Abstract: An electrode is provided which includes a xerogel sheet coated with a silica film. A method for producing the electrode includes steps of infiltrating a carbon cloth with a solution containing resorcinol and formaldehyde, polymerizing the solution infiltrated carbon cloth, subjecting the infiltrated and polymerized carbon cloth to a solvent-exchange process, carbonizing the carbon cloth and coating the carbonized carbon cloth with a silica film.

Abstract: A bi-polar electrode having ion exchange polymers on opposite faces of a porous substrate is formed using a method that includes providing an electrode substrate with activated carbon layers on opposite faces of the electrode substrate, wherein said faces have an outer perimeter band void of the activated carbon layers. Gaskets are placed against the outer perimeter band of the electrode substrate void of activated carbon and the electrode substrate is clamped between two rigid plates to form a first airtight chamber on one side of the electrode substrate and a second airtight chamber on the opposite side of the electrode substrate. A first polymerizable monomer mixture having an anion exchange group is added into the first chamber and a second polymerizable monomer mixture having a cation exchange group is added into the second chamber. The first and second polymerizable monomer mixtures are then polymerized in an oven.

Abstract: A detecting circuit includes a network interface, a switch, a baseboard management controller (BMC) having first and second signal pins, and a detecting unit. The first and second signal pins receive low level signals when the network line is disconnected from the network interface. The first signal pin receives a high level signal and the second signal pin receives a low level signal when the network line is connected to the network interface but the network card is malfunctioning. The first and second signal pins receive high level signals when the network line is connected to the network interface and the network card works normally.

Abstract: Performing real-time atlasing of graphics data and creation and maintenance of texture atlases for applications having dynamic graphics content. Embodiments include allocating a texture atlas configured to store textural elements for use in rendering graphical elements, and providing a graphics processing unit (GPU) access to the texture atlas. During subsequent execution of an application, when a graphical element of the application is to be rendered by the GPU, a block of space can be allocated within the texture atlas and a textural element corresponding to the graphical element can be stored within the allocated block. The GPU therefore has access to the textural element when rendering the graphical element.

Abstract: A system and method that tracks copyright infringing BitTorrent users is presented. The system searches torrent file websites for a torrent file according to specified search criteria and verifies that the torrent file corresponds to a media file containing the copyrighted work. The system obtains tracker server information from the torrent file and obtains the IP addresses of participants currently connected to the torrent file from the tracker server, attempts to establish a connection with a participant based on an IP address selected from the IP addresses and, if successful, receives a data piece with a cryptographic hash from the participant. The cryptographic hash is verified to correctly match with the torrent file. The system then verifies that the participant is sharing the media file, obtains the participant's geographic data and associates the participant to a legal jurisdiction based on the geographic data.

Abstract: A computer control system and an intelligent management system is provided for a household Internet of Things. The intelligent management system includes an intelligent management server for a household Internet of Things system, control devices, in-house functional units, outside functional department servers and outside service department servers. The intelligent management server for the household Internet of Things system is wiredly or wirelessly communicated with the control device, the in-house functional units, the outside functional department servers and the outside service department servers respectively. According to embodiments, the system promptly and centrally controls the in-house functional units, and promptly communicates with the outside functional department servers and the outside service department servers, thus saving resources, consuming transparently, handling affairs quickly, facilitating service and ensuring security.

Abstract: A system is used for acquiring Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) debug codes. The system includes a platform controller hub (PCH), a storage chip, and a baseboard management controller (BMC). The PCH reads power-on self tests (POST) codes from an address port of a bus, and converts the POST codes to binary data and stores the binary data in the storage chip. The BMC reads the binary data stored in the storage chip and defines the binary data as virtual sensor data, which conform with threshold type data, and decodes the virtual sensor data to POST codes and controls a display unit to display the POST codes.

Abstract: An electrochemical desalination system includes a first and a second electrochemical device and a controller. The first and second electrochemical devices each comprises a electrochemical desalination module comprising at least one pair of electrodes and a compartment between each pair of electrodes for receiving an electrolyte solution. Each of the first and second electrochemical desalination devices comprises a plurality of successive operation cycles. Each cycle comprises a charging mode of operation for charging each pair of electrodes and for adsorbing ions in the electrolyte solution on the electrodes, and a discharging mode of operation for discharging the pair of electrodes and for desorbing ions from the pair of electrodes. The controller is configured to control the system that the first and second electrochemical desalination devices have interleaved charging and discharging modes of operation.

Abstract: A bi-polar electrode having ion exchange polymers on opposite faces of a porous substrate is formed using a method that includes providing an electrode substrate with activated carbon layers on opposite faces of the electrode substrate, wherein said faces have an outer perimeter band void of the activated carbon layers. Gaskets are placed against the outer perimeter band of the electrode substrate void of activated carbon and the electrode substrate is clamped between two rigid plates to form a first airtight chamber on one side of the electrode substrate and a second airtight chamber on the opposite side of the electrode substrate. A first polymerizable monomer mixture having an anion exchange group is added into the first chamber and a second polymerizable monomer mixture having a cation exchange group is added into the second chamber. The first and second polymerizable monomer mixtures are then polymerized in an oven.

