Abstract: A bacterium that degrades LAS and/or removes N is provided. The bacterium is taxonomically classified as Pseudomonas sp., and was deposited in China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center on Sep. 18, 2018, with the accession number of CGMCC 16502. The bacterium can be applied in the rural domestic sewage treatment, and has the effect of removing LAS and/or N pollution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a boron carbide composite material having a novel composition with excellent mechanical properties, and a production method therefor. The boron carbide composite material has high fracture toughness and may be applied as a lightweight bulletproof ceramic material. The boron carbide composite material is a boron carbide/silicon carbide/titanium boride/graphite (B4C—SiC—TiB2—C) composite material. The composite material may overcome a technical limitation on increasing the fracture toughness of the boron carbide composite material, and may be produced as a high-density boron carbide composite material using a reactive hot-pressing sintering process at a relatively low temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to the delivery of heterologous peptides or proteins such as therapeutic peptides, therapeutic proteins or antigens to mucosal sites using vesicles derived from the outer membrane of commensal bacteria, recombinant bacteria capable of producing such vesicles, and methods for the production of such vesicles. The invention further relates to an inducible expression system for use in recombinant bacteria.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, inventive compounds (e.g., Formula (I), (IA), (II), and (III), and urolithin derivatives) are disclosed. Other embodiments include compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) comprising the inventive compound. Still other embodiments of the invention include compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) for treating, for example, certain diseases using the inventive compounds. Some embodiments include methods of using the inventive compound (e.g., in compositions or in pharmaceutical compositions) for administering and treating (e.g., diseases). Further embodiments include methods for making the inventive compounds. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to novel vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-related diseases, including multiple types of cancers. The HPV vaccines are composed of anti-human dendritic cell (DC) surface receptor antibodies, including CD40, and E6/7 proteins of HPV16 and 18. The technology described is not limited to making vaccines against HPV16- and HPV18-related diseases and can be applied to making vaccines carrying E6/7 from any type of HPV. The HPV vaccines described can target DCs, major and professional antigen presenting cells (APCs), and can induce and activate potent HPV E6/7-specific and strong CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. The HPV vaccines can be used for the prevention of HPV infection and HPV-related diseases as well as for the treatment of HPV-related diseases, including cancers.

Abstract: According to the present invention, disclosed is a radiotherapy apparatus for an animal, comprising: a treatment part including an accommodation space for placing an animal thereon; an irradiation part including an electron generator and a linear accelerator coupled to one side of the electron generator and placed in a direction perpendicular to the treatment part for emitting radiation toward the treatment part; and an image acquisition part, positioned at a predetermined interval with the treatment part along the direction of the emitting of radiation, for acquiring an image of an irradiation area when radiation is emitted, wherein an output of radiation is between 1 and 2 MeV so that radiation is emitted to an affected area positioned within a predetermined distance from the epidermis of the animal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic interpretation method for winter wheat based on a deformable fully convolutional neural network (FCN). The method includes the following steps: step 1: using a region corresponding to a winter wheat planting area as a research region, and obtaining a high-resolution remote sensing image of the research region; step 2: preprocessing the obtained remote sensing image: extracting geometric changes of sizes, fields of view, postures, and partial deformation of winter wheat objects in different spatial positions in the high-resolution image as sample data; step 3: establishing the deformable FCN; step 4: inputting the sample data to the deformable FCN to implement training of the deformable FCN; and step 5: inputting a to-be-recognized remote sensing image of winter wheat to the trained deformable FCN, and outputting a prediction graph of a winter wheat planting area in a to-be-recognized region.

Abstract: A seed coating agent for preventing and treating a wheat rot disease is provided. The seed coating agent includes a fungicide and a seed priming and elicitor. The fungicide includes silthiopham and coumoxystrobin. The seed priming and elicitor includes salicylic acid and compound sodium nitrophenolate. The weight percentage of each components is 1%-60% of the fungicide, 0.0005%-0.05% of salicylic acid, and 0.001%-0.1% of compound sodium nitrophenolate. The seed coating agent has a good effect of promoting seed germination and strengthening seedlings on wheat seeds. Both silthiopham and coumoxystrobin are of low toxicity, and are safe for humans, animals, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

Abstract: A method for forming a desired hydrocarbon fuel product from a mixed oxygenate feedstock by utilizing chemical processes to form ketones from the oxygenate feed, upgrade the ketones, recycle selected upgraded ketones through the upgrading process to obtain a desired intermediate and hydrogenating the desired intermediate to obtain the desired hydrocarbon fuel product. In various alternative configurations and embodiments this can be accomplished in a number of ways, and originate in a number of different positions and occasions.

Abstract: Robotic devices and methods for performing minimally invasive procedures on the vascular system, particularly cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgical procedures, where a submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device is configured and adapted for active steering and navigation based on external magnetic actuation. The submillimeter-scale continuum robotic device includes an elongate body having an inner core and an outer shell, where the outer shell is fabricated of an elastomeric material having a plurality of ferromagnetic particles dispersed therein.

Abstract: A laser bonding method includes forming a bonding part including an adhesive layer and a conductive particle disposed within the adhesive layer on a substrate; aligning a bonding target by disposing the bonding target on a surface of the bonding part opposite the substrate; disposing a pressing part on a surface of the bonding target that is opposite to the bonding part and pressing the bonding target onto the bonding part through the pressing part; heating the bonding target by irradiating at least the pressing part with a laser and conducting heat from the pressing part to the bonding target and from the bonding target to the bonding part; and bonding together the bonding part and the bonding target by the heat conducted from the bonding target to the bonding part so that the conductive particle electrically connects the substrate and the bonding target. The pressing part may be removed.

