Abstract: A non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot flue gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is embedded in the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot flue gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorific fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, extended surfaces of metal material such as stainless steel or metal alloy that are high in nickel content are included within at least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path.

Abstract: A location and tracking system has wireless base stations, an input interface, and a processor. It receives initial physical environment inputs for an environment, with default signal attenuation values for wall and obstacle segments. An initial channel parameters fingerprint of projected signal strengths in the environment is generated according to the initial physical environment model. The processor simulates motion of the node along a hth trajectory to create a corresponding fitness function describing how similar the channel parameters estimated along the hth trajectory by the prediction model are to gathered channel parameters by the mobile node along its trajectory. The model and the fingerprint are subsequently modified in iterations as possible mobile node trajectories are determined to perform location error estimation which takes into account the re-calculated fingerprint and gathered channel parameters and the hth trajectory as a ground truth.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to programming of biomolecular self-assembly pathways and related methods and constructs. A versatile nucleic acid hairpin motif for programming biomolecular self-assembly pathways for a wide variety of dynamic functions, reaction graphs for specifying pathways, and methods of using the hairpin motif are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to neutralizing antibodies and antibody fragments having high potency in neutralizing hCMV, wherein said antibodies and antibody fragments are specific for a combination of hCMV proteins UL130 and UL131A, or for a combination of hCMV proteins UL128, UL130 and UL131A. The invention relates also to immortalized B cells that produce, and to epitopes that bind to, such antibodies and antibody fragments. In addition, the invention relates to the use of the antibodies, antibody fragments, and epitopes in screening methods as well as in the diagnosis and therapy of disease.

Abstract: Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising candesartan or ester thereof and chlorthalidone, and use thereof, wherein the weight ratio of candesartan or ester thereof to chlorthalidone is 5.3:1 to 1:6.25. The pharmaceutical composition has a synergistic antihypertensive effect, and can enhance the antihypertensive effect and extend duration of antihypertension.

Abstract: This invention discloses an encoding apparatus and a decoding apparatus for scalable video coding such that a non-scalable video decoder is usable for decoding a scalable video bit-stream comprising a base layer bit-stream and an enhancement layer bit-stream. In one embodiment, a source video frame is downscaled to give a downscaled video frame, which is then encoded into the base layer bit-stream. The difference between the source video frame and an up-scaled video frame reconstructed from the downscaled video frame in the base layer bit-stream yields a residual frame. The residual frame is partitioned into a number of residual sub-frames each having a resolution that is the downscaled video frame's resolution. The residual sub-frames are encoded into the enhancement layer bit-stream. Thereby, a non-scalable encoder is usable to encode both the downscaled video frame and the residual sub-frames, allowing both bit-streams to be decodable by employing only one non-scalable decoder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer, comprising at least one selected from deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) for encoding small interfering RNA (siRNA) which complementarily binds to the base sequence of the transcript (mRNA transcript) of the FLJ25416 gene, represented by sequence number 3, sequence number 5, and sequence number 7 to inhibit the intracellular expression of the FLJ25416 gene, antisense RNA which inhibits expression of the FLJ25416 gene, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) which inhibits expression of the FLJ25416 gene. As the siRNA, which is complementary to the base sequence of the transcript (mRNA transcript) of the FLJ25416 gene, the antisense RNA, and the shRNA, according to the present invention, inhibit expression of the FLJ25416 gene which is known to be expressed in cancer cells, and thus kill cancer cells, the composition of the present invention can be used as a novel anti-cancer agent.

Abstract: Search systems and computer-implemented search methods are described. In one aspect, a search system includes a communications interface configured to access a plurality of data items of a collection, wherein the data items include a plurality of image objects individually comprising image data utilized to generate an image of the respective data item. The search system may include processing circuitry coupled with the communications interface and configured to process the image data of the data items of the collection to identify a plurality of image content facets which are indicative of image content contained within the images and to associate the image objects with the image content facets and a display coupled with the processing circuitry and configured to depict the image objects associated with the image content facets.

Abstract: Methods and devices for cell or tissue culture are provided. One aspect provides a bioreactor having a gas permeable, closed-loop chamber for cell or tissue culture, and an oscillating means for moving the gas permeable, closed-loop chamber bidirectionally along an axis horizontal to an axis normal to the closed-loop chamber to force convection of cells and fluid in the gas permeable, closed-loop chamber. The bioreactor optionally includes a tissue engineering scaffold, an inlet means, an outlet means, and integrated sensors. Another aspect provides a bioreactor having a plurality of gas permeable, closed-loop chambers for cell or tissue culture. Methods of culturing cells and producing tissue constructs are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a pump beam stripper including an optical fiber including a core, a primary cladding configured to surround the core, and a secondary cladding configured to surround the primary cladding, the secondary cladding including an opening that exposes a portion of the primary cladding; and an atypical glass substance deposited irregularly on a surface of the primary cladding exposed through the opening.

