Abstract: A transplanar liquid transport tester for fabrics, comprising a liquid reservoir; a liquid-permeable support member having a first surface for supporting a fabric test sample, and a second surface for interfacing with liquid in the liquid reservoir; and means for maintaining a constant hydrostatic pressure in the liquid reservoir at the second surface of the support member for replenishing liquid through the support member to the first surface during testing.

Abstract: The present invention relates a fiber optic transducer (FOT) and methods for measuring the pressure and temperature of a flowing fluid using such FOT, wherein such FOT contains a fiber optic having fiber Bragg gratings. The fiber Bragg gratings are measured during a flowing fluid to determine the difference in the change in wavelength exhibited by a reflected optical signal from the gratings.

Abstract: A bollard with connecting mechanism for connecting railings, comprising: a bollard body which is provided with at least two receiving parts concave inwardly on each of opposite surfaces thereof; at least two connectors, each of which includes a base and an ear extending from the base and having a connecting hole thereon for connecting the railing; wherein the base is accommodated in the receiving part, and the ear is selectively accommodated in the receiving part or exposed out of the receiving part according to whether railings need to be connected.

Abstract: Method of asymmetrically hydrosilylating substrates using catalysts having a ligand of the compound of the formula (I) wherein R is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R? is hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl; and R? is hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted alkyl, hydroxy, amino (e.g., primary, secondary or tertiary), alkenyl; or an enantiomer thereof; or an enantiomeric mixture thereof with a transition metal. Particularly suitable reactions include the asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward biomarkers that identify characteristics of algae. The invention is further directed toward biomarkers that serve to identify algae species and strains of algae species as well as detect the presence of algal toxins. Additional embodiments feature methods utilizing algal biomarkers and polypeptides that can serve as biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention provides bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds of the formula wherein R is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R? and R? are independently optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or an enantiomer thereof; or an enantiomeric mixture thereof. The compounds of the formula (I) are chiral atropisomeric bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds and, thus, may be employed as ligands to generate chiral transition metal catalysts which may be applied in a variety of asymmetric reactions, e.g., in palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The compounds of the present invention are easily accessible in high enantiomeric purity according to the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system (10) for relaxation, the system (10) comprising: electrodes (15) worn by a user to measure the electrocardiogram (ECG) of the user; a processor (18) to process the ECG to remove noise and analyse the ECG signal in the time and frequency domains, and compute an index of stress (33) from the processed ECG; and a multimedia device (14) to provide real-time biofeedback by communicating the index of stress (33) to the user together with a relaxation video (31) to cause the user to relax.

Abstract: Digital communication schemes using chaotic signals as carriers can be broadly classified into two categories. In the first category, the chaotic signals carrying the information have to be synchronously regenerated at the receiver, which may be applicable to low noise environment. The second category requires no synchronous regeneration of the carrying chaotic signals in the receiver. An example of the second category utilizes a specific bit structure, which may not be able to resist unintended reception because the fabricated bit structure can be relatively easily detected. This invention involves systems and methods for transmitting digital messages modulated as chaotic signals, and the demodulation methods. One individual chaotic signal generator having a specific chaotic characteristic value is responsible for generating a chaotic signal for each possible value of the digital message according to a chaotic algorithm.

Abstract: A method for producing a nanostructured austenitic sheet by consecutive martensite and austenite phase (?/??) transformations, in which the coarse grained austenite sheet transforms to nanocrystalline martensite by strain-induced transformation, and then generates reverse transformation to nanostructured austenite by warm rolling due to dynamic recrystallization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand sensory assessment device capable of point localization, two-point discrimination, vibration, and texture discrimination for assessing and training patients. The device possesses multiples of pins serving as contacting points that are capable of treating multiples points on a patients hand.

Abstract: PageRank (PR) is used by web search engine Google in ranking individual web pages. However, it is known that this value is also easily manipulated by methods known as spoofing. Further, the calculation of PR will require iterative cycles of computations to achieve a “steady” value. This would mean that huge computation resources are required to obtain reasonably reliable PR values for various web pages. This invention provides relatively accurate and simple methods for ranking the importance of a node in a network. The web graph or the network is first represented by an incidence matrix or a representation matrix W. The matrix W is then self-multiplied to obtain flow matrix. The flow capacity, or the rank of each node, is then obtained from the flow matrix.

Abstract: Decalcification can be performed by using acid or other agents. It may be difficult to decalcify large bone block within ours. This invention provides a bone-decalcifying agent including a calcium desolving agent for desolving calcium ions of bones, and a bubble-forming agent for generating microbubbles when the bone-decalcifying agent is exposed to ultrasonic vibration. It is found that bones may be decalcified in a relatively short time using the bone-decalcifying agent of this invention.

Abstract: A process for all-optically switching an incoming optical signal having at least a data packet is provided. The data packet including at least an address bit in its header, and the process includes receiving the data packet; processing the header optically; storing the decision made during the processing of the header; and switching the whole incoming data packet dependent upon the decision.

Abstract: This invention provides double-skin tubular structural members having fiber-reinforced polymer outer tubes, steel or otherwise generally metallic inner tubes and generally a bound aggregate such as concrete in between the tubes.

Abstract: A circuit board, for an electronic circuit having a passive circuit component, has a component region, a non-component region, and circuit wiring conductors on its surface. The component region includes a polymer composition comprising a mixture of polymer resin and filler material that, in combination with the circuit wiring conductors, forms the passive circuit component.

Abstract: The present invention provides bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds of the formula wherein R is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R? and R? are independently optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or an enantiomer thereof; or an enantiomeric mixture thereof. The compounds of the formula (I) are chiral atropisomeric bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds and, thus, may be employed as ligands to generate chiral transition metal catalysts which may be applied in a variety of asymmetric reactions, e.g., in palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The compounds of the present invention are easily accessible in high enantiomeric purity according to the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying object movement and location with RFID device comprises two RFID gateways constructed by at least one RFID interrogator located inside and outside an entrance of a monitored zone independently, a portable RFID tag carried by the object capable of receiving and responding said signals emitted by said RFID interrogator, and a data processor connected with said RFID gateways capable of receiving said responses to identify said object movement as leaving or entering said entrance and said object location as outside or inside said monitored zone. There is also a corresponding method for identifying object movement and location with RFID device.

Abstract: A linear motor and a camera module having the linear motor are provided. The linear motor includes: a piezoelectric substrate generating a vibration mode in a longitudinal direction on the basis of an applied voltage; first and second shafts coupled to both sides of the piezoelectric substrate with the piezoelectric substrate interposed therebetween; and a moving member coupled to at least one of the first and second shafts to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the first and second shafts and connected to a camera lens on one side. Accordingly, it is possible to remove a dead zone with a simple structure, to prevent an unnecessary increase in thickness, not to cause a stoppage at the time of moving a camera lens, to cause a small amount of tilt to enable a linear control, and to contribute to a decrease in thickness and a compactness of a mobile terminal.

Abstract: A method of personal identification includes switching between visible and near infrared light, acquiring palmprint image and palm vein image from a person under the visible and the near infrared light, extracting sub-images from the palmprint image and the palm vein image based on a region of interest, extracting multiple features from the sub-images, and matching the extracted multiple features with stored information in a database to authenticate the person.

Abstract: The present invention teaches methods and systems for transmitting signals in a building utilizing the reinforced steel bar structure in the building. The methods and systems allow the transmission and receipt of signals in residences and offices in older buildings while avoiding system reconfiguration, high cost cabling, and over-invasive installation.