Abstract: Various aspects of a systems and method for reconstructing a surface of a three-dimensional (3D) target are disclosed herein. The method may comprise projecting a sequence of patterns to the surface of the target; capturing a first stereo endoscopic image and a second stereo endoscopic image from the patterns reflected from the surface; performing a coarse matching for the captured first and second stereo endoscopic images to acquire a set of matching candidates; and performing a precise matching for the acquired set of matching candidates to acquire reconstruction pixels for reconstructing the surface.

Abstract: A laser fabrication method and a laser fabrication system. The laser fabrication system includes an ultrafast laser source configured to output a laser beam; and a digital micromirror device (DMD), configured to receive, shape, and scan the laser beam, wherein more than one binary holograms are synthesized to form a scanning hologram applied to the DMD. The shaped laser beam, containing one or multiple focal points, leaving the DMD, are focused to the sample for fast laser fabrication.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detecting hematological disorders using cell-free DNA in a blood sample, e.g., using plasma or serum. For example, an assay can target one or more differentially-methylated regions specific to a particular hematological cell lineage (e.g., erythroblasts). A methylation level can be quantified from the assay to determine an amount of methylated or unmethylated DNA fragments in a cell-free mixture of the blood sample. The methylation level can be compared to one or more cutoff values, e.g., that correspond to a normal range for the particular hematological cell lineage as part of determining a level of a hematological disorder.

Abstract: Methods and systems for peer-to-peer communication are provided. In one example, a first device may receive, from a server, a pairing code and a first handshake code. The first device may transmit at least a first portion of the pairing code in a first broadcast message and receive, from the second device, a second broadcast message. The first device may authenticate the second device based on at least a second portion of the pairing code in the second broadcast message. The first device may establish a wireless peer-to-peer communication channel with the second device, and receive, from the second device, a second handshake code via the wireless peer-to-peer communication channel. The first device may authorize the second party to engage in an offline interaction with the first party based on the first handshake code and the second handshake code.

Abstract: The present invention provides a class of novel aryl pseudo-C-glycoside compounds that are effective for treating diabetes. Also provided are methods for making such compounds and methods for treating diabetes by administering such compounds to patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes.

Abstract: A classification of a level of cancer in an organism is determined by analyzing a biological sample of the organism. The biological sample comprises clinically-relevant DNA and other DNA. At least some of the DNA is cell-free in the biological sample. An amount of a first set of DNA fragments from the biological sample corresponding to each of a plurality of sizes is measured. A first value of a first parameter is calculated based on the amounts of DNA fragments at the plurality of sizes. The first value is compared to a reference value. A classification of a level of cancer in the organism is determined based on the comparison.

Abstract: Cell-free DNA molecules in a mixture of a biological sample can be analyzed to detect viral DNA. Methylation of viral DNA molecules at one or more sites in the viral genome can be determined. Mixture methylation level(s) can be measured based on one or more amounts of the plurality of cell-free DNA molecules methylated at a set of site(s) of the particular viral genome. The mixture methylation level(s) can be determined in various ways, e.g., as a density of cell-free DNA molecules that are methylated at a site or across multiple sites or regions. The mixture methylation level(s) can be compared to reference methylation level(s), e.g., determined from at least two cohorts of other subjects. The cohorts can have different classifications (including the first condition) associated with the particular viral genome. A first classification of whether the subject has the first condition can be determined based on the comparing.

Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for diagnosing, monitoring, or predicting preeclaimpsia in a pregnant woman, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21 in a fetus, as well as for detecting pregnancy in a woman, by quantitatively measuring in the maternal blood the amount of one or more RNA species derived from a set of genetic loci and comparing the amount of the RNA species with a standard control.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a muscle signal-driven cycling system for persons with disability for rehabilitation are provided. A system comprises integrating both motor power and muscle power to facilitate rehabilitation cycling-based exercises. By using the intensity of real-time muscle activity signals as inputs, a motor applies either assistive or resistive force to rotate a gear at different speeds to facilitate or impede the cycling motion, and the electrical pulses from an electrical stimulation device can be provided to stimulate target muscles to generate muscle contraction to support the continuous cycling movement.

Abstract: Radio frequency antennas sharing a ground plane are largely decoupled using one or more lumped capacitive elements set into holes within the ground plane. The holes, which are precisely placed, can extend to a side of the ground plane. A stub extends from a fringe of the hole either straight or bending in an L shape, and a capacitor connects between an end of the stub and another side of the hole. Capacitive elements can also be supported on raised solder pads above a ground plane or off to one side of the ground plane. Methods for manufacturing the decoupling apparatus are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing and determining prognosis of gastric cancer in a subject by detecting suppressed expression of the SCNN1B gene, which in some cases is due to elevated methylation level in the genomic sequence of this gene. A kit and device useful for such a method are also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating gastric cancer by increasing SCNN1B gene expression or activity.

