data identifying a plurality of crews and a start location for the plurality of crews is received. A service route for each crew is determined based on a crew skill indicator associated with each crew satisfying the type of repair to perform at each location and based on the estimated repair time for each location. The service route for a crew of the plurality of crews includes the start location as a first location and at least one location of the plurality of locations.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pest on a crop includes applying a pesticide that comprises N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine as an active ingredient for controlling the pest. The pesticide may include 20 wt % N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine, 1-3 wt % dispersing agent, and 66.5% wt % water. The pesticide may further include a dispersion agent, a thickening agent, or an antifreeze agent as an auxiliary agent. The dispersing agent may be one or more selected from sodium lignin sulfonate, NNO, Agricultural Emulsifier 500#, Agricultural Emulsifier 700#, Agricultural Emulsifier 600#, Agricultural Emulsifier 1602#, methylene bis-methylnaphthalene sodium sulfonate, sodium salt of alkyl naphthalene sulfonate condensate, or polyoxyethylene castor oil. The thickening agent may be one or more selected from carboxymethyl cellulose, urea, poly vinyl alcohol, aluminum magnesium silicate, or xanthan gum.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of producing a p-type light-absorbing semiconductor copper zinc tin selenide/sulfide (Cu2(ZnxSn2-x)(SySe1-y)4) (abbreviated CZTS) with electrochemical deposition. It can be used in the production of solar cell when combined with an n-type inorganic or an organic semiconductor layer. The present method comprises a one-step or a sequence of depositions using electroplating to fabricate a low-cost and large-area CZTS solar cell, without using expensive and complicated deposition techniques or highly toxic and flammable chemicals in the production process. The present method significantly reduces the cost and energy requirement for production of solar cell.

Abstract: A method of determining service routes for a plurality of crews is provided. Outage data identifying service outage source locations, a number of affected customers associated with each location, and a type of repair to perform at each location is received. Crew data identifying a start location and a crew skill indicator for each crew is received. A service route is determined for each crew using a mixed integer linear program minimizing a total customer time without the service subject to the crew skill indicator satisfying the type of repair to perform at each location. The service route for a crew includes the start location as a first location and at least one location of the plurality of locations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of converting a hydrocarbon into H2 and a carbon material comprising substantially no CO2, whereby the H2 is used by a fuel cell to generate electrical energy and the carbon material is collected. The method includes heating a hydrocarbon and a catalyst in a reactor to form H2 and a carbon material comprising substantially no CO2. A fuel cell is operated to generate electrical energy and heat using the H2 formed in the reactor. The step of heating is repeated using the heat generated in the fuel cell. The present invention also provides a system for converting a hydrocarbon into H2 and a carbon material comprising substantially no CO2, whereby the H2 is used by a fuel cell to generate electrical energy and the carbon material is collected.

Abstract: Modified green tea polyphenols and methods of their use are provided. One aspect provides compounds and compositions containing green tea polyphenols with one on more ester-linked fatty acids.

Abstract: A method for testing states in a flight plan state management system is provided, which includes defining control variables for monitoring the flight plan state management system, modeling the flight plan state management system based on the control variables defined for monitoring, calculating and extracting control variables for testing the stability of, and checking for errors in, the flight plan state management system using the result of modeling, testing the stability of, and checking for errors in, the flight plan state management system based on the calculated and extracted control variables for testing stability and checking for errors, and expressing the result of stability testing and error checking on a display panel.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a transparent/translucent Li-ion battery. The transparent/translucent Li-ion battery comprises an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode comprises an electrode material holder with inner structures, a current collector, and an anode material. The current collector is formed along the wall of the inner structures of the electrode material holder, and the anode material is deposited on the current collector, and filled within the inner structures. The cathode is fabricated with the similar method as the anode by using a cathode material. The electrode material holder with the inner structures can be a patterned glass or quartz slice with concave parts, or an anodized aluminum oxide film with channels. The transparent/translucent Li-ion battery of the present invention provides high transparency and electrical storage capacity.

Abstract: A sensor for use in magnetostrictive testing of a structure. The sensor has a thin ferromagnetic strip with a series of parallel crimps across its width. A first wire coil is wrapped around the width of the strip and along its entire length, such that portions of wire that cross the bottom surface of the strip are located inside the crimps, and portions of wire that are wrapped across the top surface of the strip are between the crimps. The sensor further has a second coil wrapped around the length of the strip, or for pipeline applications, around the pipeline.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating blood-neural barrier (BNB) for the treatment of CNS conditions such as edema, and for increased drug delivery efficacy across the BNB. The present invention further relates to improved tPA treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular and related diseases in combination with antagonism of the PDGF signaling pathway. The inventive method and composition is particularly suitable for conjunctive therapy of ischemic stroke using tPA and an anti-PDGF-C antagonist or an anti-PDGFR-? antagonist.

Abstract: The tunable light source structure proposed in the present invention has an advantage in that a limitation on a typical technology not simultaneously satisfying high-speed tuning and wide range tuning is overcome and thus it is possible to simultaneously satisfy high-speed tuning slower than or equal to several ns and 100 nm-level wide range tuning. Also, a driving method is simpler than that of a typical technology, a stable operation is possible, and it is possible to lower a manufacturing cost of all modules including a driving circuit. In implementing the SLD and the AMZI-FP that are key components of the tunable light source structure of the present invention, an Si or polymer optical waveguide as well as III-group to V-group materials (GaAs, InP and GaSb) may also be employed.

Abstract: An active retrodirective wireless communication apparatus is provided. The active retrodirective wireless communication apparatus can extend a communication range by enabling communication with a wide area user who is not able to communicate via an omnidirectional antenna, by alternately operating a plurality of active retrodirective antennas during a time interval for performing omnidirectional communication among a plurality of local area users, and a time interval for performing directional communication to a specific wide area user.