Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for detecting a crack. The apparatus includes a power supply unit, a sensor module, and a signal reception module. The power supply unit supplies power. The sensor module receives the input power from the power supply unit, and outputs sensing power corresponding to the magnetic field of an object to be measured. The signal reception unit converts the sensing power output from the sensor module into a quantitative value, and computes the distribution of the magnetic field. The sensor module includes a first sensor array configured to detect magnetic field vectors in a direction vertical to a sensor surface, and a second sensor array placed on the first sensor array in an overlapping manner and configured to detect magnetic field vectors in a direction lateral with respect to the sensor surface.

Abstract: Phthalazine analogs of a Lisofylline (LSF) and synthetic methods for preparation of such analogs are provided. Compounds of the invention have structural formula III: wherein 1) R3a is hydrogen and R3b is selected from C5-22alkyl, C2-22alkenyl, or C2-22alkynyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or 2) R3b is hydrogen and R3a is selected from C9alkyl, C15-22alkyl, C9-22alkenyl, or C2-22alkynyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or 3) R3a and R3b are the same or different and are selected from C9alkyl, C15-22alkyl, C4-22alkenyl, or C2-22alkynyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The analogs of LSF provided have the ability to protect cell viability, particularly the ability to protect pancreatic ?-cells, to induce insulin secretion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for burning-in an electronic ballast for a lamp. The apparatus comprises a first stage for emulating an input impedance characteristic of a lamp for the electronic ballast and a second stage connected to the first stage for providing energy feedback to a power supply. An input of the first stage connects in use to the electronic ballast to be burnt-in. An output of the second stage connects in use to the power supply to provide energy feedback to said power supply from the electronic ballast being burnt-in. The energy-recyclable burn-in apparatus can emulate the lamp characteristics from start up to the steady state, process high-frequency ballast output power and recycle the power back into the power grid. The burn-in method includes operating the apparatus for a predetermined period of time such that a voltage applied to the electronic ballast simulates a steady-state operation of a lamp for the electronic ballast.

Abstract: Substrates coated with films of a ceramic material such as aluminum oxides and titanium oxides are biocompatible, and can be used in a variety of applications in which they are implanted in a living body. The substrate is preferably a porous polymer, and may be biodegradable. An important application for the ceramic-coated substrates is as a tissue engineering scaffold for forming artificial tissue.

Abstract: A shared antenna communicates radio waves with different frequencies or different polarization characteristics, and has a simple configuration that can be placed in a small device. The antenna includes a plurality of loops of the shape of a cross in a spiral fashion and includes a gap provided at a certain midpoint in the spiral loops and a power supply portion provided in a central portion. The distance of the gap is set such that electromagnetic coupling is caused at a first frequency and no electromagnetic coupling is caused at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Abstract: Sensors, sensing arrangements and devices, and related methods are provided. In accordance with an example embodiment, an impedance-based sensor includes a flexible dielectric material and generates an output based on pressure applied to the dielectric material and a resulting compression thereof. In certain embodiments, the dielectric material includes a plurality of regions separated by gaps and configured to elastically deform and recover in response to applied pressure.

Abstract: A composition of matter for use in encapsulating a drug is expressed by formula (1) or formula (2): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; A is a hydrophilic polymer chain; L1 and L3 are each a linking group; B is a cation-containing group; R3 is a side chain of an amino acid; z is an integer of 5 to 500; x is an integer of 40% or more of z; y is 0 or a positive integer; z-x-y is 0 or a positive integer; p is an integer of 1 to 10; and q is an integer of 1 to 10.

Abstract: A drainpipe comprising a concentrating flow path to concentrate flow of fluid on an inner wall of the pipe, which makes it possible to inhibit freezing of the fluid hydrodynamically without providing heat energy from outside, to thereby prevent blockage of the pipe.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods for treating an infection and/or treating or reducing inflammation through the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide to a subject in need thereof. In some aspects, the peptide is a Helicobacter pylori-derived peptide, such as an HPA3NT3 peptide and the infection is a bacterial infection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ionic liquid compositions comprising active pharmaceutical, biological, and nutritional compounds, and methods of use. Further disclosed are compositions of matter including liquid ion pairs alone or in solution and their use; compositions of ionic liquids that are ‘solvated,’ for example, ‘hydrated’ and their uses.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter, including: an insulating housing; a movable end cap; a stationary end cap; a pair of movable and stationary contacts; and a pair of shields. The pair of shields is fixed on the movable end cap and the stationary end cap, respectively. The insulating housing, the movable end cap, and the stationary end cap cooperate to form a closed space. The closed space includes a movable fracture and a stationary fracture. The movable fracture is formed by the pair of movable and stationary contacts for carrying rated current and disconnecting capacitive load whereby achieving breaking performance of the vacuum interrupter. The stationary fracture is formed by the pair of shields. When the pair of stationary and movable contacts reaches a full open position, the stationary contact and the movable contact enter the pair of shields, respectively.

