Abstract: A power conversion device which reduces switching losses and stabilizes the output power. A switching-mode changer generates a reference signal for switching a mode of operation of the full-bridge circuit to a first switching mode or a second switching mode. In the first switching mode, an upper arm and a lower arm are switched synchronously, and a lower arm and an upper arm are non-conducting. In the second switching mode, the lower arm and the upper arm are switched synchronously, and the upper arm and the lower arm are non-conducting. The switching-mode changer adjusts the phase of the reference signal so that the reactive power is reduced.

Abstract: A molecular sensor that utilises dichroism can be used to identify the presence of specific molecules in a substance. The molecular sensor includes a sensor element comprising (i) a scaffold moiety and (ii) one or more receptor molecules for the target molecule attached to the scaffold moiety to form a scaffold/receptor complex, wherein the scaffold/receptor complex is modified to incorporate a chromophore and the modified scaffold/receptor complex has a high aspect ratio.

Abstract: Embodiments concern coupling polarized light at two or more wavelengths across the aqueous humor of the eye (e.g., as part of a noninvasive glucose monitoring system). An approach discloses non-contact and minimal contact eye-coupling designs that are part of a system for providing glucose concentration levels via measurements acquired by passing two or more optical beams through the cornea/aqueous chamber in the eye. The approach provides for coupling the light to account for the index mismatch incurred while allowing for monitoring the light polarization. Specifically, in an embodiment the light transitions from the device, through the air, through the proximal side of the cornea, through the aqueous humor, through the medial side of the cornea, and through the air back into the device. Embodiments address the index of refraction mismatch and polarized light maintaining concerns with a coupling approach that can take the form of contact and non-contact mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention is a DNA expression vector comprising: a toxP; a mutant toxO that blocks Fe-mediated regulation of gene expression; and a DNA sequence encoding a protein, wherein the toxP and the mutant toxO regulate expression of the DNA segment encoding the protein. It is preferred that DNA expression vectors of the present invention include DNA sequences encoding a signal peptide so that a protein expressed is attached to the signal peptide prior to processing. Novel proteins are produced off of the DNA expression vector of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a solid electrolyte for an all-solid battery. The method may include preparing a solvent admixture comprising a first polar organic solvent containing a cyano group and a second polar organic solvent containing a hydroxyl group, preparing an electrolyte admixture by dissolving Li2S, P2S5 and LiCl in the solvent admixture, and preparing a solid electrolyte by stirring the electrolyte admixture. The method may further include precipitating the solid electrolyte by evaporating the solvent admixture, and heat treating the precipitated solid electrolyte. In particular, the solvent admixture may include the second polar organic solvent in an amount of about 0.01 to 0.03 wt % based on the total weight of the first polar organic solvent.

Abstract: Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) seed, seed lots, seed meal, and compositions with reduced glucosinolate content as well as plants that yield such seed, seed lots, seed meal, and compositions are provided. Methods of making and using the pennycress plants and/or seed that provide such seed, seed lots, seed meal, and compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A device comprising a three-dimensional polymeric element and an electronic element integrated with the polymeric element is disclosed. The electronic element is made up of one or more electrode(s) each individually connectable to a measuring device and/or a controller, and each independently having a thin electrically-isolating layer deposited thereon such that the electrode is exposed to an environment surrounding the electrode at one or more pre-determined locations over the electrode. The device can include cells and/or tissue and/or a therapeutically active agent incorporated within the polymeric material. Processes of fabricating the device, systems for operating the device and methods utilizing same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A CDMR memory cell, includes a first bitcell which is used to store a current data level and a second bitcell which is used to store the complementary data level. When a read operation is performed, a comparator compares the data levels read from the two bitcells. If these two levels are not complementary, the comparator outputs an indicator. This indicator serves as an alert that a storage error has, or may have, occurred.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image encoding method using a skip mode and a device using the method. The image encoding method may comprise the steps of: judging whether there is residual block data of a prediction target block on the basis of predetermined data indicating whether residual block data has been encoded; and, if there is residual block data, restoring the prediction target block on the basis of the residual block data and an intra-screen predictive value of the prediction target block. Consequently, encoding and decoding efficiency can be increased by carrying out the encoding and decoding of screen residual data only for prediction target blocks where there is a need for a residual data block in accordance with screen similarity.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a coaxial cavity resonator; a radio frequency power source coupled to the coaxial cavity resonator; a direct current power source coupled to the coaxial cavity resonator; a combustion process feedback module configured to sense a condition in a combustion environment by measuring a characteristic of the coaxial cavity resonator; and a controller configured to modulate operation of the coaxial cavity resonator based at least in part on combustion process feedback information from the combustion process feedback module.

Abstract: To provide a compound which enables treatment or prevention of spinocerebellar ataxia, analyses were carried out based on a screening using a spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) fly model and on the like. As a result, the following proteins ameliorating the pathology of spinocerebellar ataxia were identified: RPA1, PNKP, XRCC3, XRCC4, CCNH, POLE, POLH, and PER1. On the other hand, the following proteins aggravating the pathology were identified: CHK1, LIG3, FEN1, LIG1, ERCC5, XAB2, ERCC2, DMC1, RECQL5, MUS81, EME1, SPO11, and BLM. In addition, it has been revealed that ATXN1, which is a cause of SCA1, binds to RPA1, BRCA1, and BRCA2, and suppresses the activities of these proteins, so that the above-described pathology is caused.

