Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element having high photovoltaic conversion efficiency is provided. The photoelectric conversion element includes a first electrode, a second electrode arranged opposite to the first electrode, and an electron transport layer provided on a face of the first electrode, and the face is opposite to the second electrode. The photoelectric conversion element further includes a photosensitizer supported on the electron transport layer and a hole transport layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electron transport layer contains a perylene imide derivative of [Chemical Formula 1].

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cardiovascular condition of a subject is determined by capturing a three-dimensional electrocardiography image of the subject, generating a two-dimensional cardiac map from the electrocardiography image, and processing the cardiac map to determine the cardiovascular condition of the subject.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for patterning biological and non-biological material at specific sites on a plate, as well as growing three dimensional structures. Preferred embodiments comprise a plate with regions that will trap gas, usually in the form of bubbles, when the plate is submerged in liquid. Other embodiment of the present invention include a method for placing materials on the plate at pre-determined locations through the use of trapped gas to prevent materials from collecting at unwanted regions. The plate has great utility for plating cells and tissues at specific sites, such as on an array. The disclosed method can also be used to coat the surface of a plate with coatings at specific locations for patterned coating applications and to build up materials to produce three dimensional structures, including micromechanical structures—where the structures may be formed from living or non-living material, tissue or non-tissue, organic or inorganic, and the like.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) nanoscope is provided. The VCSEL nanoscope combines a VCSEL with a nano-scale aperture using a support member to separate the aperture from the VCSEL emission face. The resulting device is a useful near-field probe with a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for configuring a search algorithm for solving a combinatorial optimization problem. The search algorithm has a number of procedural components. Each procedural component is configured using a respective data structure. The data structure has a tree structure, including traversal split nodes, each of which represents a choice to be made when configuring the procedural component of the search algorithm. Configuring the procedural component corresponds to traversing the tree structure, and the traversal is performed automatically. At each of the traversal split nodes, the choice of which direction to take through the tree structure is made randomly, using a respective probabilistic function. Thus, a population of candidate algorithms is generated. These are evaluated, and the probabilistic functions modified.

Abstract: A device for optical sensing of substances or environmental conditions in a fluid includes a number of non-overlapping adjacent sensing elements, each having a layered optical element for generating a wavelength-specific interference effect and being treated so as to respond to the presence of a predefined substance or a predefined environmental condition to cause an optically detectable change. The sensing elements are distinct from each other both in their wavelength-specific interference effect and in the corresponding optically detectable change. As a result, when the device is illuminated by a common illumination beam of multi-wavelength illumination, spectral analysis performed on the reflected or transmitted illumination enables simultaneous sensing of a plurality of substances or environmental conditions. In certain preferred implementations, the layered optical element includes at least one layer of porous silicon.

Abstract: A power tong for rotating a pipe, the power tong comprising: a frame having a pair of arcuate front portions defining a throat for receiving the pipe; a cage plate assembly mounted for rotation on the arcuate front portions about a center of rotation, the cage plate assembly having an opening that is alignable with the throat; a ring gear mounted for rotation within, and supported by, the cage plate assembly about the center of rotation, the ring gear having an opening that is alignable with the throat; the ring gear cooperating with jaws mounted on the cage plate assembly for gripping the pipe upon rotation of the ring gear.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for conducting a combat simulation game in which each player is outfitted with equipment enabling data concerning the game play ability of the player to be transmitted to a local server for use in computing a player performance data for individual players in comparison with all other players having data stored within the system. The equipment transmits various data to the server which is utilized by the server to update the player performance data in a real-time manner that can be accessed and viewed by other players from remote locations.

Abstract: A human surrogate neck model includes a spinal neck region containing cervical vertebrae. A biosimulant intervertebral material is inserted between the cervical vertebrae. The spinal neck region is surrounded by a first silicone material mixed with a polymeric cross-linking inhibitor. One or more elastic tension bands are anchored to a top interface and a bottom interface of the neck model. A second silicone material mixed with a polymeric cross-linking inhibitor is applied to surround the spinal neck region and the first silicone material and to embed the tension bands. One or more of the elastic tension bands and/or a concentration ratio of the first silicone material or second silicone material to the polymeric cross-linking inhibitor can be adjusted for variable test conditions to closely simulate or mimic the static and dynamic characteristics of a human neck in various scenarios.

