Abstract: A non-destructive detection method and system enables detecting a moisture patch located inside a building wall or the like. A transmitter generates a series of ultra-wideband pulses while an ultra-wideband antenna unit, preferably in the form of an antenna array including a plurality of switchable antenna pairs, directs the pulses toward the building structure so that the pulses are reflected therefrom, and receives the reflected pulses. A receiver processes the reflected pulses received by the antenna unit and produces a corresponding output. A controller controls the operation of the transmitter, receiver and antenna unit, and analyzes the output of the receiver for the presence of moisture inside of the building wall.

Abstract: A multiple-step reset process and circuit for resetting a voltage stored on a photodiode of an imaging device. A first stage of the reset occurs while a source and a drain of a pixel source-follower transistor are held at ground potential and the photodiode and a gate of the pixel source-follower transistor are charged to an initial reset voltage having potential less that of a supply voltage. A second stage of the reset occurs after the initial reset voltage is stored on the photodiode and the gate of the pixel source-follower transistor and the source and drain voltages of the pixel source-follower transistor are released from ground potential thereby allowing the source and drain voltages of the pixel source-follower transistor to assume ordinary values above ground potential and resulting in a capacitive feed-through effect that increases the voltage on the photodiode to a value greater than the initial reset voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for encryption and decryption, capable of use in encryption and decryption of advanced encryption standard. Byte substitution operation and inverse byte substitution operation are to be combined. Byte substitution operation can be expressed as y=M*multiplicative_inverse(x)+c while inverse byte substitution operation can be expressed as x=multiplicative_inverse(M?1*(y+c)), wherein M and M?1 are inverse matrix of each other and c is a constant matrix. Since the two equations employ a look-up table, that is, multiplicative_inverse(x), the lookup tables for use in byte substitution and inverse byte substitution operations are to be combined according to the invention so as to lower hardware complexity of the implementation. In addition, main operations of column mixing operation and inverse column mixing operation are to be rearranged to combine the two operations in part, resulting in simplified hardware implementation.

Abstract: Reactive adhesive compositions that can be activated with actinic radiation, manipulated for an extended time and then cured thermally are disclosed. The prepolymer mixture for the reactive adhesive contains a catalyst component and a monomer/oligomer component. The monomer or oligomer is chosen from oxetane monomers, oxirane monomers, oxetane oligomers and oxirane oligomers. The oxirane monomers and oligomers have at least one oxygen or sulfur of an ether or thioether in a position two or three carbons removed from the oxygen of the oxirane.

Abstract: Compounds containing a substituted or unsubstituted allyl group directly bound to a chiral carbon atom are prepared enantioselectively. Starting reactants are either chiral or achiral, and may or may not contain an attached allyloxycarbonyl group as a substituent. Chiral ligands are employed, along with transition metal catalysts. The methods of the invention are effective in providing enantioconvergent allylation of chiral molecules.

Abstract: A method for forming an array of zinc oxide nanowires on a substrate is disclosed, which includes forming a crystal phase adjusting buffer on the surface of the substrate and growing 1D zinc oxide nanowires on the buffer by zinc vapor deposition, which are normal to the surface of the substrate. The crystal phase adjusting buffer includes, for example, nitride and oxide layers on a silicon substrate, or a gallium nitride epitaxial layer on a sapphire substrate, and is used as a growth buffer layer for the zinc oxide nanowires. The zinc vapor phase deposition includes forming a zinc oxide layer on the crystal phase adjusting buffer and forming vertical zinc oxide nanowires on the zinc oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are highly efficient multiphoton absorbing compounds and methods of their use. The compounds generally include a bridge of pi-conjugated bonds connecting electron donating groups or electron accepting groups. The bridge may be substituted with a variety of substituents as well. Solubility, lipophilicity, absorption maxima and other characteristics of the compounds may be tailored by changing the electron donating groups or electron accepting groups, the substituents attached to or the length of the pi-conjugated bridge. Numerous photophysical and photochemical methods are enabled by converting these compounds to electronically excited states upon simultaneous absorption of at least two photons of radiation. The compounds have large two-photon or higher-order absorptivities such that upon absorption, one or more Lewis acidic species, Lewis basic species, radical species or ionic species are formed.

Abstract: An optical sensor that can receive light ranging from visible light to infrared light is provided. A thin beta-iron disilicide semiconductor film is formed on a silicon substrate. Light in the visible region is received by silicon, and light in the infrared region is received by beta-iron disilicide.

Abstract: By activating aluminum fine particles obtained by milling aluminum alloy in water, reactivity of the aluminum fine Particles at low temperature is improved. The activation comprises a thermal shock treatment wherein the aluminum fine particles are repeatedly heated and cooled down rapidly, and subsequently these activated aluminum fine particles are stored in a refrigerator. By reaction between the activated aluminum fine particles and water molecules, a large amount of hydrogen gas can be generated at room temperature, therefore hydrogen gas or fuel for a portable-type fuel cells can be produced in large quantities at room temperature in a short period of time.