Abstract: A connection system includes a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) device, first and second electronic devices, first and second cables. The first cable includes a first terminal connected to the KVM device, a second terminal connected to the first electronic device, and a first indicator positioned on the first cable and close to the second terminal. The second cable includes a third terminal connected to the KVM device, a fourth terminal connected to the second electronic device, and a second indicator positioned on the second cable and close to the fourth terminal. The KVM device includes first to third switches, and a logic circuit connected to the first to third switches and the first and second indicators. When the first and second switches are closed, the first indicator is lit by the logic circuit. When the first and third switches are closed, the second indicator is lit by the logic circuit.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an internal storage module, a baseboard management controller (BMC) and a port. The internal storage module stores a first firmware and a boot application. The port connects to an external storage for storing a second firmware which is a backup of the first firmware. After the electronic device is powered on, the BMC runs the boot application to load the first firmware from the internal storage module. If the first firmware fails to load, the BMC copies the second firmware from the external storage to the internal storage module to replace the first firmware.

Abstract: This invention relates to semiconductor laser apparatus with a structure for reducing the divergence angle of output light and for narrowing the spectral width. The semiconductor laser apparatus has at least a semiconductor laser array, a collimator lens, a path rotator, and an optical element with a reflecting function. The collimator lens collimates a plurality of laser beams from the semiconductor laser array, in a predetermined direction. The path rotator outputs each beam collimated in the predetermined direction, with a predetermined divergence angle in the predetermined direction in a state in which a transverse section of the beam is rotated by about 90°. The optical element is arranged at a position where at least a part of each beam from the path rotator arrives, and constitutes at least a part of an external resonator. This optical element reflects a part of each beam from the path rotator to return the reflected part of each beam to the active layer in the semiconductor laser array.

Abstract: A detecting circuit includes a network interface, a switch, a baseboard management controller (BMC) having first and second signal pins, and a detecting unit. The first and second signal pins receive low level signals when the network line is disconnected from the network interface. The first signal pin receives a high level signal and the second signal pin receives a low level signal when the network line is connected to the network interface but the network card is malfunctioning. The first and second signal pins receive high level signals when the network line is connected to the network interface and the network card works normally.

Abstract: A system is used for acquiring Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) debug codes. The system includes a platform controller hub (PCH), a storage chip, and a baseboard management controller (BMC). The PCH reads power-on self tests (POST) codes from an address port of a bus, and converts the POST codes to binary data and stores the binary data in the storage chip. The BMC reads the binary data stored in the storage chip and defines the binary data as virtual sensor data, which conform with threshold type data, and decodes the virtual sensor data to POST codes and controls a display unit to display the POST codes.

Abstract: Performing real-time atlasing of graphics data and creation and maintenance of texture atlases for applications having dynamic graphics content. Embodiments include allocating a texture atlas configured to store textural elements for use in rendering graphical elements, and providing a graphics processing unit (GPU) access to the texture atlas. During subsequent execution of an application, when a graphical element of the application is to be rendered by the GPU, a block of space can be allocated within the texture atlas and a textural element corresponding to the graphical element can be stored within the allocated block. The GPU therefore has access to the textural element when rendering the graphical element.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for switching an electrical switch on and off, with a drive shaft and an output shaft. The drive shaft and the output shaft run transversely with respect to one another and interact in such that a rotation of the drive shaft entails a rotation of the output shaft, the drive shaft being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position, and the output shaft being rotatable between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. The output shaft is connected to the switch which can be switched to the switch-on and the switch-off position as a result of the rotation of the output shaft. The drive shaft and the output shaft are connected to one another via a displaceable sliding element which, during the rotation of the drive shaft, is displaced, and the output shaft is rotated by the sliding element in the course of displacement.

Abstract: This invention relates to semiconductor laser apparatus with a structure for reducing the divergence angle of output light and for narrowing the spectral width. The semiconductor laser apparatus has at least a semiconductor laser array, a collimator lens, a path rotator, and an optical element with a reflecting function. The collimator lens collimates a plurality of laser beams from the semiconductor laser array, in a predetermined direction. The path rotator outputs each beam collimated in the predetermined direction, with a predetermined divergence angle in the predetermined direction in a state in which a transverse section of the beam is rotated by about 90°. The optical element is arranged at a position where at least a part of each beam from the path rotator arrives, and constitutes at least a part of an external resonator. This optical element reflects a part of each beam from the path rotator to return the reflected part of each beam to the active layer in the semiconductor laser array.

Abstract: An electrochemical desalination system includes a first and a second electrochemical device and a controller. The first and second electrochemical devices each comprises a electrochemical desalination module comprising at least one pair of electrodes and a compartment between each pair of electrodes for receiving an electrolyte solution. Each of the first and second electrochemical desalination devices comprises a plurality of successive operation cycles. Each cycle comprises a charging mode of operation for charging each pair of electrodes and for adsorbing ions in the electrolyte solution on the electrodes, and a discharging mode of operation for discharging the pair of electrodes and for desorbing ions from the pair of electrodes. The controller is configured to control the system that the first and second electrochemical desalination devices have interleaved charging and discharging modes of operation.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for switching an electrical switch on and off, with a drive shaft and with an output shaft. In at least one embodiment, the drive shaft and the output shaft running transversely with respect to one another and interacting in such a way that a rotation of the drive shaft entails a rotation of the output shaft, the drive shaft being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position, and the output shaft being rotatable correspondingly thereto between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. In at least one embodiment, the output shaft is connected to the switch which can be switched on into the switch-on position as a result of the rotation of the output shaft and can be switched off into the switch-off position by rotation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel fusion protein suitable for high expression and the production method thereof. The structure of the fusion protein is A-C1-K-(B-C2-K)n-D, wherein A is the upstream peptide; each of C1 and C2 is independently short peptides having 20-40 amino acids in length and containing no Lys in sequence; K is Lys; B is a linker; D is a downstream peptide; n is an integer of 3-30. The fusion protein is expressed with high efficiency and stability in host cells. The purification and enzymatic cleavage technology of the expression product is simple, which is able to produce a short peptide with high efficiency, and has very high value of industrialization.