Abstract: The present invention is related to a flexible substrate structure for microneedle arrays and its manufacturing method, whose structure mainly comprising: tapered shape objects and flexible substrate. Wherein, structure of the tapered shape object is composed of a tip, sidewalls, and a base. Meanwhile, the flexible substrate winds tightly around sidewalls of tapered shape objects and is set up on, yet covers the base surface of tapered shape object which faces the tip of tapered shape object. Because the structure applies a flexible substrate along with tapered shape objects, hence, the fit-to-body capability is increased and allows thereof more appropriate for backside drug delivery, as well as sufficiently bring the characteristic of large-area manufacturing into full play.

Abstract: An optical channel power equalizer for equalizing the per-channel power levels of a multi-channel optical signal is provided. The channel power equalizer includes an optical spectrum measurement unit that extracts a portion of the amplified optical signal and measures the per-channel power levels of the extracted optical signal; a controller that compares the measured power levels with a predetermined reference value, and determines to output the degrees of attenuation per channel based on differences between the measured per-channel power levels and the reference value; and a per-channel optical attenuation unit that attenuates the per-channel power levels of a plurality of input optical signals based on the degrees of attenuation and outputs the attenuated optical signals as the plurality of channels.

Abstract: Wick-Containing apparatus capable of separating fluids and methods of separating fluids using wicks are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microwave variable attenuator variably attenuating while maintaining a matching state. The microwave variable attenuator includes: an input terminal for inputting a microwave signal; an output terminal for outputting a microwave signal; a control voltage supplying unit for supplying a control voltage; an input terminal matching unit for matching an impedance of the input terminal in response to the control voltage; an output terminal matching unit for matching an impedance of the output terminal in response to the control voltage; and an attenuating unit for attenuating the microwave signal inputted to the input terminal based on an attenuation controlled according to the control voltage and outputting the attenuated microwave signal, wherein the attenuating unit includes a pin diode and a resonant inductor connected each others in parallel for resonating an effect of a parallel capacitance.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a laser three-dimensional digitizing sensor. First, a three-dimensional coordinator X-Y-Z is defined and a calibrating surface is provided. Second, a first mapping table of a two-dimensional digital image to the Z axis is established by translating the calibrating surface along the Z axis. Subsequently, the calibrating surface rotates along the Y axis by a predetermined angle and translates along the Z axis to establish the second mapping table of the two-dimensional digital image and the X axis according to the first mapping table.

Abstract: An isolated, water-soluble polypeptide fragment of human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is useful for the inhibition of angiogenesis. The polypeptide has the amino acid residue sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 12, or an angiogenesis inhibiting fragment thereof, the fragment including at least one of amino acid residue signature sequences HVGH (SEQ ID NO:10) and KMSAS (SEQ ID NO:11). Methods of using the polypeptide to inhibit angiogenesis are also provided.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for conversion of ammonium salts of ?-hydroxy carbonyl compounds forming useful conversion products including, e.g., ?, ?-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and/or ammonium salts of ?, ?-unsaturated carbonyl compounds recovered at a high molar yield. Conversion products find use, e.g., as feedstock and/or end-use chemicals.

Abstract: A wafer level packaging structure with inductors and manufacture method thereof. The method comprises providing a substrate, having several inductors, forming conductive lines and holes to connect the inductors and the wafer, and bonding the substrate and the wafer via bonding pads. Therefore, there are air gaps between the inductors and the wafer, thereby reducing the inductor's dispassion loss and increasing the inductor's quality factor. In addition, the inductors having a high quality factor can be integrated in the wafer containing active/passive components.

