Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing spherical silica aerogel granules and spherical silica aerogel granules prepared thereby. The method for preparing spherical silica aerogel granules, which is suitable for mass production because droplets of a water glass solution are uniformly dispersed with a uniform size in a non-aqueous solvent using a surfactant in a certain step to reduce a process time and enhance productivity, may be provided. The spherical silica aerogel granules having a uniform size prepared by the method may be provided, wherein the spherical silica aerogel granules have a high working property and excellent flowability.

Abstract: A system for interactive management of remote devices based on LoRa communication includes: a web application configured to provide a remote control page to a user; a cloud system server configured to transmit a management command and a transmission option to a gateway and to receive a summary packet for received data; the gateway configured to receive, from the cloud system server, input request data, transmit the request data to a terminal node, decode response data, and transmit the decoded response data to the cloud system server; and the terminal node configured to receive the management command and the transmission option and transmit the management command and the transmission option to a managed device and store corresponding response data from the managed device through local buffer control.

Abstract: Antibodies, particularly human antibodies, are disclosed having activity in treatment of demyelinating diseases and diseases of the central nervous system. Neuromodulatory agents are provided comprising a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, and active fragments, monomers and combinations thereof having one or more of the following characteristics: capable of inducing remyelination; binding to neural tissue; promoting Ca++ signaling with oligodendrocytes; and promoting cellular proliferation of glial cells. Amino acid and DNA sequences of exemplary antibodies are disclosed. Methods are described for treating demyelinating diseases, and diseases of the central nervous system, using polyclonal IgM antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies sHIgm22(LYM 22), sHIgm46(LYM46) ebvHIgM MSI19D10, CB2bG8, AKJR4, CB2iE12, CB2iE7, MSI19E5 and MSI10E10, and active fragments thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention provides therapeutic compositions and uses thereof for improving pulmonary function. In one embodiment, the therapeutic composition comprises one or more free amino acids selected from lysine, glycine, threonine, valine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, isoleucine, tryptophan, asparagine, and serine; and electrolytes. In one embodiment, the subject invention can be used to prevent or treat long-term lung complications induced by radiation.

Abstract: A microfluidic exosome profiling platform integrating exosome isolation and targeted proteomic analysis is disclosed. This platform is capable of quantitative exosomal biomarker profiling directly from plasma samples with markedly enhanced sensitivity and specificity. Identification of distinct subpopulation of patient-derived exosomes is demonstrated by probing surface proteins and multiparameter analyzes of intravesicular biomarkers in the selected subpopulation. The expression of IGF-1R and its phosphorylation level in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient plasma is assessed as a non-invasive alternative to the conventional biopsy and immunohistochemistry. Detection of ovarian cancer also is assessed. The microfluidic chip, which may be fabricated of a glass substrate and a layer of poly(dimethylsiloxane), includes a serpentine microchannel to mix a fluid and a microchamber for the collection and detection of exosomes.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing suppression of immune function in mammals. For example, methods and materials for (a) identifying a mammal as having an elevated level of CD14+/DR? cells (e.g., CD14+/DR? monocytes) and (b) administering RU486 (mifepristone; or drugs with a similar functional profile) to the identified mammal under conditions that change the ratio of CD14+/HLA-DR? cells to CD14+/HLA-DR? cells as well as methods and materials for (a) identifying a mammal as being likely to experience an elevated level of CD14+/DR? cells (e.g., CD14+/DR? monocytes) and (b) administering RU486 (mifepristone; or drugs with a similar functional profile) to the identified mammal under conditions that reduce the degree to which the mammal develops CD14+/DR? cells are provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a wax composition comprising one or more fatty acid diester compounds having the formula of R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C4 to C50 alkyl or aryl; and n1 is an integer from 2 to 10. This invention also relates to a wax composition comprising: a) one or more fatty acid monoester or diester compounds having the formula of: and b) one or more hydroxylated fatty acid diester compounds having the formula of In these formulae, R is H or COR1?; R1? and R2? are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C4 to C50 alkyl or aryl; n2 is an integer from 2 to 24; m is an integer from 2 to 12; and .(OH)m represents 2 to 12 hydroxyl groups substituting for 2 to 12 hydrogen atoms in the alkyl groups R1? and/or R2?. Uses of the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for molding gas hydrate pellets that includes: a pulverizer in which dehydrated gas hydrates are pulverized; a cooler having a rotating shaft provided therein, comprising a plurality of agitation blades installed along a height direction of the rotating shaft and configured to cool the gas hydrates to a predetermined temperature; a decompressor configured to decompress the cooled gas hydrates to a predetermined pressure; and a pellet molder configured to mold the decompressed gas hydrates to pellets.

Abstract: Described herein are three-dimensional (3D) culture systems that can be used to produce enamel organoids that generate enamel products. The invention features methods of culturing a variety of cell types to produce such enamel organoids; the organoids themselves; enamel products generated by the organoids; and methods of fashioning the enamel products into surgical restorations, including dental restorations and other prostheses.

