Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the movement of a foundation may include an elevation sensor to detect changes in elevation of the foundation and positioned on the foundation to broadcast a signal responsive to the movement of the foundation; and a receiver to receive the signal responsive to the movement of the foundation and positioned off the foundation to provide a absolute measurement of the movement of the foundation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a set of novel isobaric chemical tags, also referred herein as SUGAR (Isobaric Multiplex Reagents for Carbonyl Containing Compound). These labeling tags are compact and easy to synthesize at high yield and purity in just a few steps using commercially available starting materials. The tagging reagents of the present invention comprise: a) a reporter group, having at least one atom that is optionally isotopically labeled; b) a balancing group, also having at least one atom that is optionally isotopically labeled, and c) an aldehyde, ketone, or carboxylic acid reactive group. The multiplex SUGAR tags are able to react with an aldehyde, ketone, or carboxylic acid group of the molecule to be tagged, which offers the capability for labeling and quantitation of glycans, proteins/peptides, and fatty acids.

Abstract: A composition for preventing or treating hearing loss, containing a Vitis vinifera leaf extract as an active ingredient, is disclosed. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating hearing loss, containing the extract (a Vitis vinifera leaf extract) as an active ingredient, protects auditory hair cells in the cochlea and spiral ganglion cells from damage caused by noise and the like and effectively reduces the hearing threshold measured in the auditory nerves, thereby being usable as an agent for preventing or treating hearing loss.

Abstract: An introducer sheath is provided for inserting at least one medical instrument directly toward a target patient tissue site. A plurality of lumens extend longitudinally between sheath proximal and distal ends of the introducer sheath. A septum extends between the sheath proximal and distal ends and selectively laterally separates each of the sheath lumens from one another. The septum is at least partially formed from a deformable and elastomeric material. The septum has a biased condition in which the plurality of sheath lumens are at least partially isolated from one another. The septum is selectively deflectable from the biased condition to at least partially place at least one of the plurality of sheath lumens in fluid communication with at least one other of the plurality of sheath lumens.

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter generally relates to antimicrobial compounds, compositions, methods of making and methods of use thereof. The presently-disclosed subject matter further relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the control of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Abstract: A system may assist with checking policy impact in a software-defined infrastructure environment. The system's data analysis may enable it to discover and quantify the impact of policies on software-defined infrastructure objects in the same or different layers.

Abstract: Methods, microbial fuel cells and microbial consortia for generating electrical current are provided according to the present invention which include providing a microbial consortium to an anode chamber of a microbial fuel cell, wherein the microbial consortium includes: 1) an engineered methanogen that contains a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding methyl-coenzyme M reductase derived from an anaerobic methane oxidizer, 2) an exoelectrogen microbe that produces electrically-conductive appendages and/or one or more types of electron carrier, and 3) a sludge, methane-acclimated sludge, a sludge isolate component, a methane-acclimated sludge isolate component chosen from Paracoccus spp., Geotoga spp., Geobacter spp., Methanosarcina spp., Garciella spp., humic acids; or a combination of any two or more thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a laser projection apparatus, a control method thereof, and a laser guidance system including the laser projection apparatus. The laser projection apparatus for projecting planned operation information of an insertion location and an insertion angle on a C-arm image photographed using a C-arm fluoroscopy device directly onto an affected part includes a line laser module configured to generate a line laser and to form a plane by rotating around an origin, a matching unit configured to calculate a coordinate representing the insertion location in a C-arm coordinate system based on C-arm fluoroscopy, calculate an insertional vector according to the coordinate representing the insertion location and the insertion angle, and calculate a vector perpendicular to the plane formed by the line laser in the C-arm coordinate system according to the insertional vector, and a control unit configured to control the line laser module based on the vector perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: A pulsar based timing synchronization method and system are disclosed. In one example, a method includes receiving, by a pulsar signal receiver device, a pulse signal emitted from one or more celestial objects and processing, by the pulsar signal receiver device, the pulse signal to discipline a local clock to determine an accurate time output. The method also includes generating, by the pulsar signal receiver device, a timing synchronization signal based on the determined accurate time output. The method further includes providing, by the pulsar signal receiver device, the timing synchronization signal to at least one of a local power system device and a timing distribution network server.

Abstract: A capacitive transmitter includes a control circuit configured to generate a data signal by delaying input data and to generate a control signal according to the input data and a delayed signal thereof; a capacitor connected between a first node and a transmission node; a driving circuit configured to receive the data signal and to provide an output signal corresponding to the data signal to the first node; and a bias setting circuit configured to set a transmission voltage at the transmission node according to the control signal.