Abstract: A cell sorter including a well that has a microspace filled with a liquid and having a typical length of 1 mm or less, and that has a bottom surface made of a light-permeable material allowing optical observation of an interior of the microspace; a matrix provided on the bottom surface in the well; a bone fragment placed on the matrix in the well; and osteoclasts placed between the matrix and the bone fragment.

Abstract: An apparatus for projecting a spatial image in which the spatial image with a background is projected into a space through a projection unit is discussed. The apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit to receive a spatial image and a background image, a display unit to display the spatial image and the background image and to project light, a control unit to control the display unit to display the spatial image and the background image, and a spatial image projection unit to project the spatial image and the background image by transmitting or reflecting the light. Thus, a spatial image may be viewed from every direction, and the spatial image may be projected to different positions according to images and a background image may be displayed at the same time. In addition, a user may perform interaction such as reaching of hands into the projected image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a VDR ligand which does not induce hypercalcemia that is an adverse reaction of a vitamin D3 preparation; and a composition which comprises lithocholic acid propionate, a salt thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods of identifying proteins and protein modifications of proteins specifically associated with a chromatin.

Abstract: A method for determining a DOA (Direction of Arrival) comprises the following steps: (a) providing at least two antennas arranged with a squint angle; (b) producing at least two base beams between two adjacent base beams; (c) every two virtual beams of the multiple virtual beams which cross together at a specific angle are define to a virtual beam set; (d) synthesizing the two virtual beams of each one of the virtual beam sets to be a monopulse; and (e) determining the DOA of the object according to comparison between magnitude of demodulated signals corresponding to the monopulses. A device for estimating a DOA is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for removing chlorinated organic pollutants from an aqueous composition by electrocatalysis, including electrolyzing the aqueous composition, in a capillary reactor, with an applied potential of 1-5 kV, in which, during the electrolyzing, the aqueous composition is in contact with porous silica supported-sol-gel coated platinum and titanium catalysts and the electrolyzing forms hydrogen and hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system using wireless sensors to validate wired sensors used in applications where the requirements on the reliability of wired sensors are stringent. A computing means periodically collects measurements for each variable from the wired and wireless sensors and compares them against an expected value. The expected value is a weighted average of all the measurements for a variable, in which the weight assigned to the measurement from each sensor is determined according to both its reliability and accuracy. As such, measurements are compared with the corresponding expected value for a particular variable. If the difference between a measurement and its corresponding expected value is found to be unacceptable, the validation computer will generate a corresponding alert. Application examples include 1) validating wired sensors used in safety shutdown systems for industrial facilities and 2) validating wired sensors used to monitor storage tanks.

Abstract: MRSA CC398 is a clone of S. aureus that has recently emerged in pigs and other domestic animals worldwide. As any other MRSA, the clone displays high levels of antibiotic resistance and poses a serious threat to human health because of the risk of antibiotic treatment failure in human patients. We developed a new diagnostic test for identification of MRSA CC398 using a single one-step PCR that is very easily performed within a few hours. The test is based on the principle that clonal differences within S. aureus are reflected in the sequence of a gene (sau1hsdS1) located on the chromosome of this bacterial species. Accordingly, such a gene represents an optimal target for S. aureus and MRSA identification at the clone level. The test includes detection of the gene conferring methicillin resistance (mecA), therefore allowing rapid discrimination between methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant variants of the clone.

Abstract: To form a temperature-responsive surface for cell culture by simple processes, said temperature-responsive surface for cell culture being capable of efficiently culturing cells. Cultured cells or a cell sheet can be efficiently removed from the temperature-responsive surface for cell culture by merely changing the temperature of the substrate surface. To coat the substrate surface with a block copolymer, in which a water insoluble polymer segment is coupled with a temperature-responsive polymer segment, in an amount of 0.8 to 3.0 ?g/cm2 of the temperature-responsive polymer.