Abstract: The present invention discloses a current-source-output light-emitting-diode (LED) driver based on LCLC circuit to provide a constant output current regardless of variations in LED parameters. In the LCLC circuit, the number of additional capacitors is scalable with the number of LED strings for current balancing. Moreover, the input impedance of the improved LCLC circuit is designed to be resistive at the operating frequency to minimize reactive power. The conventional duty cycle control can easily incorporate zero-voltage-switching (ZVS).

Abstract: A muscular strength enhancing robot to be driven by an intention of a user and a method of driving the robot are disclosed. The robot includes an actuator attached to a portion of a body of the user and configured to be actuated by enhancing a muscular strength, an encoder connected to the actuator and configured to measure an actual velocity at which the actuator moves, a force or torque sensor configured to measure an intensity of a force to be applied, an admittance modeling module configured to calculate a target velocity using the intensity of the force, and a proportional integral derivative (PID) control module configured to control actuation of the actuator in proportion to a velocity difference between the target velocity and the actual velocity, control the actuation by a cumulative value of the velocity difference, and control the actuation by a difference between a previous and a current velocity difference.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a nanostructured materials processing and manufacturing apparatus comprising a coaxial needle, a rotating disk, two spring pushers, and a electric power source with sufficient voltage, The coaxial needle, which is capable of simultaneously delivering two different types of solutions, is connected to a rotating shaft coupler and tilted at an angle, preferably 2 to 5 degrees, with respect to the vertical direction relative to the surface of the rotating disk. A mechanical action to the solutions is added by the rotation of the slightly tilted coaxial needle. The coaxial needle is electrically connected to the positive electrode of a electric power source by a pad pushed by a spring pusher, which enables the solutions in the coaxial needle to be electrified. The rotating disk is connected to the negative electrode of the power source. Due to both mechanical and electric actions, the apparatus performs electrospraying and/or electrospinning functions.

Abstract: A non-invasive glucose sensor (10) for detecting an amount of glucose in bodily fluid, comprising: an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) having a gate electrode (20); wherein a surface of the gate electrode (20) is modified with an enzyme and a nanomaterial to increase sensitivity and selectivity of the gate electrode (20).

Abstract: A triazole bridged flavonoid dimer compound library was efficiently constructed via the cycloaddition reaction of a series of flavonoid-containing azides (Az 1-15) and alkynes (Ac 1-17). These triazole bridged flavonoid dimers and their precursor alkyne- and azide-containing flavonoids were screened for their ability to modulate multidrug resistance (MDR) in P-gp-overexpressed cell line (LCC6MDR), MRP1-overexpressed cell line (2008/MRP1) and BCRP-overexpressed cell line (HEK293/R2 and MCF7-MX100). Generally, they displayed very promising MDR reversal activity against P-gp-, MRP1- and BCRP-mediated drug resistance. Moreover, they showed different levels of selectivity for various transporters. Overall, they can be divided into mono-selective, dual-selective and multi-selective modulators for the P-gp, MRP1 and BCRP transporters.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing conjugates between macromolecule and nanoparticle by forming a thin reinforcement layer over the surface of a nanoparticle after macromolecule chains have attached to the surface of the nanoparticle. The stabilized conjugates can be used in a wide range of applications such as in vitro diagnostics, in vivo imaging and therapeutics, which need to be conducted under various severe or harsh conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart textile capable of providing acupuncture therapy to the wearer through strategically positioned electrodes throughout the textile, connected via silver coated fabric. Through the instant invention, heat therapy can be applied to specific points on the body, while being safe due to the absence of wires.

Abstract: A hollow tubular oil absorbing material includes: a core formed by a spring, and an outer shell formed by a flat sponge wrapped at the spring; wherein the flat sponge is fixed at both ends of the spring; the flat sponge fully covers all the spring or is sealed at a first end; a connecting tube is connected at a second end of the spring for communicating with a vacuum pump; a graphene oxide layer is coated at the outer sponge. The graphene oxide layer on the flat sponge of hollow tubular oil absorbing material is formed by immersion and coating under negative pressure. Further the reduction of graphene oxide is performed with hydrazine hydrate steam and followed by washing and drying. Finally, a hollow tubular oil absorbing material with a spring core and an outer grapheme-coated sponge structure is obtained, which can be applied to continuous oil-water separation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel series of amine-containing flavonoids and compositions containing the compounds, as well as the synthesis and the use of the same. The invention also relates to methods of treatment and prevention of diseases, in particular, parasitic infections including Leishmaniasis, comprising administration of the compounds.

Abstract: An optical lens for a light source has an incidence surface receiving light rays emitted from a light source and an aspherical emitting surface optically coupled with the incidence surface for receiving light rays from the incidence surface and emitting light rays received from the incidence surface. The incidence surface defines a cavity for receiving the light source. An opaque or semi-opaque bottom surface adjoins the incidence surface and emitting surface. A lighting device has a substrate, a lighting source located on the substrate, and the optical lens located with the substrate and enclosing the lighting device. A strip light has an elongate substrate having light sources and respective lenses distributed longitudinally along the substrate. Such a strip light using the lens is suitable for lighting the interior of a commercial or domestic refrigerator, chillier cabinet, or other enclosure.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring flow speed of a fluid, comprising: a light-absorbing optical fiber having a fiber Bragg grating inscribed in the fiber; wherein light is emitted into the light-absorbing optical fiber to heat the optical fiber and the fiber Bragg grating, and when the fluid passes over the sensor, the flow speed of the fluid is determined by the rate of heat loss from the sensor, and the temperature of the sensor is determined from the wavelength shift of the central wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating.

