Abstract: Provided is a solid acid catalyst which enables the production of isomannide and/or 2,5-sorbitan from mannitol with high yield and high safety at low cost. The mannitol may be derived from a cellulose and/or a hemicellulose. The solid acid catalyst for dehydration contains an acid type ?-zeolite and/or a Y type zeolite.

Abstract: A first product may be provided that comprises a substrate having a first surface, a first side, and a first edge where the first surface meets the first side; and a device disposed over the substrate, the device having a second side, where at least a first portion of the second side is disposed within 3 mm from the first edge of the substrate. The first product may further comprise a first barrier film that covers at least a portion of the first edge of the substrate, at least a portion of the first side of the substrate, and at least the first portion of the second side of the device.

Abstract: A crop sensing system for a baler includes a compression system for forming a bale and a feed system for picking up crop from a surface and conveying the crop to the compression system. The crop sensing system includes a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor being coupled to at least one of the compression system or the feed system, wherein the at least one sensor generates a signal corresponding to a crop load on the at least one of the compression system or the feed system. The crop sensing system includes a control unit configured to receive the signal from the sensor arrangement and calculate crop mass data based on at least the signal.

Abstract: An oscillator using a supply regulation loop and a method of operating the oscillator are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided which can separate rhenium from a solution containing rhenium by a simple procedure in a shorter time. A method of selectively recovering rhenium from a solution containing rhenium and one or more different metals is also provided. A method of recovering rhenium is used. The method involves (A) adding an electron donor (aliphatic secondary alcohol or aliphatic secondary thioalcohol) and a ketone compound to a solution containing perrhenate ions, (B) irradiating the solution after the addition step with ultraviolet light to precipitate a reduced species of the perrhenate ions contained in the solution, and (C) separating the reduced species of perrhenate ions from the solution, the reduced species being precipitated during the ultraviolet light irradiation.

Abstract: A fracturing fluid composition that includes a chelating agent, e.g. GLDA, and a polymeric additive comprising a copolymer of acrylamido-tert-butyl sulfonate and hydrolyzed polyacrylamide diluted in an aqueous base fluid, e.g. seawater, and a method of fracking a geological formation using the fracturing fluid composition. Various embodiments of the fracturing fluid composition and the method of fracking are also provided.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a sample chamber for use in the dynamic imaging of cells. In one embodiment, the chamber includes a holding mechanism for positioning the cells against a viewing window in the chamber. A housing is positioned against the viewing window to define the closed chamber. The housing may include access ports allowing for the perfusion of fluid through the chamber, the control of the internal temperature of the chamber and the micromanipulation and electrical stimulation of the cells.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for cryogenic power extraction. In one example, among others, a system for cryogenic power extraction includes a heat exchanger that can heat a cryogenic working fluid using exhaust heat from a heat source, and a turbine that can generate power from the heated cryogenic working fluid. In another example, a method includes heating a cryogenic working fluid with waste heat from a heat source and driving a turbine with the heated cryogenic working fluid. Power produced by the turbine can be used drive a mechanical load and/or generate electricity for use by an electrical load. For example, waste heat from a combustion engine of a vehicle can be used to generate power for driving mechanical loads of the engine and/or to generate electricity for charging a battery of the vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments herein report compositions of and methods for making and using alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) fusion molecules or peptide derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, compositions and methods relate to generating an AAT fusion molecule of use in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions to treat a subject in need of AAT therapy or treatment. In other embodiments, compositions and methods disclosed herein concern linking AAT or derivative thereof to an immune fragment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enabling volumetric image reconstruction from unknown projection geometry of tomographic imaging systems, including CT, cone-beam CT (CBCT), and tomosynthesis systems. The invention enables image reconstruction in cases where it was not previously possible (e.g., custom-designed trajectories on robotic C-arms, or systems using uncalibrated geometries), and more broadly offers improved image quality (e.g., improved spatial resolution and reduced streak artifact) and robustness to patient motion (e.g., inherent compensation for rigid motion) in a manner that does not alter the patient setup or imaging workflow. The method provides a means for accurately estimating the complete geometric description of each projection acquired during a scan by simulating various poses of the x-ray source and detector to determine their unique, scan-specific positions relative to the patient, which is often unknown or inexactly known (e.g.

Abstract: Artificial ovaries comprising porous three-dimensional scaffolds are provided. Also provided are ink compositions and methods for printing the scaffolds. The artificial ovaries have spatial arrangements and cellular compositions that allow them to mimic native ovarian tissue. As such, they can be cultured or transplanted to support female endocrine function and/or the development of oocytes and/or eggs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for pulmonary hypertension comprising an interleukin-5 receptor (hereinafter, abbreviated to “IL-5R”)-inhibiting compound and therapeutic method therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for pulmonary hypertension comprising an antibody or an antibody fragment capable of specifically binding to the extracellular region of IL-5R and a therapeutic method therefor.

