Abstract: The present invention relates generally to constructs and in particular genetic constructs comprising polynucleotide sequences capable of release in covalently closed, circular form from a larger nucleotide sequence such as, but not limited to, a genome of a eukaryotic cell. Preferably, once released, a polynucleotide sequence is reconstituted in a form which permits expression of the polynucleotide sequence. In one embodiment, the reconstituted polynucleotide sequence comprises a coding sequence with all or part of an extraneous nucleotide such as, but not limited to, an intronic sequence or other splice signal inserted therein. Expression and in particular transcription of the coding sequence involves splicing out the extraneous sequence. The release and circularization is generally in response to a stimulus such as a protein-mediated stimulus. More particularly, the protein is a viral or prokaryotic or eukaryotic derived protein or developmentally and/or tissue specific regulated protein.

Abstract: A method for generating a graphical output depicting three-dimensional models includes generating first and second orientation triangles with reference to locations on a first element of first and second three-dimensional (3D) models of an object, respectively. The method further includes generating a graphical display of the oriented second 3D model superimposed on the first 3D model with a display device, the graphical display depicting a change in position of the first element between the first 3D model and the second 3D model with reference to the first orientation triangle and the second orientation triangle.

Abstract: A power converter is provided for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power. The power converter includes a conversion circuit, a plurality of input lines and a plurality of capacitors. The conversion circuit has first and second switching elements that are configured to be connected to the phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current. The input lines are connected to the conversion circuit. The capacitors are connected to the conversion circuit. The first and second switching elements are arranged such that paired input terminals line up in a row with the paired input terminals to an outside, and paired output terminals to an inside. The input lines extend in a direction in which the paired input terminals line up, and extend from one of the input terminals to another of the input terminals.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the treatment of norovirus infection are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting the filtering state of a filter, such as a particulate filter. Some embodiments include one or more capacitive sensors that provide a signal corresponding to the filtered state of the filter with a change in measured capacitance. A novel ECT based sensing technique for soot load estimation in a diesel particulate filter is presented. The sensing technology is based on principle that deposited soot thickness inside DPF causes a variation in the dielectric constant which has a direct impact on the capacitance of ECT system and its output voltage. The sensor can be built into the DPF outer shell as indicated in the design. The simulation results demonstrate that there is a direct relationship between the amount of soot load in the DPF and the output voltage of the ECT system which can be used to estimate the soot load.

Abstract: The invention provides a reflective phase retarder and a semiconductor light-emitting device including such reflective phase retarder. The reflective phase retarder of the invention converts an incident light beam with a first type polarization into the light with a second type polarization, and reflects the converted light beam with the second type polarization out.

Abstract: A lighting device such as an electronic ballast or LED driver includes circuitry to detect power converter activity and act accordingly. A power factor correction (PFC) circuit includes an inductor, a power converter switch, and a PFC controller effective to provide driving signals the power converter switch to turn on and off. A power converter activity detection circuit includes a first capacitor coupled between the PFC controller and the power converter switch, a zener diode, and a second capacitor coupled between the first capacitor and ground. An output voltage for the power converter activity detection circuit as referenced from a node between the first capacitor and the second capacitor is representative of activity by the power converter switch, and is provided to a lighting device controller which may accordingly maintain operation of the lighting device where a mains power interruption is only temporary but would otherwise disable the device.

Abstract: A method for preparing organic-inorganic composite materials is provided. It is a dispersion method that the inorganic phase is introduced into the polymer matrix uniformly. The core-shell structure, in which the inorganic materials are core and the organic materials are shell, is formed by first wrapping the inorganic materials with the organic materials in the same reactor. Therefore, the match between the polarity of inorganic phase and the polarity of polymer phase is increased.

Abstract: A 4?-demethylepipodophyllotoxin derivative of formula (III) having anti-tumor activity is provided. After the activation of hydroxyl in position C4 of 4?-demethylepipodophyllotoxin, tetramethylpyrazine is introduced by transamination to obtain the 4?-demethylepipodophyllotoxin derivative which is preferably used to inhibit gastric cancer line BGC-823.

Abstract: A modified natural rubber particle having carbon-carbon double bands assigned to multifunctional vinyl monomers graft-copolymerized onto the surface of the modified natural rubber particle, which is prepared by graft-copolymerization of multifunctional vinyl monomers having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds onto natural rubber particles or deproteinized natural rubber particles. One of the methods for producing a modified natural rubber particle includes the steps of: forming inclusion complex of the multifunctional vinyl monomers having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds with a guest-protecting agent to protect at least one of the double bonds of the multifunctional vinyl monomers; graft-copolymerizing the resulting inclusion complex onto natural rubber particles or deproteinized natural rubber particles; and deprotecting the protected double bonds by removing the guest-protecting agent from the obtained graft-copolymer.

Abstract: A space curve mesh driving pair and a polyhedral space curve mesh transmission are disclosed. Said space curve mesh driving pair consists of a driving wheel and a driven wheel. Axes of the driving wheel and the driven wheel are intersected at an angle of 0°˜180°, and power transmission is realized by continuous mesh between the driving tines and the driven tines; a number of driving tines are provided on said driving wheel, and a number of driven tines are provided on the driven wheel; the driving tines are uniformly arranged on an end face of a cylinder of the driving wheel, and the driven tines are uniformly arranged on the circumference of a cylindrical surface of the driven wheel. Said polyhedral space curve mesh transmission consists of an above-mentioned space curve mesh driving pair. Motion is input from an input end, and is passed through a number of pace curve mesh driving pairs to realize the speed change, then is output from one or more output ends.

