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 identifying a person based on their tongue is provided in which an image of a tongue of a person is compared to recorded details of tongues in a database. If a match is found, the person is identified.

Abstract: A method of imparting a shape memory effect to hair may include administrating an effective amount of a hair-conditioning agent to hair. The hair-conditioning agent may include a shape memory polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, an acrylic acid copolymer, a pyridine-based copolymer, and a pyrrolidone copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel antibacterial treatment on textile materials using polymeric core-shell particles dispersing in water. These particles are prepared from a surfactant-free emulsion polymerization according to the method of U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,313 and have average particle sizes in the range of 100 to 1000 nm in diameter. When applied to a textile article, the particles form a uniform coating, which prevents the growth of bacteria and microbes. The treatment does not affect the fabric mechanical properties, hand feeling and appearance. Antibacterial activity on cotton is maintained even after 50 times of home laundering.

Abstract: A method for spatial-temporal denoising and demosaicking for noisy color filter array (CFA) video, the method including applying spatial-temporal CFA video denoising (11) to the CFA video in order to generate a denoised CFA, applying initial color demosaicking (CDM) (19) to the denoised CFA video in order to generate a demosaicked video, and applying spatial-temporal post-processing (26) to the demosaicked video in order to reduce CDM artifacts and CDM errors and enhance the quality of the video.

Abstract: A cantharimide compound may include the backbone of formula (1). R1, R2, R3, and R4 may be independently selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OR5, C(O)R6, C(O)NR7R8, NR9C(O)R10, N—R11R12, O—R13, S—R14, P(O)(OR15)(OR16), As(O)(OR17)(OR18), SO2R19, SO3R20, and B(OR21). X1 to X4 may be independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and carbon, such that X1 to X4 are not all hydrogen. Y1, Y2 and R5 to R21 may be independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-12-alkyl, -aryl, heteroaryl, and a bioactive polymer.

Abstract: Fast and simple method of detecting the presence of chloramphenicol, a harmful compound if present in food products. The method makes use of a mutant chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and a fluorophore-linked chloramphenicol in a system where chloramphenicol and the fluorophore-linked chloramphenicol competes for the active site of the mutant CAT. Because the fluorophore-linked chloramphenicol reduces its fluorescence upon binding to the active site and vice versa increases its fluorescence upon being displaced from the active site by the presence of unmodified chloramphenicol in a sample, the increase of fluorescence caused by a testing sample indicates the presence of chloramphenicol.

Abstract: This invention relates to a radial array ultrasound endoscopic probe and its manufacture method and a fixing and rotating device. The probe comprises: a metal cylinder located at the center; a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are cut from piezoelectric ceramic or single crystal rings and arranged around the metal cylinder, said piezoelectric elements and said metal cylinder being provided with a backing material layer for absorbing sound therebetween, said piezoelectric elements being covered with a matching material layer on the outer side thereof, and said piezoelectric elements are filled with decoupling material therebetween; a plurality of coaxial cables correspondingly connected with the plurality of piezoelectric elements; and a circular lattice in a gear shape which sleeves over said metal cylinder and functions to arrange and separate the coaxial cables.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of cyclometalated iridium complexes for detecting poly(amino acids) including peptides, polypeptides, and proteins. Poly(amino acids) are detected in solution, in electrophorectic gels, and on solid supports, including blots. The method of the present invention is rapid, highly sensitive, and extremely facile.

Abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit expression of human replication-initiation protein as well as methods of preventing or treating hyperproliferative conditions using said oligonucleotides are disclosed. One aspect provides an antisense oligonucleotide that inhibits the expression of human replication-initiation protein and has a sequence complementary to at least a portion of a target sequence encoding a human replication-initiation gene. By administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense oligonucleotide or by contacting the hyperproliferating cells with an effective amount of one or more antisense oligonucleotides, expression of replication-initiation protein is inhibited. Methods of screening and testing active antisense oligonucleotides for their ability to inhibit gene expression are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of making single phase nanocrystalline titanium dioxide. It is hereby provided a method for preparing single-phase anatase type titanium dioxide photocatalyst having a particle size of nano level at near room temperatures without the need for a sintering process at high temperatures.

Abstract: A detection system (5) for assisting a driver when driving a vehicle, the system (5) comprising: a plurality of image capturing devices (98) mounted to the vehicle to capture images of the external environment of the vehicle; an image processing module (95) to identify potential hazards in real-time from the captured images and to superimpose information of the external environment relating to the identified potential hazards; and at least one display device (92) to display images processed by the image processing module in real-time; wherein the superimposed information is provided in an area of the display device (92) to ensure visual clarity of the images of the external environment.

Abstract: A method of identifying and classifying non-small-cell lung carcinoma in a biological sample includes a first test wherein the expression level of at least one biomarker is measured in a sample, the at least one=biomarker is selected from a first group consisting of chaperonin, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate mutase, thymidine phosphorylase, and minichromosome maintenance deficient protein 5, and comparing the measured expression levels against a normal expression level, wherein a significant difference diagnoses or aids in the diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma; and a second test wherein the expression level of at least one biomarker is measured in the sample, the at least one biomarker is selected from a second group consisting of selenium binding protein and Napsin A, and comparing the measured expression level against a normal expression level, wherein a significant difference confirms or aids in confirmation of Non-Small Cell Carcinoma.

Abstract: A filtration medium includes a fine filter layer having a plurality of nanofibers and a coarse filter layer having a plurality of microfibers attached to the fine filter layer. The coarse filter layer is positioned proximal to a direction of fluid flow, and the fine filter layer is positioned distal to the direction of fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel antibacterial treatment on textile materials using polymeric core-shell particles dispersing in water. These particles are prepared from a surfactant-free emulsion polymerization according to the method of U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,313 and have average particle sizes in the range of 100 to 1000 nm in diameter. When applied to a textile article, the particles form a uniform coating, which prevents the growth of bacteria and microbes. The treatment does not affect the fabric mechanical properties, hand feeling and appearance. Antibacterial activity on cotton is maintained even after 50 times of home laundering.

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: An apparatus for reducing pilling on a piece of garment/fabric includes at least one holding member adapted to secure the piece of garment/fabric, a rotatable brush member adapted to brush on the piece of garment/fabric until loose fibres of the garment/fabric migrates to a surface of the garment/fabric to form a layer of pillable fuzz, a shaving member adapted to remove the layer of pillable fuzz on the piece of garment/fabric, and a control unit adapted to control movement of the rotatable brush member and the shaving member.

Abstract: A fundus camera using infrared light sources, which included an imaging optical path and an optical path for focusing and positioning and two optical paths share a common set of retina objective lens, and a computer-assisted method for retinal vessel segmentation in general and diabetic retinopathy (DR) image segmentation in particular. The method is primarily based on Multiscale Production of the Matched Filter (MPMF) scheme, which together the fundus camera, is useful for non-invasive diabetic retinopathy detection and monitoring.

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 method for treating progression of a refractive disorder in a human eye. The method includes the steps of producing a first image on a retina of the human eye and producing a second image to generate a defocus.