Abstract: A pilot plant for chemical looping hydrogen generation using a single-column packed bed and hydrogen generation method. The plant has a feeding system, reaction system, tail gas treatment and analysis system, and auxiliary system. The reaction system has a packed bed reactor, inside which a thermal storage layer, oxygen carrier layer and supporting layer are arranged successively from top to bottom. The feeding system has a delivery pipe, metering pump, mass flow controller and fuel mixer. The tail gas treatment and analysis system has a cooler, gas-liquid separator, mass flow meter, gas analyzer and tail gas pipe. The packed bed reactor is subjected to fuel reduction, purge, steam oxidation, purge, air combustion and purge stages successively under control of the feeding system. The pilot plant enables evaluation for oxygen carriers and identification for technological difficulties and can generate high-purity hydrogen without using complex gas purification devices.

Abstract: A water treatment system with a photocatalytic nanocomposite sheet, an adsorbent layer, and a fibrous filter, wherein the photocatalytic nanocomposite sheet comprises polymethylmethacrylate and silver phosphate, the adsorbent layer comprises plasma activated carbon nanotubes, and the fibrous filter is a composite of polymethylmethacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride, and polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer fibers, with carbon nanotubes that are dispersed within the polymer fibers and silver nanoparticles that are deposited on the polymer fibers. Various embodiments of the water treatment system and methods of fabricating the photocatalytic nanocomposite sheet, the adsorbent layer, and the fibrous filter are also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing and a composition of an oil-based drilling fluid. An oil-based drilling fluid includes a base oil continuous phase, in which the base oil continuous phase includes a base oil, an aqueous dispersed phase, and at least one rheology modifier comprising a modified magnesium/aluminum carbonate layered-double hydroxide (Mg/Al—CO3 LDH) compound.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes a method of separating a mixture of trivalent rare-earth elements, based on their reduction potential, and solubility in a divalent state. The method includes adding the mixture of trivalent rare-earth elements to a tetraborate salt with deionized water to form a salt mixture, grinding the salt mixture with boric acid to form a solid mixture, wetting the solid mixture with water to form a paste, heating the paste to form a resultant product, dissolving the resultant product, thereby creating a residual solid in aqueous solution, wherein the residual solid includes a second mixture of trivalent rare-earth elements, and the aqueous solution includes a substantially singular element of a divalent rare-earth element in an aqueous state, and removing the residual solid, thereby separating the divalent rare-earth element from the mixture of trivalent rare-earth elements.

Abstract: A collinear T-cavity VECSEL system generating intracavity Hermite-Gaussian modes at multiple wavelengths, configured to vary each of these wavelengths individually and independently. A mode converter element and/or an astigmatic mode converter is/are aligned intracavity to reversibly convert the Gaussian modes to HG modes to Laguerre-Gaussian modes, the latter forming the system output having any of the wavelengths provided by the spectrum resulting from nonlinear frequency-mixing intracavity (including generation of UV, visible, mid-IR light). The laser system delivers Watt-level output power in tunable high-order transverse mode distribution.

Abstract: Means for removing endotoxin is provided. Endotoxin is removed by contacting an endotoxin adsorbent including a cellulose nanofiber having an amino group with a liquid containing endotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibody-based molecules (including single domain antibody fragment, scFv molecules, antibodies, antibody fragments, diabodies, and the epitope-binding domains thereof) that are capable of immunospecifically and selectively binding to the truncated Asp421 epitope of Tau. Such antibody-based molecules are useful to detect pathological Tau protein conformer if present in a biological sample, especially in conjunction with the diagnosis and/or treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other tauopathy, and thus provide a diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease and other Tau pathologies. The antibody-based molecules of the present invention have particular utility as diagnostic markers for, Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies and as pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of such conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing mixing in a fluid using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a pair of electrodes is positioned near a fluid and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes such that a plasma discharge is produced in the fluid. In an embodiment, the plasma discharge creates turbulence in the fluid thereby mixing the fluid. In an embodiment, flow structures, such as vortices are generated in the fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid is mixed in three dimensions. In an embodiment, a plurality of fluids are mixed. In an embodiment, solids are dispersed in at least one fluid. In an embodiment, heat or other properties are dispersed within at least one fluid. In an embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes has a serpentine shape.

Abstract: Biomarkers and methods for screening expression levels of the biomarkers for predicting suicidality (referred herein to suicidal ideation and actions, future hospitalizations and suicide completion) are disclosed. Also disclosed are quantitative questionnaires and mobile applications for assessing affective state and for assessing socio-demographic and psychological suicide risk factors, and their use to compute scores that can predict suicidality. Finally, an algorithm that combines biomarkers and computer apps for identifying subjects who are at risk for committing suicide is disclosed, as well as methods to mitigate and prevent suicidality based on the biomarkers and computer apps.