Abstract: An assay and a method for identifying a prebiotic to treat a subject in need thereof to promote intestinal barrier integrity or to blunt an inflammatory response are provided.

Abstract: Compounds for use in a rechargeable battery are provided, including a compound according to the formula: wherein R1 and R9 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, perfluoroaryl, perfluoroalkyl, alkylaryl, alkoxyaryl, alkylcarboxyl, aryl carbonyl, haloalkyl, perfluoroalkyl, glycols, haloaryl, a negative electrolyte, and a polymer, so long as when R1 is H, R9 is not H; and R10 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyaryl, alkylcarboxyl, aryl carbonyl, haloalkyl, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, glycols, haloaryl, an oligomer, and a polymer.

Abstract: A diving pool includes a first tiered section extending to a first depth of the diving pool, a second tiered section extending to a second depth of the diving pool that is deeper than the first depth, and a cover. The cover can be releasably positioned within the diving pool at a depth of the diving pool to isolate a shallower portion of the diving pool above the cover at the depth from a deeper portion of the diving pool below the cover at the depth.

Abstract: Provided is a method for automatically generating a search heuristic that is optimal for a test subject program and a method of concolic testing that uses a parameterized search heuristic to yield a consistent test performance for any program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glucose-reactive artificial muscle, and more particularly, to a carbon nanotube, a hydrogel-based glucose-reactive artificial muscle which has a reversible volume change due to variations in glucose concentration, a method of forming the same, a rotary artificial muscle using the same, and a method of detecting glucose. The glucose-reactive artificial muscle according to the present invention may sense variations in glucose concentration with high sensitivity within a short time by providing reversible twisting using the swelling and shrinkage of hydrogels, which occur due to a change in internal anionic charges, caused by the bonding between a boronic acid introduced to the hydrogels and glucose.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a memory device; buffer entries each including a plurality of slabs; a prefetch circuit configured to prefetch data from the memory device and store the data in the buffer entries; and processing circuits respectively corresponding to the slabs, each processing circuit being configured to sequentially demand-fetch and process data stored in corresponding slabs in the buffer entries, wherein each processing circuit checks, when demand-fetching data from a first slab among corresponding slabs, a prefetch trigger bit of a first buffer entry in which the first slab is included, determines, when it is determined that the prefetch trigger bit is set, whether all data stored in the slabs included in a second buffer entry is demand-fetched, and triggers, when it is determined that all the data is demand-fetched, the prefetch circuit to perform prefetch of subsequent data to the second buffer entry.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating polycystic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease. For example, methods for using a TRPV2 agonist (e.g., probenecid) and optionally a vasopressin receptor antagonist (e.g., tolvaptan) to treat a mammal having polycystic kidney disease (e.g., autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease) are provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method of analyzing sample data based on a genomic module network by means of a computer apparatus. The method includes filtering first gene expression data for a normal or tumor tissue, which is the same tissue as a specific tissue, and second gene expression data for a target tissue to be analyzed, which is the same tissue as the specific tissue, on the basis of a specific module among a plurality of genomic modules; and classifying genes into a plurality of new genomic modules on the basis of an entropy determined using the filtered first gene expression data and determining, for genes belonging to at least one of the plurality of new genomic modules, a first degree of variation of the target tissue relative to the normal or tumor tissue in the at least one genomic module using the filtered first gene expression data and the filtered second gene expression data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to delivery agents for delivering one or more active agents to desired cells (e.g., adipose stromal cells). The delivery agents generally include: (1) a particle; (2) one or more active agents carried by the particle; and (3) a targeting agent associated with the particle, where the targeting agent directs the delivery agent to the desired cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods for delivering active agents to adipose stromal cells through the use of the aforementioned delivery agents. In some embodiments, the methods include a step of associating the adipose stromal cells with the delivery agent such that the associating results in the delivery of the active agents into the adipose stromal cells. The associating can occur by administering the delivery agent to a subject for the treatment or prevention of obesity and related disorder or diseases in the subject.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for making and using recombinant bacteria that are capable of regulated attenuation and/or regulated expression of one or more antigens from Clostridium Perfringens as vaccines to prevent necrotic enteritis (NE).