Abstract: A method for determining hearing thresholds in the absence of pure-tone testing includes an adaptive speech recognition test which includes a calibrated item pool, each item having a difficulty value (di) and associated standard error (se). Test items are administered to a group of individuals having mild to moderately severe hearing loss to obtain responses. The responses are subjected to multiple regression statistical methods to develop an equation for converting an individual's test score to hearing threshold values at several frequencies. The adaptive speech recognition test can be administered to an individual and their score can be converted into hearing thresholds at each of the several frequencies by use of the equation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar cell having a wavelength converting layer formed of a polysilazane and a manufacturing method thereof to allow for low temperature sintering, to protect a wavelength converter from oxidation, degradation, and whitening, and thereby improve efficiency of the solar cell. The present invention provides for the solar cell including the wavelength converting layer which is formed by applying a coating solution containing a solvent, a polysilazane, and a wavelength converter onto a cell and an outer surface or inside of the cell, and then curing, and a manufacturing method of.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions are provided which inhibit MIF. Methods of treatment of melanoma and colon cancers are also provided.

Abstract: A method for identifying an autoimmune or demyelinating disease in a subject is described. The method includes (a) FIRST COHORT obtaining a sample comprising CD4? T cells from a subject; (b) determining a level of IL-6 responsiveness of CD4+ T cells from the sample; (c) comparing the level of IL-6 responsiveness determined in step (b) with a level of IL-6 responsiveness of CD4+ T cells in a sample from a healthy subject; and (d) identifying the subject as having an autoimmune or demyelinating disease based upon an elevated level of IL-6 responsiveness in the subject. Biomarkers include, for example, IL-6R? and/or pSTAT3. Methods for identifying and characterizing multiple sclerosis and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis are also described.

Abstract: An electronic expansion valve of an air-conditioning system includes a valve body and an expansion valve controller; the valve body includes a refrigerant channel, a valve pin, and a stepping motor; the stepping motor controls the movement of the valve pin to adjust the size of the opening of the refrigerant channel; the expansion valve controller outputs different control signals according to different operation conditions of the electronic expansion valve; inputting different current to the stepping motor so as to drive the stepping motor to rotate; and controlling the movement of the valve pin to adjust the size of the refrigerant channel. The electronic expansion valve employs different current to drive a stepping motor according to different operation conditions, thus reducing system energy consumption, overcoming abnormal fault of the motor, and extending the service life of the electronic expansion valve.

Abstract: Provided is an electro-mechanical brake having a wear compensation function including a carrier fixed to a vehicle body, a brake disk rotatably installed in a wheel of a vehicle, a pad unit including an inner pad disposed on one side of the disk and an outer pad disposed on the other side of the disk, a moving unit configured to move the pad unit in a direction toward the disk, and a wear compensating unit installed between the carrier and the moving unit and moving the pad unit in the direction toward the disk through the moving unit when the pad unit wears in order to maintain the corresponding state, wherein a distance between the pad unit and the disk is maintained within a predetermined distance by the wear compensating unit.

Abstract: A method for preparing photoluminescent carbon nanodots includes preparing and drying a sample, ashing the sample, extracting the ashed sample with solvent, filtering the extracted sample, concentrating the filtered sample, dissolving the sample in water, and freeze-drying the dissolved sample. The sample is preferably a food waste residue or animal excrement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-discharge transparent electrode and a solar cell including the same. The transparent electrode includes a first dielectric layer and a multi-layered metal layer stacked on a substrate. The multi-layered metal layer includes a main metal layer and a bridge metal layer. The main metal layer has an uneven surface, and the bridge metal layer covers the uneven surface of the main metal layer. A sheet resistance of the multi-layered metal layer is smaller than that of the main metal layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an induced pluripotent stem cell model of Fabry disease, a preparation method thereof, and a use of the same for the study of Fabry disease development and for the screening of a therapeutic agent for the disease. Particularly, Fabry disease derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryoid body (EB), and vascular cells were developed and differentiated from fibroblasts originated from Fabry disease patient, wherein the Fabry disease originated iPSCs displayed significantly reduced expression and activity of GLA protein therein, compared with the normal cells, resulting in the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3, CD77). Also, the differentiation of vascular cells was induced from the Fabry disease originated iPSCs, and as a result the iPSCs were successfully differentiated into vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells with significantly expressing the marker protein.