Abstract: A method for preparing a homogeneous braid-reinforced (HMR) PPTA hollow fiber membrane combines PPTA hollow tubular braids with PPTA surface separation layer. The method includes following steps of: (1) preparing the PPTA hollow tubular braids, wherein the PPTA hollow tubular braids which are made from PPTA filament yarns are woven by a two-dimensional braided method, the outer diameter of the PPTA tubular braids is 1-2 mm; (2) preparing the PPTA casting solution as the surface separation layer, wherein the 1-3 wt % PPTA resin, 0-2 wt % inorganic particles and 10-20 wt % pore-forming agents are mixed into 75-89% inorganic acid solvent, stirred for 1-3 hours at 70° C.-90° C. to form homogeneous and transparent casting solution; and (3) preparing reinforced PPTA hollow fiber membrane, wherein the casting solution as the surface separation layer is evenly coated on the surfaces of the PPTA hollow tubular braids through spinneret, and they are immersed in a coagulation bath for solidified formation.

Abstract: A wearable power assistive device for hand rehabilitation includes a hand brace having an external platform and an internal platform connected to and spaced inwardly from the external platform. Five finger assemblies are adjustably mounted on and extending from the distal end of the external platform. Each finger assembly includes a proximal follower assembly for a metacarpophalangeal joint. Five motors are used to actuate the five finger assemblies respectively. Each motor is mounted in close proximity to the external platform and has one end connected to the external platform and another end coupled to its proximal follower assembly by a ball joint in order to facilitate transfer of force and minimize mechanical stress on the other parts of the device.

Abstract: A semi-crystalline shape memory polymer with transition temperature near body temperature and the production method thereof is disclosed. The shape memory polymer comprises a polymer chain which further comprises a plurality of prepolymers and a plurality of chain extenders bonding the prepolymers together in which each prepolymer further comprises a plurality of synthesized units. The above mentioned synthesized unit is obtained by reacting polymer diol with first diisocyanate. The obtained synthesized units are polymerized together with second diisocyanate and chain extender to form the shape memory polymer.

Abstract: An intelligent adjustable mannequin having a body shape parameter input module and a mannequin backbone structure, the mannequin including an adjustment plate on the backbone structure according to body shape parameters, a curse adjustment mechanism positioned between the adjustment plate and the backbone structure, the backbone structure is also provided with a detector which detects the body shape parameters, and a relative movement between the adjustment plate and the backbone structure is controlled by the girth adjustment mechanism to achieve precise adjustment of body shape curse parameters. The backbone structure is further provided with a length adjustment mechanism to control upward and downward movements of respective parts of the backbone structure to achieve precise adjustment of length parameters.

Abstract: Quinoline derivatives showing anticancer activities against cancer cell lines of hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B), lung carcinoma (A549), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HKESC-1, HKESC-4 and KYSE150).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using indole-ketone or indolidone such as SU4312, SU5416, SU11248 (Sunitinib), or indirubin-3-oxime to treat a neurodegenerative disease or disorder such as Parkinson's disease which is associated with excessive neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) activity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a contactless 3D biometric feature identification system and the method thereof. The system comprises of a fixed-viewpoint image capturing means, a lighting module capable of producing different illuminations on the object of interest and a microprocessor configured to execute a biometric identification algorithm. The algorithm starts with capturing a plurality of images with different illuminations. The captured images are then utilized to reconstruct a three dimensional surface model. Different features, for instance 2D and 3D coordinates and orientations of the biometric feature, surface curvature of the object and the local surface orientation of the object, are extracted from the captured images and the reconstructed 3D surface model. Different matching scores are also developed based on the aforesaid features to establish the identity of the biometric features.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell that includes an electrode having a semiconductor nanoparticle layer dispersed on a transparent conductive substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanofibers dispersed on the nanoparticle layer, a first light absorption material is attached to the plurality of semiconductor nanofibers in which the first light absorption material having a first light absorption bandwidth, and a second light absorption material deposited on the light absorption material of the plurality of semiconductor nanofibers, the second light absorption material having a second light absorption bandwidth complementary to the first light absorption bandwidth, a counter electrode includes a metal-coated transparent conductive substrate, and an electrolyte in contact with the near-infrared light absorption material and the counter electrode.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aromatic polyamide porous hollow fiber membrane firstly premixes PPTA resin, solvent, composite pore-forming agents and inorganic particles in a stirring vessel to form casting solution, secondly injects the casting solution into a double-screw extruder to be fully dissolved under the effect of shear force and enters a spinneret via a metering pump. The PPTA hollow fiber membranes are prepared by the dry-wet spinning method, which solves the problems that hard pore-forming and low porosity in the preparation process of PPTA porous membrane. Utilization of the double-screw extruder is capable of greatly shortening the dissolved time and the deaeration time. Meanwhile the increase of PPTA in casting solution also improves mechanical properties of the PPTA membrane. The addition of the inorganic particles improves mechanical toughness and enhance pure water flux, hydrophilia and rejection rate.