Abstract: A personalized non-invasive blood glucose measurement method according to the present disclosure includes: (a) collecting blood glucose value data of a patient by a processor unit; (b) determining an acceptable final error E? with the blood glucose value data collected by the processor unit; (c) non-invasively predicting a blood glucose value in accordance with a setting mode by a patient when the final error E? is determined, to measure a blood glucose value, by the processor unit; (d) periodically determining whether the final error E? is calibrated by the processor unit; and (e) when it is not necessary to recalibrate in step (d), non-invasively predicting the blood glucose value in the range of the final error E? determined in step (b) to measure the blood glucose value, to non-invasively provide an accurate personalized blood glucose value to a patient who needs to invasively measure a blood glucose every day.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel and improved synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from a glucose source. The synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is carried out by reacting a mixture comprising a Brønsted acid, a Lewis acid, water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile, and a glucose source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detection of a mutation in a nucleotide sequence, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of target genes for one subject sample by using a gene panel including probes for the plurality of target genes; collecting multiple replicates of nucleotide sequences including nucleotide sequences being identical or non-identical with each of the plurality of target genes by sequencing each of the plurality of target genes in multiple rounds through next generation sequencing (NGS); matching the multiple replicates of nucleotide sequences with reference nucleotide sequences; determining nucleotide sequences unmatched with the reference nucleotide sequences for the plurality of target genes among the multiple replicates of nucleotide sequences; and determining candidates of nucleotide sequence mutations for the plurality of target genes in the subject sample, based on a probability of mutation for a discordant gene locus with the unmatched nucleotide sequence

Abstract: A system of writing to and reading from a magnetic nanostructure is disclosed which includes an opto-magnetic write arrangement including a polarizer configured to receive incident light and provide a circularly or linearly polarized light, wherein light polarization is controlled by the polarizer and its orientation with respect to polarization of the incident light, a nanomagnetic structure configured to receive the polarized light including a substrate, and a nanomagnetic stack including a nanomagnet, and a capping layer, wherein the nanomagnetic stack is configured to receive the polarized light and thereby switch orientation of a magnetic moment associated with the magnetic nanostructure whereby the magnetic moment direction specifies a bit value held in the magnetic structure, and a magnetic read arrangement, configured to receive and interpret an optical signal from the magnetic nanostructure indicating the magnetic moment orientation from the nanomagnetic stack.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a substrate, a patterned circuit, and a conductive material layer. The patterned circuit, formed on the substrate, includes a first-path part and a second-path part of which at least a part is formed at a predetermined gap from at least a part of the first-path part. The conductive material layer, resiliently disposed on the patterned circuit, has protrusions. The conductive material layer deforms to determine a contact area between the protrusions and the substrate, and upon deformation of the conductive material layer to contact the first-path part, the gap between the first-path part and the second-path part, and the second-path part, the first-path part electrically connects to the second-path part.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method of processing neural network data includes: setting first limit data by performing a first operation based on first input data and weight data generated from weights included in a filter; comparing the first limit data with an intermediate result of a second operation performed based on second input data and the weight data; and determining whether to perform a subsequent second operation based on a result of the comparing.

Abstract: A method enabling live management of events in the real world through a persistent virtual world system comprises providing in the memory of a server a database with structured data storing a persistent virtual world system comprising virtual replicas of real-world elements; synchronizing the virtual replicas with the respective real-world elements by using a plurality of connected elements connected to the server via a network, the connected elements comprising sensing mechanisms configured to capture data from the real-world elements; and managing events in the real world through the synchronized persistent virtual world system. Management of events comprises monitoring activity in the real world through a persistent virtual world system; detecting the events; checking whether events fall within one or more predetermined analysis requirement parameters; defining timeframe of events; storing the events in the memory; recreating the events; and analyzing the events.

Abstract: A wearable device combines its existing functions (e.g., a headphone) with non-invasive autonomic modulation using tragus or other external auditory meatus stimulation. The wearable device can output audio to a user, such as music, podcast, etc., and further provide modulation of the vagus nerve via tragus stimulation or other external auditory meatus stimulation to treat various diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method and apparatus. The image processing method includes receiving an image including frames captured over time in a light environment including an alternating current (AC) light, extracting AC pixels corresponding to the AC light from pixels in the image, estimating visual spaces of the AC pixels based on values of the AC pixels in the frames, estimating information of the AC light included in the image based on the visual spaces, and processing the image based on the information of the AC light.

Abstract: Provided is a method of reducing a number of viable microbes, including contacting microbes with an antibiotic compound and applying pulses of electricity having a duration of between about 50 nanoseconds and about 900 nanoseconds. The pulses of electricity may have an intensity between about 20 kV/cm and about 40 kV/cm. The pulses of electricity may be applied at a frequency of between about 0.1 Hz and about 10 Hz. The microbes may be a gram-negative or a gram-positive strain of bacteria and the antibiotic may be applied at a concentration for a duration, wherein applying the antibiotic to the strain at the concentration for the duration does not reduce a viable number of bacteria of the strain as much, or at all, when the pulses of electricity are not also applied.