Abstract: The invention provides non-centrosymmetric organic crystals which show exceptional self-healing properties. More particularly, the present invention provides non-centrosymmetric substituted imidazole and Dialkyl 4,4?-methylenebis(azanediyl)dibenzoate Crystals and a process for preparation thereof. These highly crystalline materials, when broken into pieces, can self-propel and re-join in the blink of an eye and repair themselves so precisely that they become indistinguishable from the undisturbed materials.

Abstract: The invention provides materials presenting a biologically active matrix comprising a physiological fibrillar fibronectin network, such as implantable constructs, and their use for modulating cell behaviour and fate, including cell growth, proliferation and/or differentiation, such as for promoting tissue regeneration, for example, bone regeneration or vascularization. Also provided are constructs presenting a biologically active matrix comprising a physiological fibrillar fibronectin network for sustaining growth of stem cells or maintaining stem cells (maintaining stemness).

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing hexagonal tungsten oxide, the method including preparing an alkaline solvent having a pH of 8 to 9, which contains at least one of water or alcohol, adding tungsten chloride to the alkaline solvent to form a first reaction solution, adding an additive to the first reaction solution to form a second reaction solution, and adding strong acid to the second reaction solution to form nanoparticles. The additive includes any one of an amine compound having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aliphatic hydrocarbon derivative having 10 or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A control system arranged to provide dimming control of light output of one or more light emitting device (124), the control system comprising: a switch mode regulator (91) arranged to provide an output power signal to the one or more light emitting device (124), and to vary the output power signal; one or more feedback sensors (304) arranged to measure characteristic parameters of the output power signal, the characteristic parameters comprising at least one of: current, voltage and power; and a controller arranged to: when a characteristic parameter of the output power signal is above a threshold (210), vary the output power signal in a closed control loop, based on feedback from the one or more feedback sensors (304); and when the characteristic parameter of the output power signal is below the threshold (210), vary the output power signal in an open control loop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for photocatalytic oxidation of allylic C—H bonds present in alkenes containing at least three carbon atoms. In this newly disclosed method, such alkenes, when reacted with carbon dioxide (CO2) in an organic solvent containing a catalyst comprising of a supported molecular complex of transition metal ions under conditions of ambient temperature and pressure using a readily available household LED lamp, yield oxygenated products. The developed method represents a unique way to use CO2 as an oxygen transfer agent to unsaturated organic compounds along with the formation of CO as a co-product using light as an energy source.

Abstract: A method for correcting abnormal point cloud is disclosed. Firstly, receiving a Primitive Point Cloud Data set by an operation unit for dividing a point cloud array into a plurality of sub-point cloud sets and obtaining a plurality of corresponding distribution feature data according to an original vector data of the Primitive Point Cloud Data set. Furthermore, recognizing the sub-point cloud sets according to the corresponding distribution feature data for correcting recognized abnormal point cloud. Thus, when the point cloud array is rendered to a corresponding image, the color defect of the point cloud array will be improved or decreased for obtaining lossless of the corresponding image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Candida tropicalis cell line, which comprises a mutant gene, having improved tolerance for cytotoxicity of stromal cells, and a method for producing dicarboxylic acid using the Candida tropicalis cell line. The Candida tropicalis cell line for producing dicarboxylic acid developed according to the present invention has improved tolerance for existing stromal toxicity as well as significantly improved efficiency for producing dicarboxylic acid compared to existing cell lines, thus can be used in biological production of dicarboxylic acid and is expected to have high industrial utility.

Abstract: A catalytic conversion process for producing gasoline and propylene includes the steps of 1) subjecting a feedstock oil to a first catalytic conversion reaction in a first catalytic conversion reaction device to obtain a first reaction product; 2) separating the first reaction product to obtain a propylene fraction, a gasoline fraction and a fraction comprising C4 olefin; 3) carrying out an oligomerization reaction on the fraction comprising C4 olefin in an oligomerization reactor to obtain an oligomerization product comprising C12 olefin, and optionally separating the oligomerization product to obtain a fraction comprising C12 olefin; 4) recycling the C12 olefin-containing oligomerization product or fraction to the first catalytic conversion reaction device, and/or sending the C12 olefin-containing oligomerization product or fraction to a second catalytic conversion reaction device for a second catalytic conversion reaction to obtain a second reaction product comprising propylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing marine algae-derived agarotriose, and a use thereof as a prebiotic. More specifically, the present invention investigates the characteristics of agarotriose as a prebiotic which is selectively metabolized by probiotic microorganisms, thereby enabling agarotriose to be used as an anti-cancer or anti-inflammatory agent in the fields of food and pharmaceuticals, and enabling agarotriose to be obtained at high yield through efficient purification with minimal loss after enzymatic hydrolysis of a red algae-derived polysaccharide without pre-treatment.