Abstract: A laser liquid level detection device is provided with linear optical magnification of a curved minor. The device includes a laser device, a CCD detecting device having a curved mirror and a CCD sensor and signal processing devices disposed in the laser device and the CCD detecting device. The laser device emits a laser beam to a surface level of a liquid, which reflects the beam to the CCD detecting device, and the curved mirror directs the reflected beam onto the CCD sensor. The shape of the curved mirror is determined by a polynomial curve function so as to linearly magnify a change in a height of the surface when the bounced beam reaches the CCD sensor. The liquid level detection device enables the position of the surface level of the liquid to be detectable in real time with high accuracy.

Abstract: Provided is a device adapted for detecting chemical and physical phenomena and suitable for high integration, and a method for controlling the detection device. When a plurality of pH-detecting devices are used, a variation in sensitivity occurs in each of the sensing units. The variation in sensitivity can be calibrated using a simple method. The amount of charge (output signal) delivered by each of the sensing units to a standard solution is determined, and the difference between the delivered charge amount and a standard charge amount (standard output signal) delivered by a standard sensing unit is determined. The capacity of the potential well of the sensing unit is changed, or the potential of a TG unit when a charge is delivered is changed, so as to cancel out the difference.

Abstract: A method for compensating an aberration of a variable focus liquid lens is configured to compensate the aberration associated with a first lens surface and a second lens surface of the liquid lens. The first lens surface is of a first radius of curvature. The second lens surface is of a second radius of curvature.

Abstract: The present invention provided a method for salting-out extraction of acetone and butanol from a fermentation broth, characterized in that one type, or two or more types of salts and one type, or two or more types of extractants are added to an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation broth, in which the salt saturation achieves 10%˜100%; and the volume ratio of the fermentation broth containing salts to the extractants is 1:0.1˜1:5. The mixture is allowed to stand until phase separation is formed. The top phase is a solvent phase or extraction phase enriched with acetone and butanol whereas the bottom phase is a salt-enriched phase or raffinate phase. This method involves many advantages, such as the simplified operation procedure, accelerated separation process and low separation cost, and therefore becomes a promising method of separating acetone and butanol in industrial application.

Abstract: To provide a system by which evaluation of circumstances of contamination by microparticles having nucleic acid can be performed rapidly and accurately. The theme is achieved by a system for measuring microparticles that includes: (1) a microparticle adhesion step of adhering the microparticles having nucleic acid to a microparticle adhesion member; (2) a membrane breakage step of breaking membranes of the adhered microparticles by electrical discharge; (3) an electrophoresis step of electrophoresing the microparticles in a thickness direction of a gel to make the nucleic acid in the microparticles migrate from a negative electrode side toward a positive electrode side and adhere the nucleic acid on a surface of a nucleic acid detection member; and (4) a nucleic acid measurement step of fluorescently staining the surface of the nucleic acid detection member to measure a concentration of the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a slurry catalyst and a method for preparing the same, and belongs to the technical field of preparing catalyst. Particularly, the present invention provides a slurry catalyst directly used in a slurry bed reactor for synthesizing methanol and dimethyl ether and a method for preparing the same, which uses the complete liquid phase preparation from solution to slurry without the conventional slurry-producing process of firstly forming a solid catalyst and dispersing it into an inert medium after crushing and milling. This catalyst mainly comprises Cu, Zn, Al and Zr, wherein atomic ratios of each of components are Cu/Zn/(Al+Zr)=1/0.1-5/0.15-15 and Zr/Al=1:1.0-1:30, and one or two selected from the group consisting of lanthanide metals, Mn, Mo, Si, V, W, Cr, Mg, Ni, K, Pd, Rh, Ru, Re, Pt and Sr is used a promoter.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of first switching elements 311, 313 and 315 that are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally, and a plurality of second switching elements 312, 314 and 316 that are connected to each phase to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. The converter circuit comprises input lines R, S and T connected to each input terminal, and output lines P and N connected to each output terminal. Parts of wiring 347 and 348 of protection circuits 32 are located between output lines P and N. The wiring distance between each protection circuit 32 and the corresponding switching element can be shortened.

Abstract: The present invention provides a slit-scan multi-wavelength confocal lens module, utilizing at least two lenses having chromatic aberration for splitting a broadband light into continuously linear spectral lights having different focal length respectively. The present invention utilizes the confocal lens module employing slit-scan confocal principle and chromatic dispersion techniques and the confocal microscopy with optical sectioning ability and high resolution in spectral dispersion to establish a confocal microscopy method and system with long DOF and high resolution, capable of modulating a broadband light to produce the axial chromatic dispersion and focus on different depths toward an object's surface for obtaining the reflected light spectrum from the surface.

Abstract: Provided is a vibration apparatus, method and computer-readable medium generating vibrations and ultrasonic waves. The vibration apparatus, method and computer-readable medium may generate the vibrations or the ultrasonic waves in accordance with a first control signal and a second control signal each having a frequency band different from each other.