Abstract: The invention features panels of salivary biomarkers useful for identifying subjects having or at risk of developing a metabolic disease, such as Type 2 diabetes, and therapeutic methods for treating or preventing the onset of obesity and obesity-related disorders. Methods are also disclosed for identifying a subject, such as a non-obese adolescent, as having a propensity to develop inflammatory obesity.

Abstract: A differential polarization interferometer is provided. An interferometer performs direct measurement of phase shift of a light wave passed under an arbitrary angle through a sample composed of a transparent substrate holding a thin deposited test film, for metamaterial testing. An example apparatus has a laser source and a first polarizer, and two optically connected arms. A first arm creates orthogonally polarized components of a single output beam for a broadband non-polarizing beam splitter. A second arm has a controllable phase retarder to introduce a phase shift into one polarization component of the reflected single output beam, and a second polarizer to equalize and mix the polarization components of the reflected single output beam. This transforms the reflected single output beam into a beam resulting from interference of polarization components of the reflected single output beam. A photodetector transforms an intensity of the beam into an electric signal for output.

Abstract: Provided are methods and kits for determining predisposition of a subject to develop a kidney disease, by identifying in a sample of the subject at least one APOL1 polypeptide variant which is characterized by a higher trypanolytic activity on Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense as compared to the trypanolytic activity of wild type APOL1 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 on the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense under identical assay conditions; or at least one APOL1 nucleotide mutation in the APLO1 genomic sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the at least one nucleotide mutation or polypeptide variant being in linkage disequlibrium (LD) with the S342G mutation in the APOL1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein presence of the APOL1 polypeptide variant indicates increased predisposition of the subject to develop the kidney disease.

Abstract: A vaccine composition for birds comprising as an active ingredient a structure containing O-antigen derived from Gram-negative bacteria, provided that said structure does not contain a whole cell, and a process for preparing the same are provided. By using a structure containing O-antigen (e.g. lipopolysaccharide) derived from Gram-negative bacteria as an active ingredient in accordance with the present invention, alleviation of inoculation reaction and reduction in an amount of injection are attained as compared to the conventional whole-cells vaccine to thereby allow for the increase in the number of other antigens to be mixed therewith.

Abstract: A bio-inspired algorithm based P2P content caching method and system for mesh networks is provided. The bio-inspired algorithm based P2P content caching method for mesh networks includes the steps of checking a request of a content of a user in a mesh router, and searching the content from the mesh router, which is requested for the content, based on a bio-inspired algorithm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an RCAS and a request processing method for the RCAS. The request processing method according to an embodiment includes validating, by a Distributed Authorization Center (DAC), a join request or a leave request transmitted from a Set-Top Box (STB), sending, by the DAC, a report message to a Centralized Authorization Center (CAC) when validation has succeeded, updating, by the CAC, a database (DB) related to a state of the STB, based on the report message, and sending a certificate state update message including information about the update to DACs of one or more additional head-ends.

Abstract: A carrier gas and a combined feed liquid are directed through a humidifier, where water vaporizes from the combined feed liquid into the carrier gas, and through a dehumidifier, where the combined feed liquid cools the carrier gas to condense water from the carrier gas. At least a portion of the concentrated brine stream from the humidifier is directed through a pressure-retarded osmosis unit, while an initial feed solution is directed, in counter-flow, through the osmosis unit. Water from the initial feed solution flows through a membrane in the osmosis chamber into the concentrated brine stream to dilute and increase the volumetric flow rate of the brine stream. The diluted brine stream is extracted from the osmosis chamber and depressurized to produce power, while the concentrated initial feed solution is combined with the depressurized, diluted brine stream to form the combined feed liquid.

Abstract: A method including a dosimetry device having at least one sensor in a housing and a dosimetry processing device with a memory. The dosimtery processing device is coupled to the at least one sensor in the housing. The dosimetry processing device is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising: obtaining readings from the sensor; storing the readings; conducting an analysis of the stored readings to determine an injury risk assessment; and outputting at least one of the conducted analysis of the determined injury risk assessment or the stored readings.

Abstract: Electronic logic gates that operate using N logic state levels, where N is greater than 2, and methods of operating such gates. The electronic logic gates operate according to truth tables. At least two input signals each having a logic state that can range over more than two logic states are provided to the logic gates. The logic gates each provide an output signal that can have one of N logic states. Examples of gates described include NAND/NAND gates having two inputs A and B and NAND/NAND gates having three inputs A, B, and C, where A, B and C can take any of four logic states. Systems using such gates are described, and their operation illustrated. Optical logic gates that operate using N logic state levels are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for smoothing the energy storage wind and photovoltaic power fluctuation based on rate control, including: reading and processing data; determining the signal change rate of the dynamic slope limiter; calculating the smoothing target value of the wind and photovoltaic total power; calculating total power demand of battery energy storage power station; and outputting data. The invention can effectively suppress wind and photovoltaic power fluctuation under the fluctuation rate limited value, can effectively smooth wind and photovoltaic power output. Thus it smoothens wind and photovoltaic power output, reduces the energy storage battery burden, and effectively controls battery energy storage power station system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing a signal, which are used for effectively reproducing an audio signal, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for processing a signal, which are used for implementing binaural rendering for reproducing multi-channel or multi-object audio signals in stereo with a low calculation amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide for regulating agronomic characters and yield characters of plants and application thereof. The invention alters agronomic characters and yield characters of plants such as root development, tillering ability, heading period, panicle structure, grains number per panicle, grain morphology, and 1000 grains weight by directional regulating expression level of cytokinin-O-glycosyltransferase 1 in plants, thus achieve the aim of modifying plant type, panicle structure, grain morphology and weight, increasing yield.

