Abstract: A cathode of the lithium battery includes a composite film. The composite film includes a carbon nanotube film structure and a plurality of active material particles dispersed in the carbon nanotube film structure.

Abstract: A method of processing an image is disclosed. The method comprises: decomposing the image into a plurality of different resolutions; and for each resolution, processing the image at the resolution to extract edge-orientation information; utilizing the edge-orientation information for identifying contours in the image; and transmitting at least the identified contours to a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A haptic device includes a substrate that is subjected to lateral motion such as lateral oscillation with one or more degrees of freedom together with modulation of a friction reducing oscillation in a manner that can create a shear force on the user's finger or on an object on the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide for systems and methods for secure authentication. The systems and methods may include receiving, by a constrained device, a random string transmitted from a server; determining, by the constrained device, a responsive output by evaluating a first deterministic function based upon the received random string, a locally generated string and a first private key stored on the constrained device; and transmitting at least one portion of the responsive output and the locally generated string from the constrained device to a server.

Abstract: A high-power ultrasound heating applicator for minimally-invasive thermal treatment of uterine fibroids or myomas. High-intensity interstitial ultrasound, applied with minimally-invasive laparoscopic or hysteroscopic procedures, is used to effectively treat fibroids within the myometrium in lieu of major surgery. The applicators are configured with high-power capabilities and thermal penetration to treat large volumes of fibroid tissue (>70 cm3) in short treatment times (3-20 minutes), while maintaining three-dimensional control of energy delivery to thermally destroy the target volume.

Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ?1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ?1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds.

Abstract: The present invention provides an auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit, comprising: (a) a plurality of recombinant proteins having formula (I), (B)m-A-(C)n??(I), wherein A is a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, B and C are independently any mutually identical or different polypeptides with the value of molecular weight being a multiple of 5, and m and n is independently 0 or any integer larger than 0; and (b) one or more solvents for stabilizing the recombinant proteins. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: Pyridazinyl compounds, compositions and related methods of use.

Abstract: Disclosed is an expression vector system for variants of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). In detail, mutant vWF the size of which is significantly reduced by deleting exons but which has remarkably increased FVIII stabilizing and activating efficiency, and an expression vector system useful for the treatment of hemophilia which is capable of expressing the same along with FVIII are disclosed. Use of the mutant vWF with a reduced size enables effective expression of FVIII in a viral vector and significantly enhanced FVIII activity. Further, the viral vector may be effectively used to treat hemophilia through gene therapy.

Abstract: A two-axis, optical mount provides two flexural elements monolithically and homogeneously formed of a single material with, and interconnecting, three rigid segments. Between each pair of rigid segments, beginning with the first and second, a set of extensions is formed to have a cross section that permits simple, easy, independent adjustment therebetween. Likewise, a flexural element exists between the second and third rigid elements. Meanwhile, the rigid elements have section moduli sufficiently great as to be orders of magnitude larger than the flexural stiffness or section modulus of the flexural elements, thus providing flexures that operate in the elastic mode and introduce no joint type accuracy errors in adjustment.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing carbon-magnetite nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) dissolving a first amount of an alkali salt of lignosulfonate in water to form a first solution, (b) heating the first solution to a first temperature, (c) adding a second amount of iron sulfate (FeSO4) to the first solution to form a second solution, (d) heating the second solution at a second temperature for a first duration of time effective to form a third solution of iron lignosulfonate, (e) adding a third amount of 1N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the third solution of iron lignosulfonate to form a fourth solution with a first pH level, (f) heating the fourth solution at a third temperature for a second duration of time to form a first sample, and (g) subjecting the first sample to a microwave radiation for a third duration of time effective to form a second sample containing a plurality of carbon-magnetite nanocomposites.

Abstract: Vaccine and/or immunogenic compositions that comprise an effective immunizing amount of an antigen from E. canis are described. In addition, methods of immunizing a subject against E. canis by providing the vaccine and/or immunogenic compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonpolar III-nitride film grown on a miscut angle of a substrate, in order to suppress the surface undulations, is provided. The surface morphology of the film is improved with a miscut angle towards an a-axis direction comprising a 0.15° or greater miscut angle towards the a-axis direction and a less than 30° miscut angle towards the a-axis direction.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a gene delivery system with higher safety and higher sustainability, which is effective for the treatment of ischemic diseases and the like, and the like. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition containing, as an active ingredient, a polyanionic substance that suppresses expression of PHD2, and containing a polyion complex of the polyanionic substance and a polycation chargeable polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a boron-containing gas film fast-neutron detector. The fast-neutron detector comprises a package piece having a hollow cavity; a plastic scintillator array provided in the cavity and comprising a plurality of plastic scintillator units, a gap existing between adjacent plastic scintillator units; and a boron-containing gas filled into and gas-tightly sealed in the hollow cavity, the boron-containing gas forming a boron-containing gas film in the gap between the adjacent plastic scintillator units. The fast-neutron detector of the present invention completely does not require use of scarce and expensive 3He gas, nor needs a complicated boron film coating process, improves credibility of signal coincidence, and is adapted for measurement of environment background neutrons and extensively adapted for detection of radioactive substance at sites such as customs ports, harbors and the like.

Abstract: Resistive random access memory (RRAM) using stacked dielectrics and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, where a setting power of only 4 ?W, an ultra-low reset power of 2 nW, good switching uniformity and excellent cycling endurance up to 5×109 cycles were achieved simultaneously. Such record high performances were reached in a Ni/GeOx/nano-crystal-TiO2/TaON/TaN RRAM device, where the excellent endurance is 4˜6 orders of magnitude larger than existing Flash memory. The very long endurance and low switching energy RRAM is not only satisfactory for portable SSD in a computer, but may also create new applications such as being used for a Data Center to replace high power consumption hard discs.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is disclosed. The power amplifier includes an output stage circuit, an exponential type bias circuit and a voltage-current transformation circuit. The output stage circuit receives a first system voltage and outputs an output current. The exponential type bias circuit receives a bias current, wherein a relationship between the bias current and output current is exponential, and when the bias current is zero current, and the output current is zero current. The voltage-current transformation circuit transforms the first system voltage into a second current so that the bias current is in proportion to the first system voltage, and thus the relationship between the output current and the first system voltage is exponential. The bias current is equal to times of the sum of the first current and the second current.

Abstract: A scheduling method in a wireless communication includes receiving a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) from a plurality of terminals. The method also includes determining an average transmission rate of each terminal based on the CQI by approximating an instantaneous transmission rate distribution to a Gaussian distribution. The method further includes determining a weight of each terminal such that the average transmission rate of each terminal satisfies a target transmission rate. The method also includes selecting a terminal set by applying the determined weight. Thus, it is possible to control the fairness between the terminals and to efficiently control the transmission rate of the terminals according to the required transmission rate and the channel environment of the terminals.

Abstract: Compact optical frequency sources are described. The comb source may include an intra-cavity optical element having a multi-material integrated structure with an electrically controllable active region. The active region may comprise a thin film. By way of example, the thin film and an insulating dielectric material disposed between two electrodes can provide for rapid loss modulation. In some embodiments the thin film may comprise graphene. In various embodiments of a frequency comb laser, rapid modulation of the CEO frequency can be implemented via electric modulation of the transmission or reflection loss of an additional optical element, which can be the saturable absorber itself. In another embodiment, the thin film can also be used as a saturable absorber in order to facilitate passive modelocking. In some implementations the optical element may be formed on a cleaved or polished end of an optical fiber.