Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring the fetal position and/or orientation of the fetus of an expectant mother. An acoustic sensor array is positioned over the belly. The pattern of acoustic sensor signals is processed to determine a fetal orientation and/or to determine movement over time of the fetus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wastewater treatment, and more particularly to a method for treatment of petrochemical spent caustic wastewater. The method includes the following steps: a) adjusting the pH of petrochemical spent caustic wastewater to 7 to 12, standing, removing the organic layer, and obtaining the pretreated wastewater; b) activating a plasma reactor loaded with resin photocatalyst, passing the pretreated wastewater into the plasma reactor for treatment in the presence of oxygen, and obtaining the treated wastewater. The method provided by the present disclosure can effectively improve the COD removal rate of petrochemical spent wastewater, and the whole treatment process is carried out under normal temperature and normal pressure, with a simple process and the ability to realize continuous operation. The experimental results show that the COD removal rate of petrochemical spent caustic wastewater using the method provided by the present disclosure is above 98%.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for receiving flour, said compartment comprising a sensor (120) for producing a sensor reading indicative of a dielectric property of said flour or a product comprising said flour. The kitchen appliance further comprises a processing arrangement (130) communicatively coupled to the sensor for determining an initial moisture content of said flour or product from said sensor reading and adapted to generate a control signal indicative of an amount of water to be added to the compartment as a function of the determined moisture content. A method of controlling a flour product-based food preparation process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wastewater treatment, and more particularly to a method for treatment of petrochemical spent caustic wastewater. The method includes the following steps: a) adjusting the pH of petrochemical spent caustic wastewater to 7 to 12, standing, removing the organic layer, and obtaining the pretreated wastewater; b) activating a plasma reactor loaded with resin photocatalyst, passing the pretreated wastewater into the plasma reactor for treatment in the presence of oxygen, and obtaining the treated wastewater. The method provided by the present disclosure can effectively improve the COD removal rate of petrochemical spent wastewater, and the whole treatment process is carried out under normal temperature and normal pressure, with a simple process and the ability to realize continuous operation. The experimental results show that the COD removal rate of petrochemical spent caustic wastewater using the method provided by the present disclosure is above 98%.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring the fetal position and/or orientation of the fetus of an expectant mother. An acoustic sensor array is positioned over the belly. The pattern of acoustic sensor signals is processed to determine a fetal orientation and/or to determine movement over time of the fetus.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for receiving flour, said compartment comprising a sensor (120) for producing a sensor reading indicative of a dielectric property of said flour or a product comprising said flour. The kitchen appliance further comprises a processing arrangement (130) communicatively coupled to the sensor for determining an initial moisture content of said flour or product from said sensor reading and adapted to generate a control signal indicative of an amount of water to be added to the compartment as a function of the determined moisture content. A method of controlling a flour product-based food preparation process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor device, which is adapted for detecting target molecules having a target nucleic acid sequence, comprises an optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator having a resonance frequency, wherein the WGM resonator is functionalized with a double-strand DNA precursor compound and the resonance frequency depends on a mass load provided by the double-strand precursor compound, the double-strand precursor compound is capable of a target-specific strand displacement reaction with the target molecules, and in response to the strand displacement reaction, the double-strand precursor compound is capable to be partially decoupled from the WGM resonator, wherein the mass load can be decreased and the resonance frequency of the WGM resonator can be increased. Furthermore, a sensing method for detecting target molecules including nucleic acid sequences is described.

Abstract: A sensor device (100), which is adapted for detecting target molecules having a target nucleic acid sequence, comprises an optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator (10) having a resonance frequency, wherein the WGM resonator is functionalized with a double-strand DNA precursor compound and the 10 resonance frequency depends on a mass load provided by the double-strand precursor compound, the double-strand precursor compound is capable of a target-specific strand displacement reaction with the target molecules, and in response to the strand displacement reaction, the double-strand precursor 15 compound is capable to be partially decoupled from the WGM resonator (10), wherein the mass load can be decreased and the resonance frequency of the WGM resonator can be increased. Furthermore, a sensing method for detecting target molecules including nucleic acid sequences is described.