Abstract: A method of processing data associated with fluorescent emissions from a microfluidic device. The method includes performing an auto-focus process associated with a first image of the microfluidic device and performing an auto-exposure process associated with the first image of the microfluidic device. The method also includes capturing a plurality of images of the microfluidic device. The plurality of images are associated with a plurality of thermal cycles. The method further includes performing image analysis of the plurality of captured images to determine a series of optical intensities and performing data analysis of the series of optical intensities to provide a series of change in threshold values.

Abstract: A method of determining a plurality of positions associated with a plurality of reaction chambers of a microfluidic device includes a) providing a baseline image; b) providing a template image of a reaction chamber; and c) selecting a region of the baseline image. The method also includes d) performing a matching process including matching the template image to one or more portions of the region of the baseline image; e) determining a position of a first chamber; and f) predicting a position of a second chamber. The method further includes g) repeating steps c) through f) for subsequent chambers.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a shoe upper, the method for preparing the same and the use thereof. This invention provides a method for preparing shoe upper by spraying polyurethane reaction system, avoids the complicated steps of cutting, shaping, stitching and bonding, simplify the production process, reduces the equipment requirements, saves cost and improves the production efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptive digital predistortion device and method. The adaptive digital predistortion device comprising: a predistortion unit for predistorting an input signal according to a predistortion parameter stored in a look-up table; a cost function generation unit for generating a cost function; a fixed segment point determination unit for determining a fixed segment point; and an update unit for updating parameters (u1, u2, ka) according to the cost function to update the look-up table based on the updated parameters (u1, u2, ka), wherein ka is an updated adaptive segment point, u1 and u2 are slopes on two sides of the adaptive segment point ka; and for subsequently updating parameters (v1, v2) according to the cost function to update the look-up table based on the updated parameters (v1, v2) and the fixed segment point, wherein v1 and v2 are slopes on two sides of the fixed segment point.

Abstract: An electrically controlled medium for modulating light includes two plastic thin film layers (1) and (2), and a mixture layer (3) is arranged between the two plastic thin film layers (1) and (2). The mixture layer (3) is consisted of smectic liquid crystals (31), polymer materials (33) and dopants (32). Electrode layers (4) are coated on one side of each of the two plastic thin film layers (1) and (2) facing to the mixture layer (3), and the electrode layers (4) are connected to a device of electrical driving system (5). The liquid crystal molecules are allowed to exhibit different molecule alignments by controlling the amplitude, frequency and driving time of the electric power applied to the electrode layers (4), so that the electrically controlled medium for modulating light can be switched between a blurredly scattering state and a fully transparent state, even may be switched among a plurality of gradual translucent states of different gray levels.

Abstract: A liquid crystal structure (200) comprising first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) arranged to reflect respective first and second colours. The first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) are disposed transversely to the direction of reflection (R). Each region includes a reflective back area and a selector (210) controllable to control light reflected from the region. Furthermore, a controllable reflector (212) is superposed over the reflective region in the direction of reflection (R) and controllable to transmit or scatter incident light.

Abstract: This invention relates to an amplifier device and a predistortion control method. The amplifier device comprises a predistortion unit, a predistortion control unit, and an amplifier unit, of which the predistortion control unit controls the predistortion unit in accordance with a signal fed back from the amplifier unit. The predistortion control method comprises determining power of a left side lobe of two side lobes of a frequency spectrum of the signal fed back from the amplifier unit; determining power of a right side lobe of two side lobes of a frequency spectrum of the signal fed back from the amplifier unit; determining a cost function in accordance with the power of the first and right side lobes, and controlling the predistortion unit in accordance with the cost function.

Abstract: Systems for managing workflows to perform chemical or biological reactions using microfluidic devices.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for alleviating pruritis. The compositions may comprise an analgesic agent.