Abstract: The disclosure describes methods, devices, and system that measure chemisorption potentiometrically for detection of target molecules. In one example, a device includes a semiconductor, an ionic conducting electronic insulator coupled to the semiconductor, a floating gate electrode comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being coupled to the semiconductor via the ionic conducting electronic insulator, an aqueous buffer, and a primary gate electrode coupled to the second portion of the floating gate electrode via the aqueous buffer. The second portion of the floating gate electrode may comprise a probe configured to react with a target chemical composition of a molecule to detect the presence of the molecule. Reaction with the target chemical composition may change an electrical property of the device and indicate the presence of the molecule in the aqueous buffer.

Abstract: A plunger pressure accumulator includes a shell; and a plunger which is adapted to move relative to the shell into an interior space of the shell. The interior space is divided into at least two subspaces, a first subspace of which is suppliable with hydraulic fluid of an external system and a second subspace which is provided with a pressurized gas. Between the plunger and the shell is arranged a slide element upon which the plunger is supported to move to a distance apart from an internal surface of the first subspace and from an internal surface of the second subspace. The plunger pressure accumulator is provided with at least one regenerator which is stationary relative to the shell or the plunger.

Abstract: A quantum mechanical arithmetic operation method for machine vision, based on orbital qubit is performed by a quantum processing processor. The quantum mechanical arithmetic operation method comprises, obtaining a first labeled graph connecting between feature points of the first image and a second labeled graph connecting feature points of the second image, generating a point-to-point combination by matching the feature points of the first image with the feature points the second image, generating a conflict graph by adding the largest point-to-point combination by comparing the point-to-point combinations with the threshold, generating non-constrained binary optimization equation for finding a maximum independent set of conflict graphs, converting the non-constrained binary optimization equation into Ising model of the quantum system, and calculating the Hamiltonian of Ising model based on an orbital qubit to obtain solution of the non-constrained binary optimization equation.

Abstract: Provided are a CAN communication system and an error information recording device that may be expected to facilitate identification of the cause of any error occurring in communication. The monitoring device is connected to a CAN bus and determines whether or not an error is included in a message transmitted by an ECU. In the case where an error is included in the transmitted message, the monitoring device records, in the recording unit, information concerning the error in the message as error information. Furthermore, the monitoring device comprises the CAN controller performing communication in accordance with the CAN protocol and the processor performing various types of information processing. The CAN controller may determine whether or not an error is included in message transmission, and if determined that an error is included, may notify the processor of the CAN-ID attached to the message by an interrupt.

Abstract: The invention describes methods and reagents useful for sequencing polypeptide molecules. The method comprises affixing a polypeptide to a substrate and contacting the polypeptide with a plurality of probes. Each probe selectively binds to an N-terminal amino acid or an N-terminal amino acid derivative. Probes bound to the polypeptide molecule are then identified before cleaving the N-terminal amino acid or N-terminal amino acid derivative of the polypeptide. Also provided are methods for the sequencing a plurality of polypeptide molecules in a sample and probes specific for N-terminal amino acids or N-terminal amino acid derivatives.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate with reduced threading dislocation density is disclosed, which comprises: (i) at a first temperature, forming a first layer of wafer material on a semiconductor substrate, the first layer arranged to be doped with a first concentration of at least one dopant that is different to the wafer material; and (ii) at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, forming a second layer of the wafer material on the first layer to obtain the substrate, the second layer arranged to be doped with a progressively decreasing concentration of the dopant during formation, the doping configured to be decreased from the first concentration to a second concentration. The wafer material and dopant are different to silicon. A related substrate is also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an OCT apparatus configured to generate to electromagnetic (e.g., optical) signals having two different polarization states. Two or more silicon optical amplifiers (SOAs) can be configured to maintain a respective polarization state in an optical input signal provided from a light source (e.g., a broadband light source). The different polarization states can be combined by an optical combiner (e.g., a polarization maintaining fiber coupler) and provided to drive a reference arm and a sample arm implemented in an OCT system.

Abstract: A novel material for producing auxetic foams is disclosed. The material comprises a multiphase, multicomponent polymer foam with a filler polymer having a carefully selected glass transition temperature. Novel methods for producing auxetic foams from the material are also disclosed that consistently, reliably and quickly produce auxetic polyurethane foam at about room temperature (25° C.). This technology overcomes challenging issues in the large-scale production of auxetic PU foams, such as unfavorable heat-transmission problem and harmful organic solvents.