Abstract: A wavelength conversion system including: A. a first nonlinear optical crystal to which first pulsed laser light having a first polarization state and a first wavelength and second pulsed laser light having a second polarization state and a second wavelength are inputted and which is configured to output in response to the input the second pulsed laser light and first sum frequency light having the second polarization state and a third wavelength produced by sum frequency mixing of the first wavelength with the second wavelength; and B. a second nonlinear optical crystal to which the first sum frequency light and the second pulsed laser light outputted from the first nonlinear optical crystal are inputted and which is configured to output in response to the input third pulsed laser light having a fourth wavelength.

Abstract: Provided is a method for setting an edge blur according to a brightness value including a first step for providing a plurality of target sheets on each of which a reference pattern for detecting a reference line and a grid pattern for detecting an edge position are provided, and in which changes in brightness values included in the grid patterns are different from each other, a second step for capturing images of the target sheets to obtain target sheet images, a third step for analyzing a reference pattern for each corresponding target sheet to estimate the reference line, and analyzing the grid pattern to extract an edge profile provided in the grid pattern, a fourth step for calculating a gradient of a brightness difference between adjacent pixels on the basis of the edge profile, and acquiring a background edge blur parameter and a foreground edge blur parameter on the basis of the gradient according to brightness contrast present in the image, and a fifth step for generating background edge blur predicti

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for self-cleaning that include a lysozyme capable of decomposing a microbe, a substrate applied to a solid surface, and a linker moiety bound to an outer surface of said substrate and an active group of said digestive protein, said linker moiety between said lysozyme and said substrate and covalently linking said lysozyme to a surface of said substrate optionally by an amide bond.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for authenticating a user accessing a user account. A behavior event associated with a current user using the user account during a session is obtained. The behavior event comprises of keystroke events and mouse events. The obtained behavior event of the current user is compared with a behavior profile of a registered user associated with the user account. The behavior profile comprises keystroke events and mouse events associated with the registered user. The current user is authenticated during the session, when the current user is determined to be the same as the registered user based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surface comprising a photocatalyst affixed thereupon via an adhesive layer and methods for affixing the photocatalyst to the surface via the adhesive layer. The present disclosure also provides a purifier comprising the photocatalyst affixed surface and a purifier system comprising such purifier.

Abstract: A system for ultrasonic cleaning of a solar panel includes a plurality of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) ultrasonic transducers arranged on a side wall of the solar panel and/or under transparent glass on a surface of the solar panel; a hydraulic sun tracking mechanism configured to move the solar panel into a plurality of positions; a valve connected to a water source; and a controller which controls the plurality MEMS ultrasonic transducers, the sun tracking mechanism, and the valve, wherein the controller is configured to activate a cleaning protocol comprising the steps of moving the solar panel into a substantially horizontal position; opening the valve to allow a water flow over the surface of the solar panel; activating the plurality of MEMS ultrasonic transducers to apply ultrasonic waves to the water on the surface of the solar panel, wherein signal interference from different transducers are controlled to generate a rotating focused ultrasound signal over the surface of the solar panel; and m

Abstract: Provided is a drainage grouting pipe and a method of use thereof. The drainage grouting pipe comprises a perforated steel pipe, a plurality of elastic anti-filtration geotextiles, a movable stopper, and a grouting pipe. The perforated steel pipe consists of a front conical tip, a middle grouting section, a rear hole-free section, and a steel pipe seal. The middle grouting section is provided with a plurality of grouting holes. The surface of the middle grouting section of the perforated steel pipe is seamlessly, and circumferentially wrapped by the plurality of elastic anti-filtration geotextiles, and gaps are formed between adjacent elastic anti-filtration geotextiles. Firstly, the geotechnical layer is drained by a pumping system, and then the grouting position in the geotechnical layer is located and controlled by pulling out the grouting pipe to control the plunging depth of the movable stopper, thus achieving the prevention and treatment of groundwater seepage damage.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a hybrid five-level bidirectional DC/DC converter and a voltage match modulation method thereof. The converter includes a first input filter capacitor Cinp and a second input filter capacitor Cinn, an output filter capacitor Co, a DC voltage source, a primary-side hybrid five-level unit, a primary-side two-level half bridge, a secondary-side single-phase full bridge H2, a high-frequency isolation transformer M1, a high-frequency inductor Ls, and a controller. A positive pole of a DC bus of the primary-side hybrid five-level unit is coupled to a positive pole of the corresponding DC voltage source and to a positive pole of the input filter capacitor Cinp respectively. A negative pole of the DC bus of the primary-side hybrid five-level unit is coupled to a negative pole of the corresponding DC voltage source and to a negative pole of the input filter capacitor Cinn respectively.

Abstract: Residuals, such as slag particles, from iron- and/or steel-making, and/or water-leached eluates thereof, are added directly to a conventional or multi-staged anaerobic digester or other sewage sludge or biosolid handling process. The slag particles or other residuals sorb, sequester, immobilize, or otherwise promote the removal of phosphorus and/or sulfur from wastewater, sludge, or biosolids being treated, such that the associated aqueous phase concentrations of phosphorus and sulfur are significantly reduced.

