Abstract: Systems and methods for impairing smooth muscle tissue function using energy and/or pressure are described herein. The systems and/or methods may be used in some embodiments to target smooth muscle tissue in the bronchial passages.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protein engineering. The systems include a sequence testing subsystem and a machine learning subsystem. The sequence testing subsystem is configured to express proteins and test the expressed proteins for a given property. The machine learning subsystem is configured to model the activities of a set of possible proteins in light of the properties of the tested proteins and provide one or more untested proteins in the set to the sequence testing subsystem for subsequent testing. The system can be run in an iterative fashion and be fully automated. Methods of using the systems are provided.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for assessing and/or treating obese mammals (e.g., obese humans). For example, methods and materials for using one or more interventions (e.g., one or more pharmacological interventions) to treat obesity and/or obesity-related comorbidities in a mammal (e.g., a human) identified as being likely to respond to a particular intervention (e.g., a pharmacological intervention) are provided.

Abstract: A reflectionless frequency filter circuit is provided. The reflectionless frequency filter circuit may include a first partial circuit including a first inductor and a first resistor connected in parallel with the first inductor, a first inverter connected in parallel with the first partial circuit, and a third partial circuit connected in series with the first inverter, and the third partial circuit may include a third inductor and a third resistor formed in a branch line between the first inverter and the third inductor.

Abstract: A computer system that generates output speech is described. During operation, the computer system may receive an input associated with a type of interaction. Then, the computer system may generate, using a voice synthesis engine, the output speech corresponding to an individual based at least in part on the input, where the voice synthesis engine predicts positions and duration of a prosodic characteristic of speech by the individual, and selectively adds the prosodic characteristic of the speech by the individual in the output speech based at least in part on the prediction. Note that the prosodic characteristic may include: pauses in the speech by the individual, and/or disfluences in the speech by the individual.

Abstract: A method to determine the throughput speed v of a pore, comprising the steps of feeding, by means of a driving force F, a filiform calibration element through the pore, the calibration element having a plurality of markers spaced apart by known distances and configured to produce an interaction event that transmits a signal away from the pore upon interaction with the pore, detecting a plurality of interaction events, and determining a time interval ?t between successive interaction events, and/or a frequency ? of interaction events.

Abstract: There may be provided a secure ledger network for executing cryptocurrency transactions, the secure ledger network includes at least one hardware processor, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having an executable computer readable program code, the at least one hardware processor configured to execute the computer-readable program code to: receive, by the secure ledger network, a request to validate a smart contract that determines at least one rule for performing a transaction related to a first cryptocurrency token, wherein an execution of the transaction comprising determining a price of the first cryptocurrency token based on a status of the first cryptocurrency token, and a status of an other cryptocurrency token; determine whether to validate the smart contract; when determining to validate the smart contract then updating a secure ledger maintained by the secure ledger network with the smart contract; receiving, by the secure ledger network, a request to execute a transaction related to t

Abstract: A computer system that trains a neural network is described. During operation, the computer system may receive information specifying a new attack vector corresponding to fake audio content. In response, the computer system may generate a synthetic training dataset based at least in part on the new attack vector. Then, the computer system may access a predetermined neural network that classifies real audio content and fake audio content, where the predetermined neural network was training without synthetic audio content corresponding to the new attack vector. Next, the computer system may train the neural network based at least in part on the synthetic training dataset and the predetermined neural network, where the training of the neural network may include modifying predetermined weights associated with the predetermined neural network, and where a training time for training the neural network may be less than a training time for training the predetermined neural network.

Abstract: Processes to identify variants that affect biochemical regulation are described. Generally, models are used to identify variants that affect biochemical regulation, which can be used in several downstream applications. A pathogenicity of identified variants is also determined in some instances, which can also be used in several. Various methods further develop research tools, perform diagnostics, and treat individuals based on identified variants.

Abstract: Disclosed are a microneedle patch and a method for fabricating the microneedle patch. The microneedle patch includes a base layer including a mesh structure or auxetic materials having a negative Poisson's ratio, and a microneedle array disposed on the base layer. The method includes forming a base layer including a mesh structure or auxetic materials having a negative Poisson's ratio, and forming a microneedle array on the base layer.