Abstract: This invention is a tunable dispersion compensation apparatus that suppresses the effects of the transmission channel dispersion which impedes transmission when optical signals used in high-speed communications are transmitted across long distances among various points.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a selection of spectral sensitivities for an imaging device includes determining a first set of spectral sensitivities from an initial set of spectral sensitivities based on an analysis of one of a universal measure of goodness, a ?-Factor, and RMS noise. A second set of spectral sensitivities is determined from the first plurality of sets of spectral sensitivities based on an analysis of a different one of the universal measure of goodness, the ?-Factor, and the RMS noise. The second set of spectral sensitivities is an optimized set of spectral sensitivities.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing fast handoff in WLAN-like communications system construct a caching candidate set based upon a weighted handoff tendency coefficient. The weighted handoff tendency coefficient is based upon the handoff matrix and the weighting factor. The handoff matrix is an adaptive two-dimensional array that provides a list of nearby access points relative to a mobile station and the weighting factor is a value that prioritizes the nearby access points based upon a signal quality indication. A home access point, once it is triggered to initialize proactive caching, provides the caching candidate set with registration data of the mobile station before a transfer of a connection between the home access point and one of the access points on the caching candidate set.

Abstract: An observation unit of an authentication apparatus and an observation unit of an authentication target apparatus observe a radio wave from a common radio star at a common observation time. A sending unit sends information message including information on the observed radio wave, and an information reception unit receives it. An estimation unit estimates a position of the authentication target apparatus based on “the information on the radio wave observed by the observation unit” and “information on the radio wave observed by the observation unit”. A retaining unit pre-retains positions of one or more authentication target apparatus(s). A determination unit checks whether a position of the authentication target apparatus pre-retained in the retaining unit and the estimated position correspond within a predetermined error range, and settles authentication for the information message as a success in a case where the positions correspond.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resistance-type oxygen sensor, and an oxygen sensor device and an air/fuel ratio control system using same. The present invention relates to a resistance-type oxygen sensor with suppressed temperature dependence, wherein: (1) a gas detection unit composed of an oxide semiconductor with a resistance value varying according to temperature and the oxygen partial pressure of atmospheric gas and a temperature compensation unit composed of a conductor with suppressed dependence of a resistance value on oxygen partial pressure are connected in series; (2) the temperature compensation unit is composed of an oxygen ion conductor; and (3) an electrode for electric contact with the temperature compensation unit is exposed to the atmospheric gas and is a porous body; an oxygen sensor device and an air/fuel ratio control system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method use pre-order queuing and scheduling. Reordering of the transmission sequence of packets that could be sent out in one round is allowed according to the quantum consumption status of the flow within the round. Per-packet time complexity is maintained independent from an increase in flow number and packets of variable-length are processed.

Abstract: An endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first broadband light source and a second laser light source that emits light at a wavelength in a range of 350 nm to 420 nm. The endoscope has an image sensor at a distal end and collects a reflectance image including red, green and blue components with the image sensor in response to illumination by said broadband light source. The image sensor also collects an autofluorescence image having a blue component, a green component and a red component. A processor processes the fluorescence image by determining a ratio of the fluorescence image and the reflectance image to provide a processed fluorescence image.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel microorganisms that directly biodegrade polylactide resins and plastics containing the same as well as a method therefor. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for degrading polylactide resins, wherein the polylactide resins are degraded by an actinomycete belonging to the genus Saccharothrix, Streptoalloteichus, Kibdelosporangium, Lentzea, Actinokineospora, Saccharomonospora, Saccharopolyspora, or Actinopolyspora.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals associated to a compound, wherein the nanocrystals have a characteristic spectral emission, wherein said spectral emission is tunable to a desired wavelength by controlling the size of the nanocrystal, and wherein said emission provides information about a biological state or event.

Abstract: A method of an uplink scheduler for a base station in a wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication system performs uplink wireless access for a best effort service, based on random access. The uplink scheduler of the base station transmits downlink traffic data to a user terminal, and estimates uplink traffic data generated from the user terminal based on the downlink traffic data. In addition, the uplink scheduler allocates resources for the estimated uplink traffic data to the user terminal, and receives the uplink traffic data transmitted from the user terminal by using the resources allocated to the user terminal.

Abstract: A centrifugal impeller employed in a centrifugal machine, includes a main body, the main body generally being conical and defining a shaft bore in a center portion thereof; and a plurality of blade groups evenly arranged surrounding the shaft bore in sequence, each of the blade groups having a plurality of blades wherein neighboring blades having an interval angle, and the number and corresponding interval angles of the blades of different blade groups are identical. The present impeller structure can be employed to distribute the concentrated energy of the discrete tones noise of the blades, which is generated by the high-speed rotation impeller, and further to reduce the operating tones noise.