Abstract: An electron microscopic specimen includes a carrier for an electron microscope, an object, and a protective layer. The object is adapted for microscopic examination using the electron microscope, and is disposed on a surface of the carrier. The protective layer is made from amorphous aluminium oxide, and is disposed over the object, such that the object is enclosed between the carrier and the protective layer. The protective layer has a thickness not greater than 5 nm. A method of making the electron microscopic specimen, and a method for microscopic examination of the specimen are also disclosed.

Abstract: Glycosaminoglycans, particularly hyaluronic acid, are extracted from alligator carcasses, feet, backstraps, and eyeballs. The alligator-derived glycosaminoglycans can be used in treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), in treating other inflammatory conditions, and for other purposes.

Abstract: When the inspection unit corresponding to at least one disabled layer of a multilayer system is unavailable, a fault-eliminating device defines the at least one disabled layer and a target layer as a combined layer. The fault dependency of the target layer is the lowest among the fault dependency of the at least one available layer. The inspection unit of the at least one available layer is active and the fault dependency thereof is higher than the disabled layer. Then, the device makes the inspection unit and the fault symptom corresponding to the target layer correspond to the combined layer, so as to update a list of layers and a fault model. After that, the device determines a source of a fault from the layers according to the list of layers and the fault model, and performs a strategy of fault elimination corresponding to the source, to eliminate the fault.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a decomposition-coordination voltage control method for wind power to be transmitted to a nearby area via flexible DC. The method includes: initializing parameters; sending the parameters to wind power farms; for each of the wind power farms, establishing a voltage control optimization sub-model; solving the voltage control optimization sub-model to obtain a first optimal result; for the control center, establishing a voltage control optimization main model; solving the voltage control optimization main model to obtain a second optimal result; calculating a determination index based on the first optimal result and the second optimal result; and determining whether the determination index is convergent to an admissible value, if no, updating the parameters and returning to establishing the voltage control optimization sub-model.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example embodiments of devices, systems, and methods for mechanical fractionation of biological tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feedback control. The examples may involve displaying an image representing first MRI data corresponding to biological tissue, and receiving input identifying one or more target regions of the biological tissue to be mechanically fractionated via exposure to first ultrasound waves. The examples may further involve applying the first ultrasound waves and, contemporaneous to or after applying the first ultrasound waves, acquiring second MRI data corresponding to the biological tissue. The examples may also involve determining, based on the second MRI data, one or more second parameters for applying second ultrasound waves to the biological tissue, and applying the second ultrasound waves to the biological tissue according to the one or more second parameters.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nanoelectromechanical resonator allows for uniform tuning of a resonant frequency. The nanoelectromechanical resonator can be mass produced and used to sense the presence of a selected gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is method for preparation of a starch phosphate using phytate. The method enables the preparation of a starch phosphate with improved physical properties such as high transparency, solubility, swelling power, and storage stability by the phosphorylation of a starch using naturally occurring phytate rather than using a synthetic chemical. Due to these advantages, the starch phosphate is expected to replace conventional chemically modified starches. In addition, the method enables the preparation of a starch phosphate based on a simple modification. The use of the starch phosphate greatly contributes to improvements in the quality and storage stability of various starchy foods. Therefore, the starch phosphate is expected to find application in the food industry, including starchy foods.

Abstract: An etching method for etching a substrate using a molten alkali, wherein, while an oxide coating is formed on the surface of the substrate PL to be etched in a high-temperature oxygen-containing environment, the surface to be etched is isotropically etched to remove the oxide coating using a molten alkali AL brought into a prescribed high-temperature range.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method for producing renal progenitor cells from intermediate mesoderm cells, which comprises a step of culturing intermediate mesoderm cells in a medium containing a TGF? signaling activator(s) and a BMP inhibitor(s); the renal progenitor cells produced by the method; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the renal progenitor cells; and a therapeutic drug for kidney diseases comprising the renal progenitor cells.

Abstract: A method for producing insoluble sulfur, including: heating a sulfur to 200-700° C., quenching it with water, aqueous solution and other solvents, drying and solidifying the resulting substance at 40-80° C. for 3-15 h, to obtain an insoluble sulfur crude product; crushing the crude product in water into particles with a particle size of 50-400 meshes, wherein the water temperature is not higher than 80° C.; pumping the slurry of water and crude product into the upper part of an extraction column, pumping solvent into the lower part thereof; making the water and solvent from the top of the column flow into a separation tank to separate water phase and solvent phase, heating and evaporating the solvent phase to recover solvent and obtain soluble sulfur; heating and evaporating the insoluble sulfur and solvent from the bottom of the column to recover solvent and obtain purified insoluble sulfur.

Abstract: Synthetic auxotrophs with one or more ligand-dependent essential gene functions and methods of production that can be used for biosafety. The ligand-dependent function of an essential gene product can be produced by a series of mutations in the ORF of an essential gene; N, C, or insertional fusions of ligand-binding domains with essential genes or an engineered ligand-dependent intein splicing to alter essential gene function. A positive and/or negative selection can be used to identify auxotrophs from created mutant libraries. The positive selection is performed by growing a mutant library in conditions where growth or viability depends on the function of mutagenized essential genes. The negative selection eliminates constitutively growing cells that do not require a ligand for growth by growing the library in the absence of complementing ligand and in conditions where growing cells are eliminated. Desirable phenotypes are collected after the selections.