Abstract: An apparatus for negative stiffness including one or more solenoids for generating a magnetic field. A moveable magnet is moveable relative to the one or more solenoids through the one or more solenoids. The one or more solenoids are configurable to generate an at least substantially quadratic magnetic field about an equilibrium position at which the resultant force on the moveable magnet is zero. Depending on the respective pole orientation, generating a quadratic magnetic field about an equilibrium position provides a substantially linear negative stiffness characteristic with displacement.

Abstract: It is described a network attack detection method. A topology analysis on network is conducted to obtain a probing path set containing at least one probing path. A first probing path contained in the probing path set is probed by using a probing pattern to obtain a performance metric of the first probing path. It is determined whether the first probing path is subjected to network attack according to the performance metric and a control performance metric.

Abstract: A resistance-voltage (R-V) transformation system used in dynamic strain measurement for a structure is provided. The system has single-channel (SC) circuit units each for producing a voltage corresponding to a resistance of a sensing element of a structural-strain sensing network. Each SC circuit unit has a R-V transformation module for converting the resistance into the voltage, a band-pass filter module for filtering the R-V transformation module output after a direct-current bias therein is removed, and a high-gain amplification module for amplifying the filter output. The band-pass filter module is configured such that an unwanted low-frequency component induced by resistance drift of the sensing element is removed while allowing a guided-wave signal component to pass through.

Abstract: An electric motor comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator has at least one resonant circuit and the rotor has at least one resonant circuit rotatable with the rotor relative to at least one stator resonant circuit such that at least one rotor resonant circuit is angularly displaceable relative to at least one stator resonant circuit. At least one stator resonant circuit and at least one rotor resonant circuit are configured to have at least substantially the same self-resonant frequency. The electric motor uses magnetic resonant coupling between one or more stator resonant circuits and one or more rotor resonant circuits to produce usable torque.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas measuring method based on photothermal effect in hollow-core optical fiber comprising: filling a target gas into the core of a hollow-core optical fiber; coupling a probe light and a periodically modulated pump light into the hollow-core optical fiber; absorbing the pump light by the target gas resulting in the periodic modulation of the phase of the probe light; demodulating the phase modulation information of the probe light to obtain the concentration of the target gas, wherein the pump laser is wavelength and/or amplitude modulated. In the present invention, two lasers including a pump laser and a probe laser are used for the measurement, this approach is simple and practical.

Abstract: A method for retarding the progression of myopia in a human eye, the method comprising: providing (41) a concentric annular multi-zone refractive lens including: at least one correcting zone of optical power for correcting (42) refractive error, and at least one defocusing zone for projecting (43) at least one non-homogenous defocused image in front of at least a part of retina to inhibit myopic eye growth, the at least one defocusing zone having at least one less negative power; wherein the correcting and defocusing zones are alternated (45) in the lens and the zones are connected (46) to each other through integrated progressive transition curves.

Abstract: This invention provides a cyclically-coupled (CC-) quasi-cyclic (QC-) low-density parity-check (LDPC) code and its decoder architecture. The essence of the invention is to introduce the convolutional nature to a plurality of individual block codes internally so as to form a resultant block code with a prolonged code length while slightly increasing the hardware complexity in decoder realization. The CC-QC-LDPC code is formed by cyclically coupling a plurality of sub-codes each being a QC-LDPC code such that overlapping of some variable nodes between two consecutive sub-codes results. The decoder comprises plural sub-decoders each configured to decode the channel messages for one sub-code. The sub-decoders are arranged in a ring shape such that an individual sub-decoder is configured to communicate edge messages with two neighboring sub-decoders adjacent to said individual sub-decoder in the decoding of the channel messages.

Abstract: A voltage balancing circuit is applied to a power supply system. The power supply system comprises N power storage devices. The voltage balancing circuit comprises: N switches, N capacitors and a controller; the N switches are respectively connected to the N serial power storage devices; the N switches are respectively connected to the first terminals of the N capacitors; the second terminals of the N capacitors are connected to a common neutral line; the controller is connected to the N switches through a control line to control the switching of the N switches. The voltage balancing circuit avoids power loss when balancing the voltage of a plurality of serial power storage devices, and is small in size and low-cost, and balances voltage quickly.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell includes dispersing semiconductor nanoparticles on a transparent electrically conductive substrate, dispersing semiconductor nanofibers on the semiconductor nanoparticle layer, adsorbing onto all sides of the semiconductor nanofibers a first light absorption material, thereby sensitizing the semiconductor nanofibers, wherein the light absorption material has a first light absorption bandwidth, and depositing a second light absorption material in contact with and forming respective shells on the respective semiconductor nanofibers on which the first light absorption material is adsorbed, wherein the second light absorption material has a second light absorption bandwidth complementary to the first light absorption bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method and a device for the contactless human identification using biometrics images. The present invention develops a robust feature extraction algorithm to recover three-dimensional (3D) shape information from biometrics images. Further, it provides significantly improved performance than what is possible from the state-of-art methods, adding practicality for real applications on mobile platform, smartphones, and also as add-on system for conventional fingerprint system. The present invention's unique advantages are based on its computational simplicity, efficient matching and requiring least storage. Experiments were conducted to confirm very high accuracy and reliability on a number of biometric modalities including iris, palmprint, and finger knuckle images.

Abstract: Method of treating endometriosis and related indications, comprising the administration of Pro-EGCG, a synthetic and derivative product of epigallocatechin-3-gallate [(?)-EGCG]. Use of Pro-EGCG in the manufacture of a medicament for treating endometriosis and related indications. Pro-EGCG for use in the treatment of endometriosis and related indications.

Abstract: This invention provides a catalyst comprising a new form of ZnFe2O4 spinel nanoparticles, and a method for preparing same. The catalyst is useful for catalyzing the esterification of fatty acids or transesterification of triglycerides, wherein the reaction rate and conversion can be enhanced by free fatty acids.

Abstract: A method for generating an EMF model includes establishing a time-domain finite data model associated with an electric device representing the electric device in the time-domain; utilizing the time domain finite data model, determining excitations representing an electrical characteristic of an electrical components of the electric device; and generating an EMF model by processing the excitations with a transformation routine determining an approximate representation of an EMF generated by the electric device. A system for generating the EMF model includes a modelling module establish a time-domain finite data model associated with the electric device and d representing the electric device in the time-domain. The modelling module utilizes the time domain finite data model to determine excitations representing an electrical characteristic of an electrical component of the electric device.

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 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: 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: 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.