Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions comprising mutant fungi include an inactive form of the sterylglucosidase enzyme. The present disclosure is also directed to vaccine based compositions, which include a mutant fungus that prohibit pathogenic fungal infection. This disclosure also provides methods for administering these compositions as a prophylaxis against fungal infection, as well as methods for isolating sterylglucosides that include the use of such mutant fungal compositions.

Abstract: A dental treatment method is provided. In this method, a tooth of a patient is extracted and prepared to provide a root part. A root canal in the extracted tooth is prepared and treated. A post of an abutment is fitted into the root canal to attach the root part to the abutment. The abutment having the root part is attached to a dental implant. With the root part attached to the abutment, periodontal connective tissue maintains the jaw bone associated with the extracted tooth, without significant hard tissue loss.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for detecting a piping alignment using image information and laser sensors capable of precisely and accurately measuring and aligning the alignment of the entire pipes. The apparatus includes: a fixed plate installed on a base stage and having a reference pipe located thereon; a movable plate installed on the base stage along three axes to face the reference pipe and has an aligning pipe located thereon; a circular stage installed between the reference and aligning pipes and is configured to rotate and move along three axes so as to detect levelness and deformations of the reference and aligning pipes; a laser sensor and an imaging device installed on an upper side of the circular stage; and a controller configured to control the laser sensor and the imaging device and determine an alignment of the aligning pipe.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating time resolved series of angiographic volume data having flow information. The system and method are configured to receive angiographic volume data acquired from a subject having received a dose of a contrast agent using an imaging system and process the angiographic volume data to generate angiographic volume images. The angiographic volume data is processed to select a seed vessel in the vessel network, determine a plurality of branch vessels connected to the seed vessel and extending to form a vessel network, determine independent and dependent vessels in the vessel network, apply a flow model to the vessel network, and generate a flow map to be displayed with the angiographic volume images to illustrate time-resolved vascular volumes displaying flow within the vessel network.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for immunization against human breast cancer are disclosed. A breast cancer vaccine comprises an immunogenic polypeptide comprising human ?-lactalbumin.

Abstract: An adjuvant for rapid proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro is provided to overcome the problem of low cell amplification efficiency of human mesenchymal stem cells in a culture process. The adjuvant added for the culture of human mesenchymal stem cells includes at least one antioxidant, and a basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). The adjuvant is added into a medium containing the human mesenchymal stem cells, and the culture takes place in a normal oxygen environment (21% oxygen tension), and the cells are divided rapidly, and the cell cycle at synthesis phase (S phase) percentage is increased to reduce ageing and improve differentiation potential. The adjuvant not only amplifies human mesenchymal stem cells rapidly to harvest the growth factor, but also maintains the characteristics of the multifunction of stem cells for the purposes of culturing and amplifying the human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aluminum alloy with enhanced penetration resistance for a heat exchanger, the alloy containing copper (Cu), silicon (Si), and iron (Fe) equal to or smaller than predetermined contents respectively, and further containing zirconium (Zr) and the remainder being aluminum (Al). Further, the present disclosure provides an aluminum extruded tube and/or an aluminum fin with enhanced penetration resistance made of the alloy respectively. Further, the present disclosure provides a heat exchanger comprising the tube and/or fin. Addition and content-control of the alloy element may spread corrosion initiations and suppress intergranular corrosion to create uniform corrosion. In this manner, the present alloy have superior corrosion resistance compared to pitting corrosion of a previous alloy for a heat exchanger, and, at the same time, have an extrusion rate equal to that of the previous A1070.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for fabricating a laterally-limited two-dimensional structure through template synthesis. The methods of the invention are useful in forming homogenous and heterogeneous layered materials. The invention also provides structures and devices formed by the method of the present invention and uses thereof.

Abstract: Single-step synthesis processes for production of ultrahigh molecular weight block copolymers are described. The ultrahigh molecular weight copolymers can have a molecular weight of about 106 or greater and can be formed within a few hours in a surfactant-free environment. The formation process is controlled by initiator-starvation conditions in a sequential polymerization of monomers exhibiting different solubility in the solvent.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing mammals (e.g., humans) for arthritis. For example, methods and materials for assessing a mammal's gut microbial diversity to identify the mammal as having arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) are provided. This document also provides methods and materials involved in treating arthritis.

Abstract: The application provides new compositions and methods for stimulating the production of natural killer (NK) cells in a subject. NK cells can be selectively expanded with a combination of stimulating ligands. Methods and compositions for the administration of stimulatory ligands modified to self-insert into tumor cells, thereby stimulating an increase in the number of NK cells in proximity to a tumor, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding a video, the method being applied with a method of using video padding and removing the padded area after decoding in order to effectively encode the video in a video compression technology for a high-definition security camera.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems and methods that include a porous coating on a medical device. The porous coating may be formed by forming a scaffold along an exterior surface of the medical device to support the porous coating during application thereof and electrospinning a polymer to apply the porous coating on the scaffold.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling narrow road driving of a vehicle includes: an image transform unit generating a depth map using depth information of an object in a front image of a road on which the vehicle travels and generating a height map of the front image by transforming the generated depth map; a map analysis unit recognizing the object and calculating a driving allowable area of the road based on the generated height map; a determination unit determining whether the road is a narrow road based on the calculated driving allowable area and, when the road is determined to be the narrow road, determining whether the vehicle is able to pass through the narrow road; and a signal processing unit controlling driving of the vehicle on the narrow road based on the determination of whether the vehicle is able to pass through the narrow road.

Abstract: Described herein are mutant pneumoviruses comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes a mutated zinc binding motif in an M2-1 protein of the pneumovirus, wherein the zinc binding motif is mutated relative to wild-type pneumovirus. The mutant pneumoviruses described herein grow to high titer in cell culture, are genetically stable, are attenuated in vitro and in vivo, and are highly immunogenic. Also described herein are vaccines and vaccine compositions comprising the live attenuated mutant pneumoviruses. Vaccine compositions can further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, vehicle, excipient, and/or adjuvant. Methods for inducing a protective immune response in a subject against a pneumovirus infection are also described and disclosed.

Abstract: An energy harvester having a plurality of bimorph beams and a plurality of piezoelectric devices, wherein at least two of the piezoelectric devices are mounted to each of the plurality of bimorph beams. A plurality of rigid beams interconnect adjacent ends of the bimorph beams to define a stacked, fan-folded shape having a first end of one of the bimorph beams mounted to a structure. A tip mass is disposed on a free end of another of the plurality of bimorph beams. Upon movement of the energy harvester, the plurality of bimorph beams is caused to deflect and thereby output electrical power from the plurality of piezoelectric devices.

Abstract: A regional anesthesia injection apparatus comprising an injection volume determiner. The apparatus configured to determine a volume of a regional anesthetic injection into a target tissue; an injection pressure determiner configured to determine a pressure of the injection; and a controller coupled to the injection volume determiner and to the injection pressure determiner and configured to provide an injection signal to control injection of fluid into the target tissue based on the determined pressure and the determined volume.

Abstract: An asymmetric 3D shells k-space trajectory design with partial Fourier acceleration is described. A non-iterative homodyne reconstruction framework is also described.

Abstract: A method and corresponding composition to inhibit outgrowth of C. difficile spores and/or to inhibit growth of C. difficile vegetative cells in a mammal in which an amount of a nylon-3 polymer or nylon-3 copolymer or a pharmaceutically suitable salt thereof is administered to the subject.

Abstract: A new variety of Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Tift PA5’ produces a reduced number of seeds, making it less invasive.