Abstract: Systems and methods of laser dispersion spectroscopy for in situ, quantitative and non-intrusive measurements of combustion parameters, such as temperature and gas concentrations are provided. The system includes a laser source configured to sweep across the spectral features of molecules, an RF generator configured to modulate a laser to generate a three-tone laser beam, a photodetector configured to detect the transmitted three-tone laser beam to generate a heterodyne beat note signal, and a lock-in amplifier configured to further process the beat note signal in order to measure a phase of the heterodyne beat note signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dicing a sample by a Bessel beam matrix are disclosed. The method for dicing a sample by a Bessel beam matrix may comprise generating a Bessel beam matrix including multiple Bessel beams arranged in a matrix form, according to a predetermined dicing layout of the sample; controlling a focus position of each Bessel beam in the generated Bessel beam matrix; and focusing simultaneously the Bessel beams of the Bessel beam matrix at the respective controlled focus positions within the sample for dicing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine and use methylation profiles of various tissues and samples. Examples are provided. A methylation profile can be deduced for fetal/tumor tissue based on a comparison of plasma methylation (or other sample with cell-free DNA) to a methylation profile of the mother/patient. A methylation profile can be determined for fetal/tumor tissue using tissue-specific alleles to identify DNA from the fetus/tumor when the sample has a mixture of DNA. A methylation profile can be used to determine copy number variations in genome of a fetus/tumor. Methylation markers for a fetus have been identified via various techniques. The methylation profile can be determined by determining a size parameter of a size distribution of DNA fragments, where reference values for the size parameter can be used to determine methylation levels. Additionally, a methylation level can be used to determine a level of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assessing the presence and risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cancer of all sites, or cardiovascular disease in a subject by detecting sequence variation in one or more genes such as carboxypeptidase E (CPE) and insulin degradation enzyme (IDE). A kit, array, and device useful for such a method are also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating type 2 diabetes, cancer of all sites, or cardiovascular disease in patients who have been tested and shown to have the pertinent genetic variations.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and method are provided for determining the contributions of different tissues to a biological sample that includes a mixture of cell-free DNA molecules from various tissues types, e.g., as occurs in plasma or serum and other body fluids. Embodiments can analyze the methylation patterns of the DNA mixture (e.g., methylation levels at particular loci) for a particular haplotype and determine fractional contributions of various tissue types to the DNA mixture, e.g., of fetal tissue types or tissue types of specific organs that might have a tumor. Such fractional contributions determined for a haplotype can be used in a variety of ways.

Abstract: It provides a method for predicting the risk of an adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcome for a pregnant subject by detecting the elevated level of bacteria from one or more selected bacterial taxa (e.g., genera or species). A kit useful for such a method is also provided. In addition, it provides a method for determining the risk of having advanced cervical dilation and/or premature cervical shortening based on differentially abundant bacterial taxa.

Abstract: A cross-plane flexible micro-TEG with hundreds of pairs of thermoelectric pillars formed via electroplating, microfabrication, and substrate transferring processes is provided herein. Typically, fabrication is conducted on a Si substrate, which can be easily realized by commercial production line. The fabricated micro-TEG transferred to the flexible layer from the Si substrate. Fabrication methods provided herein allow fabrication of main TEG components including bottom interconnectors, thermoelectric pillars, and top interconnectors by electroplating. Such flexible micro-TEGs provide high output power density due to high density of thermoelectric pillars and very low internal resistance of electroplated components. The flexible micro-TEG can achieve a power per unit area of 4.5 mW cm?2 at a temperature difference of ˜50 K, which is comparable to performance of flexible TEGs developed by screen printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for inducing pluripotency in differentiated mammalian cells. In particular, the methods include mechanically aggregating the cells into discrete masses or embryoid-like bodies and treated them with a small molecule compound. Provided herein are the compositions of the compounds which are derived from programin (e.g., reversine).

Abstract: Systems and methods for de-identification of medical images can be applied to medical images acquired using various techniques. A 3D medical image can be analyzed to generate an image mask that partitions the image into a foreground region and a background region. From the image mask, a “skin surface” can be reconstructed based on the boundary between the foreground region and the background region. The image mask can be modified, e.g., by moving a randomly-selected subset of the voxels from the foreground region to the background region so that the shape of the skin surface is altered, thus obscuring patient-identifying features. The original medical image can be modified by changing the intensity of voxels in the background region while preserving the original intensity of voxels in the foreground region.