Abstract: Provided are a barcode nano-wire for decoding a hard magnetic segment by using highly sensitive magnetic sensors and a bio-sensing system using the barcode nano-wire. Integration of hard magnetic and non-magnetic segments produces the barcode nanowire and magnetic segments are detected using highly sensitive magnetoresistance sensors. The non-magnetic segment uses a non-magnetic material and a specific biomolecule for bioanalysis is immobilized at a specific portion of the barcode nano-wire. The hard magnetic material has an advantage of higher coercivity and high remanence magnetization, which is considered as an important parameter in selecting the material. The hard magnetic segments produce distinguishable strong stray fields for individually detecting segments using conventional magnetic sensors for multiplexed bioanalysis.

Abstract: This disclosure provides, among other things, a nanosensor comprising a substrate and one or a plurality of pillars extending from a surface of the substrate, where the pillars comprise a metallic dot structure, a metal disc, and a metallic back plane. The nanosensor comprises a molecular adhesion layer that covers at least a part of the metallic dot structure, the metal disc, and/or the metallic back plane and a capture agent bound to the molecular adhesion layer. The nanosensor amplifies a light signal from an analyte, when the analyte is specifically bound to the capture agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for positioning submarine pipeline robots and method. The device comprises a pressure wave generator and a device for pressure wave acquiring and processing. The method comprises the following steps of (1) determining the generation mode; (2) acquiring pressure signals; (3) filtering pressure signals; (4) dividing the filtered pressure signals of into the same group; (5) identifying the data during this period in real time; (6) determining the moving state of the robot in the pipeline; (7) calculating the position of the robot in the pipeline; (8) ending the operations, otherwise repeating Step 4 to Step 7 continuously. The present invention has the advantages that the position of submarine pipeline robots can be located in real time. In addition, the severe environment around the pipelines can hardly affect the performance under this method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of conversion of carbon dioxide into organic products using plasma technology comprising the steps of (a) providing a reaction chamber; (b) introducing a counterpart molecule and carbon dioxide into the reaction chamber; (c) initiating a plasma in the reaction chamber; and (d) converting the carbon dioxide into organic products, wherein the organic products do not contain formic acid and formaldehyde, and wherein the counterpart molecule consists of water molecule.

Abstract: A method of generating hydrogen gas from the reaction of stabilized aluminum nanoparticles with water is provided. The stabilized aluminum nanoparticles are synthesized from decomposition of an alane precursor in the presence of a catalyst and an organic passivation agent, and exhibit stability in air and solvents but are reactive with water. The reaction of the aluminum nanoparticles with water produces a hydrogen yield of at least 85%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-angiogenic composition, and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical anti-angiogenic composition including a microRNA-382 inhibitor. The inventors of the present invention have confirmed that microRNA-382, the expression of which is elevated in stomach cancer cells in a low oxygen environment, affects the promotion of angiogenesis induced in a low oxygen environment. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention inhibits microRNA-382 and thus inhibits angiogenesis and cell proliferation, and is expected ultimately to be valuably used in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A solar collector includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface, a sidewall, a transparent cover, and a heat-absorbing layer. The sidewall is arranged on the periphery of the top surface of the substrate. The transparent cover is disposed on the sidewall opposite to the substrate to form a sealed chamber. The heat-absorbing layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and includes a carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film are joined end-to-end.

Abstract: A method of treating intrauterine inflammation in a subject associated with intrauterine bacterial infection includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a toll-like receptor 4 antagonist. The therapeutically effective amount administered to the subject is an amount effective in reducing intrauterine inflammation in the subject.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to selectively extract cobalt from an acidic solution containing a high concentration of manganese. This cobalt extraction method extracts cobalt from an acidic solution containing manganese and cobalt by subjecting the acidic solution to solvent extraction by means of a valuable metal extraction agent comprising an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). The valuable metal extraction agent is represented by the general formula. In the formula: R1 and R2 each represent the same or different alkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or any given group aside from an amino group bonded to the ? carbon as an amino acid. Preferably, the general formula has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. Preferably, the pH of the acidic solution is 3.5-5.5 inclusive.