Abstract: Methods of ex vivo labeling of a biological material for in vivo imaging, methods of labeling a biological material in vivo, methods for preparing a labeling agent, and methods for in vivo imaging of a subject using a biological material labeled with a labeling agent are disclosed. In one non-limiting example, the biological material is selected from cells and the labeling agent is a 89Zr-Desferrioxamine-NCS labeling agent.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a photonic component having a metasurface. The metasurface includes a substrate with a thin-layer of meta-atoms disposed thereon. The photonic component includes a waveguide having a top surface, wherein the metasurface is disposed on at least a portion of the top surface such that the meta-atoms form an array on the top surface. The photonic component includes a sandwich nano-bar antenna formed in or on the metasurface.

Abstract: Methods for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging that implement coded multi-pulses in each of two or more different transmission events are described. Data acquired in response to the two different transmission events are decoded and combined. In some embodiments, the coded multi-pulses include two or more consecutive Hadamard encoded ultrasound pulses. In other embodiments, multiplane wave pulses can be used. Such multiplane wave pulses can be coded using Hadamard encoding, as one example. In addition, the multiplane wave pulses can be further coded using amplitude modulation, pulse inversion, or pulse inversion amplitude modulation techniques.

Abstract: An image processing method includes: determining a source transmission map based on a dark channel map of an input image; determining transformed transmission maps by applying different filters to the determined source transmission map; generating haze-free images by removing haze from the input image based respectively on the determined transformed transmission maps; and generating an output image by blending the generated haze-free images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an animal model of preterm birth and an animal model of preterm birth produced by the method. The animal model of the present invention can be effectively applied to investigate the causes and symptoms of preterm birth induced by cervical injury. The mortality rate of the animal model according to the present invention is low until preterm birth despite its induced preterm birth. In addition, the animal model of the present invention is produced in a higher yield than any other existing model. Furthermore, the preterm birth of the animal model according to the present invention is induced at a desired time point. Due to these advantages, the animal model of the present invention can be effectively applied to investigate the causes and mechanisms of preterm birth. The mortality rate of premature neonates born from the animal model of the present invention is considerably low and the premature neonates are immature.

Abstract: A reference imaging system including a planar reference piece. The reference imaging system further includes a three-axis gantry for positioning the planar reference piece at a plurality of points in a 3D coordinate system. Additionally, the reference imaging system includes a yaw actuator for adjusting the yaw angle of the object. Furthermore, the reference imaging system includes a pitch actuator for adjusting the pitch of the object. Moreover, the reference imaging system includes a computer processing unit for controlling the 3D position, pitch and yaw of the planar reference piece.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel and improved methods of analyzing proteins, peptides and polypeptides by mass spectrometry using ion-ion reactions. More specifically the disclosure relates to improved methods for implementing the m/z selective arresting of ion-ion reactions within the ion-ion reaction cell of a mass spectrometer system during a period where ion-ion reactions are performed.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for analyzing a plant specimen. A housing assembly defines a sensing volume and controls entry of ambient light into the sensing volume when the housing is closed. A specimen support positions a plant specimen within the sensing volume whereby light emitted from at least one light emitter is incident upon the plant specimen. An image sensor senses light from the at least one light emitter that has been incident on the plant specimen. A processor analyzes data obtained from the light sensor to assess one or more properties of the plant specimen. There may be more than one light emitter, e.g., a halogen lamp and LED array, and the apparatus may acquire images under more than one lighting condition. The apparatus may include a mechanism for moving the plant specimen relative to the optical path to take images at multiple regions of interest on the specimen.

Abstract: A laser-assisted microfluidics manufacturing process has been developed for the fabrication of additively manufactured structures. Roll-to-roll manufacturing is enhanced by the use of a laser-assisted electrospray printhead positioned above the flexible substrate. The laser electrospray printhead sprays microdroplets containing nanoparticles onto the substrate to form both thin-film and structural layers. As the substrate moves, the nanoparticles are sintered using a laser beam directed by the laser electrospray printhead onto the substrate.

Abstract: Provided herein are a probe capable of simultaneously detecting a virus and treating virus-infected cells, a composition for detecting a virus, which comprises the probe, a composition for treating a virus, which comprises the probe, and a method of detecting a virus or treating a viral infection by using the same. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to simultaneously perform diagnosis by virus detection and treatment of virus-infected cells, and in particular, diagnosis and treatment may be simultaneously performed on various types of viruses by varying the type of molecular beacon, and thus may be usefully applied to virus diagnosis and treatment fields, which require rapid diagnosis and treatment, and the spread of viral infections may be effectively prevented. In addition, the probe of the present disclosure has excellent stability and excellent detection sensitivity, and thus enables the detection of even a very low amount of a target at the pmole level.