Abstract: The invention is to provide an optical element satisfactory in transparency and characteristics as an optical modulation element, and a piezoelectric substance element satisfactory in precision and reproducibility as a fine element such as MEMS. The piezoelectric substance element includes, on a substrate, at least a first electrode, a piezoelectric substance film and a second electrode; wherein the piezoelectric substance film does not contain a layer-structured boundary plane; the crystal phase constituting the piezoelectric substance film comprises at least two of a tetragonal, a rhombohedral, a pseudocubic, an orthorhombic and a monoclinic; and the piezoelectric substance film includes, in a portion in which a change in the composition is within a range of ±2%, a portion where a proportion of the different crystal phases changes gradually in a thickness direction of the film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring tool for measuring magnetic properties of a magnetic sample in a closed loop, comprising an electromagnet (1) in a closed loop arrangement with two pole pieces (3) connected to a yoke (2), said pole pieces (3) forming a gap (4) for the placement of the sample (5), a search coil (6) for the measurement of a flux density B of the sample (5) and a magnetic field sensor (7) for the measurement of a magnetic field strength H in the gap (4) between said pole pieces (3). The pole pieces (3) comprise heater elements (8) for heating the pole pieces (3) to temperatures of at least 4000 C and are thermally insulated against the yoke (2) of the electromagnet (1). The pole pieces (3), the search coil (6) and the magnetic field sensor (7) are made of materials which resist said high temperatures. The measuring tool allows the non-destructive measurement of magnetic properties of magnetic samples in closed circle up to 500° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reporter system comprising a reporter gene encoding a reporter protein that is secretable from cells in which it produced or expressed either in vitro or in vivo and excretable in a body fluid from whole animals comprising such systems. The reporter system is useful for the detection of gene activation events or biochemical changes related to, or that occur, as a result of altered metabolic or disease status or toxicological stress in toxicological screening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic methods for grafting hydrophilic chains onto polymers, particularly hydrophobic polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), and chlorinated polypropylene (cPP). Resulting polymers include comb polymers which can have a microphase-separated structure of hydrophilic domains provided by the hydrophilic chains. Articles prepared from these comb polymers, particularly derived from PVDF, include membranes for water filtration in which the hydrophilic domains provide a pathway for water transport. PVC can be plasticized by grafting the PVC with hydrophilic chains. In addition, such articles, particularly articles having biomedical applications, can display anti-thrombogenic properties.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for conversion of salts of ?-hydroxy carbonyl compounds forming useful conversion products including, e.g., ?,?-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and/or salts of ?,?-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Conversion products find use, e.g., as feedstock and/or end-use chemicals.

Abstract: An animatronic telephone agent consisting of a communications subsystem connected to a wired or wireless telephone network for receiving incoming telephone calls, and a robotic automaton coupled to the communications subsystem and responsive to incoming telephone calls for performing different movements that provide non-verbal visual cues to a human observer that are indicative of the status of each incoming call. The automaton preferably takes the form of an animatronic device that has movable appendages and a face with at least movable eyes or eyelids and which provides visual cues by making gestures and/or exhibiting facial expressions that are indicative of the receipt and progress of incoming calls.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium manganese-based composite oxide represented by the compositional formula: Li1+x(Mnl-m-nFemTin)1-xO2, wherein 0<x<?, 0?m?0.75, 0.01?n?0.75, and 0.01?m+n<1, and comprising a crystal phase of layered rock-salt type structure. The composite oxide is capable of maintaining an average discharge voltage of 3 V or more over long charge/discharge cycles. The composite oxide can be prepared using lower-cost starting materials, and exhibits improved charge/discharge characteristics over conventional low-cost positive electrode materials.

Abstract: The present invention discloses nucleic acid enzymes and deoxyribonucleic acid enzymes capable of cleaving nucleic acid sequences or molecules, particularly RNA, in a site-specific manner, as well as compositions including same. Methods of making and using the disclosed enzymes and compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for testing bonded part integrity of bonded structures with increased sensitivity and in a nondestructive manner. The method includes the steps of: mixing a piezoelectric material or an electrically conductive material with an adhesive agent, curing the adhesive agent in between bonding target objects, electrically connecting the bonding target objects to one another, causing an electric current to flow through the bonding target objects to measure a quantity of electric charges flowing between the bonding target objects, and determining existence of bonding damage between the bonding target objects and the adhesive agent based on the quantity of electric charges and predicting a remaining life span of the bonded structures based on a data indicating a correlation between the quantity of electric charges and a predetermined fatigue life.

Abstract: The synthesis of thiophene based conducting polymer molecular actuators, exhibiting electrically triggered molecular conformational transitions is reported. Actuation is believed to be the result of conformational rearrangement of the polymer backbone at the molecular level, not simply ion intercalation in the bulk polymer chain upon electrochemical activation. Molecular actuation results from ?-? stacking of thiophene oligomers upon oxidation, producing a reversible molecular displacement that leads to surprising material properties, such as electrically controllable porosity and large strains. The existence of active molecular conformational changes is supported by in situ electrochemical data. Single molecule techniques have been used to characterize the molecular actuators.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjuvant that possesses a greater adjuvant potential than that of a conventional adjuvant, and that is capable of producing a protective reaction across different strains. This problem has been solved by the finding that a double-stranded RNA (for example, Poly(I:C)) unexpectedly exhibits the above capability when used in combination with a subunit antigen. Accordingly, the present invention provides a vaccine for mucosal administration containing A) a double-stranded RNA and B) a subunit antigen or inactivated antigen of a pathogen.

Abstract: The invention provides HDAC inhibitors that may be used as therapeutics for the treatment of a neurodegenerative or neuromuscular condition. The invention provides compounds of formula I: The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture that include these compounds, as well as methods of treating and methods of preventing or delaying the onset of a neurodegenerative or neuromuscular condition.