Abstract: A computer system that classifies audio content is described. During operation, the computer system may receive audio content. Then, the computer system may determine a representation of the audio content (such as a signal-processing representation) by performing a transformation on the audio content. In some embodiments, the transformation may include a neural network and/or the representation may include word embedding or sense embedding of words in the audio content. Moreover, the computer system may analyze the representation using a predetermined neural network. Next, the computer system may classify, based at least in part on an output of the predetermined neural network, the audio content as being fake or real, where the fake audio content is, at least in part, computer-generated. Furthermore, the computer system may selectively perform a remedial action based at least in part on the classification.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the production of Cannabis meristem explants from dry seeds. Also described are methods of transforming and gene editing using the Cannabis meristem explants disclosed herein.

Abstract: A self cleaning inlet head for use on a shunt. The head has a tube with openings disposed in predetermined positions in its wall, and a cleaning element installed inside the tube. The cleaning element may comprise a central shaft with a number of bristles protruding therefrom, preferably in locations substantially identical to the positions of the openings in the wall of the tube. Mutual vibratory motion between the cleaning element and the tube causes at least some of the bristles to enter the openings, thereby keeping them clear, and preventing tissue growth into them. The vibratory motion may be generated by the action of an external field on a responsive part of the cleaning element, such as an external magnetic field operating on a magnetic or magnetized part of the cleaning element or the bristles. Alternatively, the external field may be an ultrasound field operating on the bristles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for compacting soil and granular materials. The soil compaction apparatuses include an arrangement of diametric expansion elements that, in their expanded state, form a larger compaction surface. In another embodiment, a compaction chamber can be provided with diametric restriction elements and a flow-through passage in the upper portion of the chamber exterior of a drive shaft. The diametric expansion or restriction elements can be fabricated from, for example, individual chains, cables, or wire rope, or a lattice of vertically and horizontally connected chains, cables, or wire rope. Embodiments of the soil compaction apparatus include, but are not limited to, closed-ended driving shafts, open-ended driving shafts, flow-through passages, no flow-through passages, removable rings for holding the diametric expansion/restriction elements, and any combinations thereof.

Abstract: A computing system using a bit counter may include a host device; a cache configured to temporarily store data of the host device, and including a plurality of sets; a cache controller configured to receive a multi-bit cache address from the host device, perform computation on the cache address using a plurality of bit counters, and determine a hash function of the cache; a semiconductor device; and a memory controller configured to receive the cache address from the cache controller, and map the cache address to a semiconductor device address.

Abstract: A backscatter communication method and apparatus based on pattern-based demodulation is disclosed. The backscatter communication method includes receiving a communication signal, and demodulating the communication signal based on a slope of the communication signal at an edge of each time interval.

Abstract: An inorganic nanoparticles-based structure in accordance with the present disclosure includes inorganic nano-particles; and a novel ligand coordinated to a surface of each of the inorganic nano-particles, wherein the ligand has a urethane bond resulting from reaction with an isocyanate compound having a double bond, and, thus, has a double bond at terminals thereof. Further, the present disclosure provides an optical member, a light-emitting device, and a quantum dot display device including the inorganic nanoparticles-based structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cell culture device and its applications of creating gradient of chemicals or gradient of cells to mimic the in vivo physiological conditions of homeostasis.

Abstract: Embodiments facilitate prediction of anti-vascular endothelial growth (anti-VEGF) therapy response in DME patients. A first set of embodiments discussed herein relates to training of a machine learning classifier to determine a prediction for response to anti-VEGF therapy based on a set of graph-network features and a set of morphological features generated based on FA images of tissue demonstrating DME. A second set of embodiments discussed herein relates to determination of a prediction of response to anti-VEGF therapy for a DME patient (e.g., non-rebounder vs. rebounder, response vs. non-response) based on a set of graph-network features and a set of morphological features generated based on FA imagery of the patient.