Abstract: A shotgun metabolomics approach using MALDI-tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the rapid analysis of cellular metabolites. Through the use of neutral organic solvents to inactivate endogenous enzyme activities (i.e., methanol/chloroform/H2O extraction), multiplexed extraction conditions and combinatorial alterations in matrix stereoelectronic composition and analyte interactions, multiple suites of metabolites were directly ionized and quantitated directly from biologic extracts without the need for prior chromatographic separation. Through combinatorial alterations in 9-aminoacridine charge, aromaticity and stacking, a set of multiplexed conditions was developed that allowed identification of many hundreds of peaks corresponding to metabolites from mouse heart extracts. Identification of metabolite peaks was based on mass accuracy and isomeric species were assigned based on diagnostic fragment ions present during tandem mass spectrometry for many of the identified metabolite peaks.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a baseband predistorter and baseband predistortion method. The baseband predistorter comprising: an address generator for calculating an address of a phase basic lookup table and an address of an amplitude basic lookup table; a parameter determining unit for determining a phase translational amount, an amplitude translational amount, a phase curvature adjustment amount and an amplitude curvature adjustment amount; a phase translating unit for changing the address in accordance with the phase translational amount; an amplitude translating unit for changing the address in accordance with the amplitude translational amount; a phase basic lookup table searching section for determining a corresponding phase output; an amplitude basic lookup table searching section, for determining a corresponding amplitude output; a phase curvature adjusting section, for adjusting the phase output; and an amplitude curvature adjusting section, for adjusting the amplitude output.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making micron, submicron or nanometer dimension thermoplastic polymer microfibrillar composites and fibers, and methods of using the thermoplastic polymer microfibers and nanofibers in woven fabrics, biocidal textiles, biosensors, membranes, filters, protein support and organ repairs. The methods typically include admixing a thermoplastic polymer and a matrix material to form a mixture, where the thermoplastic and the matrix are thermodynamically immiscible, followed by extruding the mixture under conditions sufficient to form a microfibrillar composite containing a plurality of the thermoplastic polymer microfibers and/or nanofibers embedded in the matrix material. The microfibers and/or nanofibers are isolated by removing the surrounding matrix. In one embodiment, the microfibrillar composite formed is further extended under conditions sufficient to form a drawn microfibrillar and/or nanofibrillar composite with controlled diameters.

Abstract: A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device. The method includes receiving a first image of a microfluidic device. The first image corresponds to a first state. Additionally, the method includes receiving a second image of the microfluidic device. The second image corresponds to a second state. Moreover, the method includes transforming the first image and the second image into a third coordinate space. Also, the method includes obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image, and processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.

Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.

Abstract: A method for processing an image of a microfluidic device. The method includes receiving a first image of a microfluidic device. The first image corresponds to a first state. Additionally, the method includes receiving a second image of the microfluidic device. The second image corresponds to a second state. Moreover, the method includes transforming the first image and the second image into a third coordinate space. Also, the method includes obtaining a third image based on at least information associated with the transformed first image and the transformed second image, and processing the third image to obtain information associated with the first state and the second state.

Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nonlinear degree measuring apparatus and method for a power amplifier, and a predistortion compensation apparatus. The nonlinear degree measuring apparatus comprises a delayer (304), for delaying inputted pilot frequency data; a subtracter (305), for subtracting, from the pilot frequency data delayed by the delayer, subsequently inputted pilot frequency data; a power calculating unit (306), for calculating an instantaneous power of an outputted signal from the subtracter (305); and an averager (307), for averaging the instantaneous power calculated by the power calculating unit (306) to obtain an averaged power.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a baseband predistorter and baseband predistortion method. The baseband predistorter comprising: an address generator for calculating an address of a phase basic lookup table and an address of an amplitude basic lookup table; a parameter determining unit for determining a phase translational amount, an amplitude translational amount, a phase curvature adjustment amount and an amplitude curvature adjustment amount; a phase translating unit for changing the address in accordance with the phase translational amount; an amplitude translating unit for changing the address in accordance with the amplitude translational amount; a phase basic lookup table searching section for determining a corresponding phase output; an amplitude basic lookup table searching section, for determining a corresponding amplitude output; a phase curvature adjusting section, for adjusting the phase output; and an amplitude curvature adjusting section, for adjusting the amplitude output.

Abstract: A system and method for inspection a substrate for various defects is herein disclosed. Polarizing filters are used to improve the contrast of polarization dependent defects such as defocus and exposure defects, while retaining the same sensitivity to polarization independent defects, such as pits, voids, cracks, chips and particles.

Abstract: A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.