Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for reducing a metal oxide in a metal containing precursor. The method comprises providing a reaction mixture comprising the metal oxide containing precursorand an aluminium reductant; heating the reaction mixture in the presence of solid or gaseous aluminium chloride to temperature at which reactionsthatresultin the metal oxide being reduced are initiated; controlling reaction conditions whereby the reaction mixture is prevented from reaching a temperature at which thermal runaway can occur; and isolating reaction products that include reduced metal oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a functional NIRS imaging system including an elastomeric cap, a set of transmit optical fibers and a set of receive optical fibers terminating on the inside surface of the elastomeric cap. A pair of light sources combines to produce a collimated light beam at two wavelengths. An optical modulation system, converts the light beam into a plurality of probe light beams, modulates the plurality of probe light beams and directs each probe light beam into a transmit fiber. An optical detection system accepts scattered photons from subcutaneous tissue underneath the elastomeric cap as a plurality of collected light beams and converts them into a time series of electronic images, stores the electronic images into the memory and processes the electronic images using. The system displays the resulting image on a display as a hemoglobin oxygen saturation map.

Abstract: A switching device is provided that includes, but is not limited to a switching organ, an actuator for changing a state of a mechanism, a control electronic system for actuating the actuator as a function of the actuating of the switching organ. The actuator is connected mechanically to the mechanism with a push-push mechanism, so that upon a temporary activating of the actuator a first state of the mechanism is changeable from the first state into a second state and following the second state is continuously retrained with the deactivated actuator up to the next temporary activating of the actuator and upon a temporary activating of the actuator a second state of the mechanism is changeable from the second state into a first state and following this the first state is continuously retained with the deactivated actuator up to the next temporary activating of the actuator.

Abstract: Doped nanomaterials are used for the conversion of non-edible oils into biodiesels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a functional NIRS imaging system including an elastomeric cap, a set of transmit optical fibers and a set of receive optical fibers terminating on the inside surface of the elastomeric cap. A pair of light sources combines to produce a collimated light beam at two wavelengths. An optical modulation system, converts the light beam into a plurality of probe light beams, modulates the plurality of probe light beams with a set of pseudo-orthogonal codes and directs each probe light beam into a transmit fiber. An optical detection system accepts scattered photons from subcutaneous tissue underneath the elastomeric cap as a plurality of collected light beams and converts them into a time series of electronic images, stores the electronic images into the memory and processes the electronic images using the pseudo-orthogonal codes. The system displays the resulting image on a display as a hemoglobin oxygen saturation map.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of doped nanomaterials for the conversion of non-edible oils into biodiesels with no undesirable products, higher yield and conversion at room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure.