The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

A method and apparatus for dynamic retrieval of installation packages when installing software is described herein. In one embodiment, a process can be provided to determine a specific installation package to be installed for software having one or more packages to be installed. A repository can be automatically identified from a plurality of repositories from which to obtain the specific installation package, based on priority criteria. The priority criteria can be based on dynamically changing parameters. The specific installation package can be obtained from the identified repository.

A stretchable sheet 10 includes: a plurality of attached portions 3 spaced apart from each other in the direction of stretch Df, wherein the first surfaces 1f and 2f of a pair of sheets 1 and 2 are attached to each other by being welded without using an adhesive, at the attached portions 3, the attached portions 3 hold elastic members F, and the attached portions 3 extend in a direction Dp crossing the direction of stretch Df of the elastic members F; and a plurality of folds P that appear between the attached portions 3 while the elastic members F are shrunk, wherein a width W3 of the attached portions 3 in the direction of stretch Df is set to be 0.2 mm or more and less than 1.0 mm.

An abrasive article comprising a first group including a plurality of shaped abrasive particles overlying a backing, wherein the plurality of shaped abrasive particles of the first group define a first non-shadowing distribution relative to each other.

Provided is a pressure-sensitive adhesive structure including a carbon nanotube aggregate formed on a base material in which carbon nanotubes forming the carbon nanotube aggregate are hardly detached. The pressure-sensitive adhesive structure of the present invention includes: a base material; an intermediate layer; and a carbon nanotube aggregate layer, wherein the carbon nanotube aggregate layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotube aggregates, wherein the intermediate layer includes a layer containing the carbon nanotubes and a fixing agent, and wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of 100 nm or more.

A decorative sheet includes a substrate and a surface protective layer formed on the substrate. A decorative plate is formed by laminating the decorative sheet on a base. The surface protective layer includes a first surface protective layer formed on the substrate and a second surface protective layer formed on part of the first surface protective layer. The first surface protective layer contains a curable resin and has a surface kinetic friction coefficient of 0.11 or more and 0.30 or less. The second surface protective layer contains at least one of resin beads and an inorganic compound filler. The first surface protective layer is glossier than the second surface protective layer.

Image processing and analysis technique includes using a computer apparatus to assess a patient's magnetic resonance images or derived multiparametric maps for pathology and then automatically generate a prescription based at least in part on that assessment. The parametric maps are derived from an MRI sequence from which multiparametric maps are derivable.

Various methods and apparatuses for creating a visual effect on a rubber article are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rubber article having a visual effect is provided, the rubber article comprising: a surface having at least one surface feature; and wherein the at least one surface feature comprises a plurality of linear elements creating a camouflage-shaped appearance.

The present invention discloses a co-extruded one-time-formed solar cell module backboard in a three-layer structure. The backboard is formed by co-extruding three layers: a middle layer located in the middle as well as an outer layer and an inner layer located at two sides of the middle layer, and has high water resisting capability, high reflective rate, good long-term aging resistance performances of hydrolysis resistance, UV resistance and heat resistance and good recoverability and environmental protection performance. Compared with the prior art, the backboard has better water resisting ability, higher reflectivity, better long-term aging resistance performances of hydrolysis resistance, UV resistance and heat resistance, better recoverability and environmental protection performance and lower cost. Compared with a backboard in a co-extruded structure in the prior art, the backboard of the present invention has better heat resistance, better dimensional stability and higher mechanical breaking strength.

An expandable support member for an article of footwear includes a plurality of expansion components that are joined together. The support member can be expandable between a contracted position and an expanded position. The plurality of expansion components are configured to expand along a non-linear path when the support member moves between the contracted position and the expanded position.