Abstract: An image stitching method and apparatus are disclosed. The image stitching apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory. The processor may obtain a plurality of images at different viewpoints, estimate homographies of each of the plurality of images, generate an aligned image by aligning the plurality of images based on the homographies of each of the plurality of images, obtain a collective energy map by inputting the aligned image to a neural network, estimate a stitching line of the aligned image based on the collective energy map, and generate a stitched image by blending the aligned image based on the stitching line.

Abstract: A method for fitting an odometry noise model of a vehicle is described. The method includes collecting multiple passes of sensor measurements from motion sensors of the vehicle to measure a motion sensor noise during a testing operation of the vehicle. The method also includes determining an estimated standard deviation of the motion sensor noise measured during the testing operation of the vehicle. The method further includes determining the odometry noise model of the vehicle according to the estimated standard deviation of the motion sensor noise measured during the testing operation of the vehicle. The method also includes compensating, using the odometry noise model, the motion sensor noise during normal operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for assisting an unregistered user device to access an end-to-end call service of a private network and a communication system. The method includes: determining whether the user device that is not registered on the private network wants to initiate a request of an emergency call; in response to determining that the user device that is not registered on the private network wants to initiate the request of the emergency call, assisting the user device to access the end-to-end call service without being registered on the private network.

Abstract: A manifold that allows for increased flow performance, at a reduced pressure, and a flow path that is easily maintained, and fluid dispensing systems that allow for the precise, controlled spacing of beads of multiple component adhesives, and other liquids, and allow for multiple beads to be dispensed onto a substrate simultaneously are disclosed. A control portion for a manifold that solves the disadvantages relating to scaling an open channel and a carrier that provides a mechanism for applying an adhesive and/or a two-part adhesive easier are disclosed.

Abstract: The present teachings relate generally to conjugates and methods for imaging a tumor microenvironment in a patient, and to conjugates and methods for imaging cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment of a patient. The present teachings relate generally to method of making conjugates comprising a fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitor.

Abstract: There is provided a polymeric microsphere comprising a thermally responsive monomer crosslinked with a functional group monomer, wherein the functional group monomer comprises at least one of a carboxylic acid functional group or an amine functional group. The thermally responsive monomer is preferably N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and the microspheres preferably comprise a coating of polymerized catecholamines (e.g. DOPA). There is also provided a method of preparing the polymeric microsphere and uses of the polymeric microsphere in culturing, harvesting, or expanding stem cells or stromal cells. Preferably, the cells, e.g. hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells), are expanded or harvested in serum-free and xeno-free medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices/kits and methods for reducing, treating, preventing or eliminating post-operative adhesions in an intervention/target site within a body of a subject. The method comprises the steps of: introducing an applicator, configured for applying an anti-adhesive composition, into an intervention/target site within a body of a subject; applying the anti-adhesive composition onto the intervention/target site; and extracting the applicator from the body of the subject, wherein the method is performed during or following an interventional procedure.

Abstract: An electro-optical converter that converts an electric signal to an optical signal. An optical signal is dragged from one optical channel to another optical channel using exciton polaritons that are generated in a layer that is adjacent the optical channels. The exciton polaritons are generated in response to an electrical signal which thereby results in the selective production of the optical signal.

Abstract: Fire protection systems and methods having piping interconnections for connecting afire protection device to a fluid source. The piping interconnections include a branch connector connected to a pipe header. The branch connector includes a tubular member and an internal annular seal member housed in an internal gasket chamber of the tubular member. The tubular member includes an internal stepless surface between a terminal end of the tubular member and the internal gasket chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for manufacturing sensors and circuit structures. The method can include providing a substrate including a layer of polymer capable of producing graphite in response to the application of energy, a first electrode adjacent to a first via location on the layer of polymer, and an insulating layer over at least a portion of the first electrode and the layer of polymer at the first via location; and applying sufficient energy to the layer of polymer at the first via location through the insulating layer to ablate the insulating layer and to form a first via as mass of graphite that extends into electrical contact with the first electrode and is surrounded by the insulating layer in a plane of the insulating layer.