Abstract: The present invention teaches a system for the automated palpation testing of a patient, including the use of a robotic device with a actuating element thereto. The system is useful for testing patients at risk of nerve degradation, such as diabetic sufferers. The system includes a controller for programming the robotic device to administer the test in a particular pattern, and a storage medium for storing the results of the test. The system allows a more accurate determination of the stage of nerve degradation, as well as being more standardized because of the inclusion of automation technology.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises at least one first connection point and one second connection point arranged to transmit and receive at least one channel signal transmitted via at least one optical means connecting the first connection point and the second connection, wherein each of the at least one channel signal is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first connection point and the second connection point. A method of transmitting at least one channel signal between a first connection point and a second connection point via at least one optical media in an optical transmission system, wherein each of the at least one channel signals is reversibly configurable to be transmitted in either a first direction or a second direction between the first and the second connection points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synthesizing water-soluble particles, the method includes providing a solution including a lanthanide compound, a halide compound, and a first solvent; introducing a capping agent into the solution to form a mixture; heating the mixture under pressure to produce the particles; and recovering the particles from the mixture. The present invention also relates to a water-soluble particle having a surface functional group. The particles exhibit up-conversion luminescence utilizing NIR excitation, wherein the particles are synthesized in a one-pot process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a coated substrate, and products therefrom, using a coating possessing a nanoparticle having a shell containing a hydrophilic nitrogen containing compound and a vinylic polymer having quaternary ammonium compounds, and a core made of at least a hydrophobic vinylic polymer, wherein such coated substrate exhibits antibacterial properties without the use of harmful organic preservatives.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a highly conductive composite used for electric charge transport, and a method for fabricating said composite. The composite comprises a plurality of one-dimensional semiconductor nanocomposites and highly conductive nanostructures, and the highly conductive nanostructures are incorporated into each of the one-dimensional semiconductor nanocomposite. The composite is able to provide fast electric charge transport, and reduce the rate of electron-hole recombination, ultimately increasing the power conversion efficiency for use in solar cell; provide fast electrons transport, storage of electrons and large surface area for adsorption and reaction sites of active molecular species taking part in photocatalytic reaction; enhance the sensitivity of a surface for biological and chemical sensing purposes for use in biological and chemical sensors; and lower the impedance and increase the charge storage capacity of a lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a barium strontium titanate/strontium titanate/gallium arsenide (BST/STO/GaAs) heterostructure comprising a gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate, at least one strontium titanate (STO) layer, and at least one barium strontium titanate (BST) layer. The BST/STO/GaAs heterostructure of the present invention has a good temperature stability, high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which enable to fabricate tunable ferroelectric devices. A method for fabricating the BST/STO/GaAs heterostructure is also disclosed in the present invention, which comprises formation of at least one STO layer on the GaAs substrate by a first laser molecular beam epitaxial system, and formation of at least one BST layer on the STO layer by a second laser molecular beam epitaxial system.

Abstract: This invention relates to bis-flavonoid compounds, their synthesis and use for inhibiting multidrug resistance in chemotherapy and protozoan infection, wherein the bis-flavonoids compounds have the formula:

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides a barium strontium titanate/strontium titanate/gallium arsenide (BST/STO/GaAs) heterostructure comprising a gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate, at least one strontium titanate (STO) layer, and at least one barium strontium titanate (BST) layer. The BST/STO/GaAs heterostructure of the present invention has a good temperature stability, high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which enable to fabricate tunable ferroelectric devices. A method for fabricating the BST/STO/GaAs heterostructure is also disclosed in the present invention, which comprises formation of at least one STO layer on the GaAs substrate by a first laser molecular beam epitaxial system, and formation of at least one BST layer on the STO layer by a second laser molecular beam epitaxial system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of manufacturing a prytheroid-treated fabric and manufactured products created thereby. Through the development and application of prytheroid nanocapsules to a fabric, the fabric exhibits insecticidal properties, even following successive washings and solar exposure.

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 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: Synthetic polyphenolic compounds of formula (I), their modes of synthesis, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are provided herein. Use of the compounds and compositions described herein for treating cancer and for treating metabolic disorders is also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging system (10) for assessing scoliosis, the system (10) comprising: an ultrasound scanner (11) to capture ultrasound images; a spatial sensor (13) to record the position and orientation of the captured ultrasound images; and a software module (21) to mark features of vertebra in the captured ultrasound images, and the marked features (41) are connected with lines (42) in order to calculate angles and distances between the marked features (41) for the calculation of the Cobb angle and spinal rotation angle based on the calculated angles and distances; wherein the marked features (41) are a reflection of the surfaces of the vertebra.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for achieving efficient and accurate measurement of path capacities of a communication network. The method includes the following steps: (a) transmitting a number of probes from a local node to a remote node over a forward network path, each probe contains at least one probe packet and can elicit the remote node to transmit a number of response packets to the local node over a reverse network path; (b) determine for each response packet a minimum round-trip packet delay between the time transmitting the probe and the time receiving the response packet; (c) calculate a number of pair-wise minimum delay differences from the minimum round-trip packet delays. The number of pair-wise minimum delay differences can be used as a measurement of the forward capacity, reverse capacity, faster-path capacity, slower-path capacity and a degree of capacity asymmetry between the local node and the remote node.

Abstract: A system for extracting finger vein and finger texture images from a finger of a person at the same time, the device including an image capture device configured to capture at least one image of at least one finger in a contactless manner, a feature extraction module configured to extract unique finger vein features and finger texture features from the at least one captured image, and a processing module configured to normalize the at least one captured image and integrate the extracted finger vein features and finger texture features.

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: A railway monitoring system firstly includes an optical fiber. A first part of the fiber is attachable to one of a pair of tracks of a rail, and a characteristic of the first part of the fiber is variable in correspondence to variance of a characteristic of said one track where the first part of fiber is attached. The system also includes an optical signal emitter connected to the fiber for emitting an optical signal into the fiber, and the fiber generates at least a first altered optical signal, which contains information relating to the variance of the characteristic of the part of the fiber. The system further includes an optical signal analyzer connected to the fiber for receiving and analyzing the first altered optical signal so as to ascertain the variance of said characteristic of said one track based upon the information contained in the first altered optical signal.

Abstract: A posture correction girdle comprises a body wrapping shell, a plurality of pockets and a plurality of paddings is disclosed. The paddings are configured to be inserted into pockets at predetermined positions. Thereby, when the posture correction girdle is worn by the user, pressure is exerted onto a corresponding predetermined section of the user's spine for posture correction purpose. The posture correction girdle further comprises a pair of elastic shoulder straps, an elastic waist strap and a plurality of elongated bones to provide additional support to the user's spine. A micro-system comprising a processor, an output device and a plurality of sensors can also be embedded into the posture correction girdle to provide information regarding the efficiency of the posture correction girdle and the progression of the treatment. Such information is provided to the users using the output device.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods for implementing a flash translation layer in a computer subsystem comprising a flash memory and a random access memory (RAM). According to one disclosed method, the flash memory comprises data blocks for storing real data and translation blocks for storing address-mapping information. The RAM includes a cache space allocation table and a translation page mapping table. The cache space allocation table may be partitioned into a first cache space and a second cache space. Upon receiving an address-translating request, the cache space allocation table is searched to identify if an address-mapping data structure that matches the request is present. If not, the translation blocks are searched for the matched address-mapping data structure, where the physical page addresses for accessing the translation blocks are provided by the translation page mapping table. The matched address-translating data structure is also used to update the cache space allocation table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating rheumatic disorders, and symptoms of arthritis specifically. The method involves utilizing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in combination with administration of a ginsenoside, such as Rb1.