Abstract: A image acquisition device comprises a light source unit, a digital micro mirror, an optical transfer medium, an imaging unit, and a beam splitter, wherein a single focusing pattern light is formed to be focused on a single specific point when the focusing pattern light penetrates the optical transfer medium, and specific points focused by each of the plurality of focusing pattern lights scan the object to be measured such that the object to be measured is imaged. Therefore, when an image is obtained through an optical transfer medium such as an optical fiber, pixelation and aberration can be avoided regardless of the type of optical transfer medium and an image having high resolution can be obtained fast without a separate scanner.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating buckypaper or similar sheets of nanostructures having relatively high aspect ratios. A dispersion of nanostructures such as nanotubes is subjected to fluid dynamics/forces which promote alignment of their axes of elongation while in suspension in the flow. An agglomeration of better aligned nanostructures is isolated from the carrier fluid into a useable form. In the case of nanotubes, one form is buckypaper. One example of alignment forces is Taylor-Couette flow shear forces. One example of isolation is filtering the flowing dispersion to collect better aligned nanostructures across the filter into a sheet or film. The degree of alignment can produce anisotropic material properties that can be beneficially used in application of the sheet or film.

Abstract: This specification provides a method for performing a discovery procedure in a wireless communication system supporting device to device (D2D) communication. The method is performed by first user equipment and includes monitoring a discovery resource region, selecting a discovery resource for transmitting a discovery message in the discovery resource region, and transmitting the discovery message to second user equipment through the selected discovery resource. The selected discovery resource includes a discovery resource having a received energy level corresponding to a threshold value or less or a threshold value or higher.

Abstract: A method for estimating a material characteristic of an article includes receiving a material property tensor having an associated reference direction. A tool path model of an additive manufacturing process for manufacturing the article is received. A geometric model is generated based on the tool path model defining a plurality of roads arranged in layers. For each of the roads, the material property tensor is rotated to align the reference direction with a direction of a selected road and an estimated material property value is assigned to the selected road to generate a first geometry-material model of the article.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nanostructure includes: heating a mixed solution to a first temperature, the mixed solution including a solvent, a compound including indium, and an octadecylphosphonic acid; heating the mixed solution to a second temperature; injecting, after heating the mixed solution to the second temperature, a phosphine precursor into the mixed solution; and heating the mixed solution including the injected phosphine precursor to a third temperature.

Abstract: A system for wide-scale light field imaging comprising: a network of multiple terrestrial cameras positioned at multiple known locations, where each of the cameras comprises a wide-angle lens directed towards the sky and configured to capture one or more images of the sky, and a processor configured to operate a wired and/or wireless communications infrastructure for transmitting the captured images; and a server configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted images and jointly process the received images, thereby producing a wide-scale light field image of the sky.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising the compound having the structure: or a salt of the compound; 4-amino-2-[19F]-fluorobenzoic acid or a salt of 4-amino-2-[19F]-fluorobenzoic acid; and at least one acceptable carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a method of representing a three dimensional (3D) object using univariate curves, comprising: receiving an initial definition of a 3D object representation, calculate a covering set of univariate curves, the covering set comprising at least one non-planar univariate curve, wherein the covering set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object within a tolerance requirement, and generating a representation of the 3D object based on the set of univariate curves, wherein the set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material includes: a base material that is a semiconductor; and an additive element that differs from an element constituting the base material. An additional band formed of the additive element is present within a forbidden band of the base material. A density of states of the additional band has a ratio of greater than or equal to 0.1 relative to a maximum value of a density of states of a valence band adjacent to the forbidden band of the base material.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymers with advantageous physical and chemical properties are described, as well as methods for making such polymers. In one embodiment, a new chemical synthesis route to technologically important biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) with high isotacticity and molecular weight required for a practical use is described. The new route can utilize racemic eight-membered cyclic diolide (rac-DL), meso-DL, or a rac-DL and meso-DL mixture, derived from bio-sourced dimethyl succinate, and enantiomeric (R,R)-DL and (S,S)-DL, optically resolved by metal-based catalysts. With a stereoselective racemic molecular catalyst, the ROP of rac-DL under ambient conditions produces rapidly P3HB with essentially perfect isotacticity ([mm]>99%), high crystallinity and melting temperature (Tm=171° C.), as well as high molecular weight and low dispersity (Mn=1.54×105 g/mol, Ð=1.01).

Abstract: A composition of matter includes one or more functionalized vinylbenzyl components of the formula wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 1 covalently connected to one or more R functional components; the one or more R functional groups selected from a group including one or more hydroxyl methyl (—CHOH—) moieties and/or derivatives thereof, one or more ethoxy (—CH2—CH2—O—) moieties and/or derivatives thereof, and one or more benzene derivatives; and ether links that connect the functionalized vinylbenzyl components and the R functional components.