Abstract: This invention provides a metallocene complex and the preparation method thereof and a catalyst composition. This catalyst composition comprises a metallocene complex represented by formula (I) and an organic boron salt. Compared to the prior art, the catalyst used in this invention, which is the metallocene complex represented by formula (I), does not contain any side chain, and the coordination space of the central metal has a large opening degree. Therefore, the catalytic activity for more sterically hindered monomers is higher, and the comonomer incorporation is also higher. Furthermore, the metallocene complex represented by formula (I) used in this invention is a heterocyclic ring fused cyclopentadienyl ligand. Heterocyclic rings have relatively strong electron-donating capacity. By fusing a cyclopentadienyl group using heterocyclic rings, it is possible to change the electronic effect of the metal center and in turn increase the activity of catalyst.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide devices and methods for the determination of analytes. The device typically includes an absorbent material that allows for an analyte sample to be concentrated and analyzed simultaneously and within a short period of time (e.g., less than 10 seconds). Embodiments described herein can provide portable and easily operable devices for on-site, real time field monitoring with high sensitivity, selectivity, and fast response time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving streaming data using multiple paths, in which the streaming data is smoothly reproduced without being interrupted, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving streaming data using multiple paths, in which exchange of the streaming data is performed in real-time using the multiple paths regardless of obstacles. The method for transmitting streaming data using multiple paths includes managing and maintaining a path list including sequence information about a transmission path capable of transmitting data, framing the streaming data, and transmitting the framed streaming data via the transmission path according to the sequence information.

Abstract: Resonant meta-material structures are defined by metallic, dielectric or other materials that form nanoshells or nanomeshes that can be situated proximate to ionizing-radiation-sensitive layers so as to provide ionizing-radiation-dose-dependent optical properties. Such meta-material structures can also define aligned or periodic, semi-random, or other arrangements of nanostructures that are coupled to or include stressed layers. Detection of optical radiation from such structures is used to determine gamma radiation dose or to detect a disturbance of the nanostructure indicating tampering.

Abstract: A layer protecting the surface of zirconium alloys used as materials for nuclear reactors is formed by a homogenous polycrystalline diamond layer prepared by chemical vapor deposition method. This diamond layer is 100 nm to 50 ?m thick and the size of the crystalline cores in the layer ranges from 10 nm to 500 nm. Maximum content of non-diamond carbon is 25 mol %, total content of non-carbon impurities is maximum up to 0.5 mol %, RMS surface roughness of the polycrystalline diamond layer has a value less than 40 nm and thermal conductivity of the layer ranges from 1000 to 1900 W?m?1??K?1. Coating of the zirconium alloys surface with the described polycrystalline diamond layer serves as a zirconium alloys surface protection against undesirable changes and processes in the nuclear reactor environment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus of expanding a speech recognition database used for speech recognition. The method of expanding a speech recognition database includes generating a pronunciation text from a corpus; confirming whether or not a non-registered word that is not registered in advance in a pronunciation dictionary among words included in the pronunciation text is present; generating lexical model information on the corresponding non-registered word with reference to a built-up acoustic model in the case in which the non-registered word is present as a confirmation result; and adding the generated lexical model information to a built-up lexical model. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various speeches may be recognized in a stand-along speech recognizer in which an infrastructure is insufficient.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electrical switchgear configured to control an electro-magnet by using the electro-magnet, a critical temperature device, and an electro-magnet control unit without using a bimetal and a mechanical contact. The electro-magnet switches power applied through a power line in response to a flow of control current to a power device connected to a load side. In a critical temperature device, an output current value varies when a temperature of a heating wire, which is connected to the power line, exceeds a critical temperature by supply current flowing to the power device. An electro-magnet control unit, which is realizable with an SCR, allows a flow of control current of the electro-magnet to be generated or cut off in response to the output current value of the critical temperature device.

Abstract: A pixel driving method comprises the following steps: receiving a display image comprising a plurality of image points, wherein each image point corresponds a display color; producing a first sub-image and a second sub-image according to the display image, wherein the first sub-image displays a part of the image points, while the second sub-image displays the other part of the image points; and displaying at least one of the first sub-image and the second sub-image on the color display panel.