Abstract: Disclosed herein are spacers having baffle designs and perforations for efficiently and effectively separating one or more membrane layers a membrane filtration system. The spacer includes a body formed at least in part by baffles that are interconnected, and the baffles define boundaries of openings or apertures through a thickness direction of the body of the spacer. Alternatively or additionally, passages or perforations may be present in the spacer layer or baffles for fluid flow there through, with the passages and baffles having a numerous different shapes and sizes.

Abstract: Herbicides, systems, and methods for inhibiting germination of a root parasitic plant are provided. In particular, the herbicide includes an active compound represented by Formula I. In this regard, the active compound is selected to bind to an active site of strigolactone receptors in seeds of the root parasitic plant.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a submarine seismic monitoring apparatus and system based on the submarine Internet of things.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting an addition amount of slagging lime during ladle furnace (LF) refining, and an LF refining method are provided. The method includes: S1: calculating an actual sulfur distribution ratio in combination with a Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) model and a least square method by using LF refining parameters; S2: calculating, according to a principle of sulfur mass conservation, a mass of final slag by using the LF refining parameters and the actual sulfur distribution ratio obtained in S1; and S3: calculating, according to a principle of material conservation during LF refining, an addition amount of slagging lime during the LF refining by using the LF refining parameters and the mass of the final slag obtained in S2, thereby predicting the addition amount of the required slagging lime.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a plant growth sensor, an environmental sensor device, and processing electronics. The plant growth sensor includes a strain sensor arranged on a first stretchable and flexible substrate. The environmental sensor device includes first and second environmental sensors arranged on a second stretchable and flexible substrate. The processing electronics are electrically coupled to the plant growth sensor and the environmental sensor device. The processing electronics include a wireless communication transceiver.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable seafloor drill rig for a submersible for multi-point core drilling, including a power head, a reduction gear box, an emergency jettison device, a drilling tool, and a temperature and pressure-retaining device. a water supply connector and the power head are arrange on a top plate of the reduction gear box. An output shaft of the power head is connected to an input shaft of the reduction gear box, and an output shaft of the reduction gear box is provided with a central hole, which is in communication with a water inlet hole of the water supply connector. An output shaft of the reduction gear box is connected to the emergency jettison device, and the temperature and pressure-retaining device can perform temperature and pressure-retaining storage of the core drilled by the drilling tool.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device having a lateral semiconductor heterojunction involves forming a first metal chalcogenide layer of the lateral semiconductor heterojunction adjacent to a first metal electrode on a substrate. The first metal chalcogenide layer includes a same metal as the first metal electrode and at least some of the first metal chalcogenide layer includes metal from the first metal electrode. A second metal chalcogenide layer of the lateral semiconductor heterojunction is formed adjacent to the first metal chalcogenide layer. A second metal electrode is formed adjacent to the second metal chalcogenide layer. The second metal chalcogenide layer includes a same metal as the second metal electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a monatomic amorphous palladium, a method for preparing the same and use thereof. The method comprises a) loading a monatomic palladium powder on a silicon nitride substrate; b) heating the silicon nitride substrate loaded with the monatomic palladium powder obtained in a) up to a temperature of 800° C. to 1000° C. and keeping the temperature for at least 3 minutes; and c) cooling a system of palladium and silicon nitride obtained in b) to room temperature at an apparent cooling rate greater than 103° C./second, thus obtaining the monatomic amorphous palladium.

Abstract: An example system is configured to detect saturation levels of a target, such as a core sample of a reservoir, using magnetic fields generated by hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles within the target. The target contains both a hydrocarbon, such as oil or gas, and a mixture comprised of water and the hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles. The system includes magnetic field detectors for spatial distribution across a dimension of the target. The magnetic field detectors are configured to detect a magnetic field associated with the hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles. A data processing system is configured—for example, programmed—to determine a saturation profile of the target based on the magnetic field.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for removing a cancer tumor stem cell and then further removing a tumor cell and provides an application of a drug molecule and its preparation in tumor treatment or prevention. On the one hand, by inducing the death of immunogenic cells, the anti-tumor immune response is enhanced. On the other hand, indoleamine-2,3-oxygenase is inhibited, immune cells, cytokines, amino acids, etc. are regulated, which improves the niche of cancer stem cells and makes them no longer conducive to the growth of cancer stem cells. Stem cell dormancy is lifted, and the sensitivity of cancer stem cells to chemotherapy drugs and immune cells is enhanced, so that cancer stem cells and tumor cells are effectively killed, and the efficacy of tumor treatment is improved.

