Abstract: The invention in some aspects relates to devices and methods for nucleating crystals under controlled conditions. In some aspects of the invention, devices and methods are provided for continuous crystallization.

Abstract: Methods for producing modified polypeptides containing amino acid analogues are disclosed. The invention further provides purified dihydrofolate reductase polypeptides, produced by the methods of the invention, in which the methionine residues have been replaced with homoallylglycine, homoproparglycine, norvaline, norleucine, cis-crotylglycine, trans-crotylglycine, 2-aminoheptanoic acid, 2-butynylglycine and allylglycine.

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.

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 half-bridge dc/dc converter includes a first converter receiving a current and generating a first resonant current; a transformer connecting to the first converter, receiving the first resonant current and generating a second resonant current; and a second converter connecting to the transformer, receiving the second resonant current; wherein the pulse width of currents in the first converter and second convert are adjustable to further stabilize voltage level as well as adjust output power of the transformer for zero voltage switching operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forecasting ratios in hierarchies are provided. Hierarchies can be formed that have components, including a numerator time series with values from input data, a denominator time series with values from input data, and a ratio time series of the numerator time series over the denominator time series. The components can be modeled to generate forecasted hierarchies. The forecasted hierarchies can be reconciled so that the forecasted hierarchies are statistically consistent throughout nodes of the forecasted hierarchies.

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: Neutron-detecting structures and methods of fabrication are provided which include: a substrate with a plurality of cavities extending into the substrate from a surface; a p-n junction within the substrate and extending, at least in part, in spaced opposing relation to inner cavity walls of the substrate defining the plurality of cavities; and a neutron-responsive material disposed within the plurality of cavities. The neutron-responsive material is responsive to neutrons absorbed for releasing ionization radiation products, and the p-n junction within the substrate spaced in opposing relation to and extending, at least in part, along the inner cavity walls of the substrate reduces leakage current of the neutron-detecting structure.

Abstract: A position tracking apparatus includes: a depth image obtaining unit for obtaining a depth image; a database created by collecting depth images received from the depth image obtaining unit; a feature extracting unit for extracting features from each pixel of the depth image; a classifier training unit for training a classifier in order to determine the position of the parts of the body by receiving a feature set for each part of the body as inputs which are extracted by using the feature extracting unit from all of the depth images in the database; and a position determination unit for extracting features for each pixel of the depth image received by the depth image obtaining unit using the feature extracting unit in a state in which the classifier training unit trains the classifier, and for tracking the three-dimensional position of each part of the body through the classifier.

Abstract: Provided are a transporter gene involved in the promotion or inhibition of Cd absorption by roots, a mutant gene thereof and a transporter protein thereof, as well as a rice plant in which Cd absorption is inhibited and a method for selecting and raising a Cd absorption-inhibiting rice plant, which are a gene encoding a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the DNA nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, a gene encoding a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the DNA nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3, a gene encoding a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the DNA nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4, and a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

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: A digital programmable control system, which is composed of a micro control module receives a detection result by using a detection module to detect a voltage and a current on a battery module and a bus module, and a judgment program in the micro control module determines whether the detection result meets a switching condition, and generates a control signal to control a bidirectional conversion module to perform a switching procedure in order to achieve the purpose of high accuracy regulation voltage and current.

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 fluid fillable catheter capsule assembly is provided suitable for use with an appropriate catheter in imaging applications for medical or surgical procedures. Methods of constructing such fluid fillable catheter capsule assemblies, methods of using the fluid fillable catheter capsule assemblies, and imaging systems provided with fluid fillable catheter capsule assemblies are provided.

Abstract: A method for injecting a substance through a biological body surface includes providing a needle-free transdermal transport device configured to inject the substance through the surface. The substance is injected into the biological body with the transport device while a parameter of the injection is sensed and a servo-controller is used to dynamically adjust at least one injection characteristic based on the sensed parameter. The substance is injected for (i) a first time period during which a first portion of a volume of the substance is injected at a first injection pressure, and (ii) a second time period during which a remainder of the volume of the substance is injected at a second injection pressure. A viscosity of the substance may be determined, and a pressure calculated for injecting the substance based on the viscosity. The substance may be injected with the transport device by using the calculated pressure.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical module that includes a mechanical structure to adjust a zoom level or focus of the optical module.

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: Novel methods to fabricate biological sensors and electronics are disclosed. A silicon-on-insulator wafer can be employed by etching a pattern of holes in the silicon layer, then a pattern of cavities in the insulating layer, and then sealing the top of the cavities. Further, n or p doped regions and metallic regions can be defined in the processed wafer, thereby enabling integration of biological sensing and electronic capabilities in the same wafer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for multi-input multi-output transmission of a base station in a wireless communication system. The method includes obtaining channel information of one or more terminals, classifying the one or more terminals into one or more classes and one or more groups dependent on the class based on the channel information, determining a group beamforming matrix for each of the one or more groups, performing group beamforming transmission on terminals belonging to each of the one or more groups based on the group beamforming matrix, obtaining single user-channel quality indicator (SU-CQI) information and interference signal information of each of the terminals belonging to each of the one or more groups, and scheduling the terminals based on the SU-CQI information and the interference signal information.

Abstract: Techniques to block records for matching are described. Some embodiments are particularly directed to techniques to block records for matching entities with inconsistent identifying information. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a configuration component, a coding component, a blocking component, and a matching component. The configuration component may be operative to receive a data set comprising a plurality of records and operative to receive a set of blocking variables, the blocking variables present as variables in each of the plurality of records. The coding component operative to generate match codes based on the blocking variables. The blocking component operative on the processor circuit to produce a plurality of blocks of records from the data set based on the match codes.