Abstract: Calibrated particle analysis apparatus and method are provided. In the calibrated particle analysis apparatus, a gas exchange device and several flow controllers are disposed in front of a particle analyzer. Therefore, when the calibrated particle analysis apparatus is used, gases of a sample can be exchanged with a carrier gas suggested to be used with the particle analyzer. Hence, the accuracy of analyzing the particles can be increased, and possible hazards from dangerous or toxic materials can be avoided.

Abstract: A bit-depth optimization engine reduces the hardware cost of a neural network. When training data is applied to a neural network during training routines, accuracy cost and hardware costs are generated. A hardware complexity cost generator generates costs for weights near bit-depth steps where the number of binary bits required to represent a weight decreases, such as from 2N to 2N?1, where one less binary bit is required. Gradients are generated from costs for each weight, and weights near bit-depth steps are easily selected since they have a large gradient, while weights far away from a bit-depth step have near-zero gradients. The selected weights are reduced during optimization. Over many cycles of optimization, a low-bit-depth neural network is generated that uses fewer binary bits per weight, resulting in lower hardware costs when the low-bit-depth neural network is manufactured on an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

Abstract: Processes and catalyst systems are disclosed for performing Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis to produce C4+ hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling-range hydrocarbons and/or diesel boiling-range hydrocarbons. Advantageously, catalyst systems described herein have additional activity (beyond FT activity) for in situ hydroisomerization and/or hydrocracking of wax that is generated according to the distribution of hydrocarbons obtained from the FT synthesis reaction. This not only improves the yield of hydrocarbons (e.g., C4-19 hydrocarbons) that are useful for transportation fuels, but also allows for alternative reactor types, such as a fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a hydrogen sulfide decomposition process for converting hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen gas and sulfur dioxide. Such a process can significantly increase the amount of available hydrogen gas. In fact, if each Claus unit in the U.S. creating elemental sulfur in traditional systems were replaced by this hydrogen sulfide decomposition process, 1.83 million metric tons of hydrogen gas could be produced. This represents about 20% of the annual hydrogen produced in the U.S. for any purpose, recovered and available for reuse. Additionally, if desired, the sulfur dioxide can be further processed to form sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a clarity grading look-up table includes collecting actual inclusion parameter data for a plurality of gems, where the actual inclusion parameter data includes an actual clarity grade and an actual inclusion parameter data combination. A mathematical relationship between a clarity grade and a particular inclusion parameter combination is then extrapolated from the actual inclusion parameter data. A derived clarity grade is then assigned to a plurality of inclusion parameter combinations as a function of the mathematical relationship and a set of inputted inclusion parameters. Also, a method and system for providing a clarity grade includes receiving a plurality of inclusion characteristics associated with a gem and parameterizing each of the inclusion characteristics, so that a parameter value is assigned to each inclusion characteristic. The parameter values are then input to a mathematical formula so as to provide a parameterized clarity grade for the gem.

Abstract: A light modulation element according to example embodiments includes a substrate; a first lower DBR layer on the substrate including a first material layer alternately stacked with a second material layer having a different refractive index from the first material layer; a second lower DBR layer on the first lower DBR layer with a surface area less than the first lower DBR layer and including a third material layer alternately stacked with a fourth material layer having a different refractive index from the third material layer; an active layer on the second lower DBR layer, including a semiconductor material having a multi-quantum well structure and having a refractive index that varies according to an applied voltage; and an upper DBR layer on the active layer including a fifth material layer alternately stacked with a sixth material layer having a different refractive index from the fifth material layer.

Abstract: A waveguide-coupled Silicon Germanium (SiGe) photodetector. A p-n silicon junction is formed in a silicon substrate by an n-doped silicon region and a p-doped silicon region, a polysilicon rib is formed on the silicon substrate to provide a waveguide core for an optical mode of radiation, and an SiGe pocket is formed in the silicon substrate along a length of the polysilicon rib and contiguous with the p-n silicon junction. An optical mode of radiation, when present, substantially overlaps with the SiGe pocket so as to generate photocarriers in the SiGe pocket. An electric field arising from the p-n silicon junction significantly facilitates a flow of the generated photocarriers through the SiGe pocket. In one example, such photodetectors have been fabricated using a standard CMOS semiconductor process technology without requiring changes to the process flow (i.e., “zero-change CMOS”).

Abstract: Provided herein are lighting devices, systems, and methods. In particular, provided herein are lighting systems configured for use in a variety of medical settings to improve patient and health care worker health, performance, and well-being.

Abstract: A summary generating apparatus includes a text storage device storing text with information indicating a portion to be focused on; word vector converters vectorizing each word of the text and adding an element indicating whether the word is focused on or not to the vector and thereby converting the text to a word vector sequence; an LSTM implemented by a neural network performing sequence-to-sequence type conversion, pre-trained by machine learning to output, in response to each of the word vectors of the word vector sequence input in a prescribed order, a summary of the text consisting of the words represented by the word sequence; and input units inputting each of the word vectors of the word vector sequence in the prescribed order to the neural network.