Abstract: A method for transmitting information across a water-air interface with a ultraviolet (UV) beam, the method including emitting the UV beam in a first medium, with a first optical wireless communication device; measuring a scintillation index of the UV beam in a second medium, different from the first medium, at a second optical wireless communication device; selecting, based on a value of the scintillation index, a modulation scheme for the UV beam; and modulating the UV beam with the selected modulation scheme. The UV beam has a wavelength in a range of 100 to 400 nm.

Abstract: A bandwidth part (BWP) and power scheduling method and apparatus for indoor terahertz are provided. The BWP and power scheduling method uses an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) and a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) to compensate for a shortcoming, wherein terahertz waves are not suitable for an indoor transmission, convert an indoor environment of an IRS-assisted terahertz propagation into a channel model, and convert an optimal wireless resource scheduling in an indoor IRS-assisted terahertz system into a functional optimization design with random constraints. Policies and corresponding actions are trained by using a proximal policy optimization (PPO) to schedule a power and a BWP. An actor part generates continuous a power scheduling, and a critic part generates a discrete BWP scheduling.

Abstract: A method for stretching a plurality of sample isolates, including: trapping the plurality of sample isolates away from a wall of at least one microfluidic channel of a microfluidic flow system; generating a microfluidic flow to stretch the plurality of trapped sample isolates; determining deformation characteristics of the plurality of stretched samples isolates based on one or more frames from an image processing system; and outputting information corresponding to the deformation characteristics.

Abstract: An integrated method for mesophase pitch and petrochemicals production. The method including supplying crude oil to a reactor vessel; heating the crude oil in the reactor vessel to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time; reducing asphaltene content in the crude oil by allowing polymerization reactions to occur in the reactor vessel at an elevated pressure in the absence of oxygen; producing a three-phase upgraded hydrocarbon product comprising gas, liquid, and solid hydrocarbon components, where the liquid hydrocarbon component comprises deasphalted oil and the solid hydrocarbon component comprises mesophase pitch; separating the gas, liquid, and solid hydrocarbon components; directly utilizing the liquid hydrocarbon component for petrochemicals production; and directly utilizing the solid hydrocarbon component for carbon artifact production.

Abstract: Structures for a polarizer and methods of fabricating a structure for a polarizer. A waveguide crossing includes a first arm and a second arm. A waveguide loop couples the first arm of the waveguide crossing to the second arm of the waveguide crossing. The waveguide crossing and the waveguide loop provide a structure for the polarizer.

Abstract: A method for preparing albumin nanoparticles based on free radical oxidation, comprising the following steps: preparing albumin aqueous solution with an albumin concentration of 1-20 mg/mL; (2) whilst stirring, adding free radical generating agent to the albumin aqueous solution, and continuing to stir and react for 1-60 min at 15-50° C.; the free radicals generated by the free radical generating agent are used for oxidizing the albumin, and the oxidized albumin molecules assemble to form albumin nanoparticles that are mainly bonded by hydrophobic action, thereby obtaining an albumin nanoparticle suspension. The present invention implements improvement by means of the key reaction mechanism of the nanoparticle preparation method and the corresponding design of the finishing process and, compared to the prior art, can effectively solve the problems of the complexity, high cost, and high toxicity of preparing nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to compounds that have aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics and are capable of generating Raman signals in the Raman cell-silent region (1800 cm?1-2800 cm?1). The compounds can be used in dual-mode cell imaging by fluorescence and Raman microscopes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pressure converter system for sustainably forcing saline water through a semi-permeable membrane, comprising a hydraulic oil pump, a hydraulic oil cylinder comprising pressurized oil generated from the hydraulic oil pump, a sustainable energy source for powering the hydraulic oil pump, a saline water cylinder containing saline water, wherein the hydraulic oil cylinder and the saline water cylinder are connected using a piston and an electrical circuit for determining a direction of movement of the piston. This system may be developed to a stand-alone desalination facility comprising a ducted windmill that can harvest energy from a wide range of wind speeds, especially very low wind speeds. Because of the above, the present invention successfully converts mechanical energy to high pressure that is required to produce fresh water from saline water.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe polyimide blend compositions, methods of making polyimide blend compositions, methods of using polyimides, membranes including polyimide blends, methods of making membranes including polyimide blends, methods of separating mixtures using the membranes including polyimide blends, and the like.

Abstract: Provided herein are nanostructured electrode separators comprising metal organic materials capable of attaching to one or more electrodes and electrically insulating at least one electrode while allowing migration of ionic charge carriers through the nanostructured electrode separator. Methods of using such electrode separators include positioning a nanostructured electrode separator between two electrodes of an electrochemical cell.