Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a peptide having an excellent effect in terms of preventing deterioration in cognitive function and improving cognitive function, and provide its usage. The present invention uses the tripeptide represented by Tyr-Leu-Gly as an active ingredient of a composition for improving cognitive function or a composition for promoting brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus. These compositions include a food composition, a food additive composition, and a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Provided is a damper that exerts a damping force with a simple structure using elastically deformable granular bodies. The damper includes a cylinder, a piston, a rod, a rod guide, and a plurality of granular bodies. The piston is housed in the cylinder and reciprocates in the central axis direction of the cylinder. The rod is connected to the piston. The rod extends in the central axis direction of the cylinder and protrudes to an outside from an open end side of the cylinder. The rod guide is fixed to the open end of the cylinder. The rod guide has a through hole which penetrates in the central axis direction of the cylinder and through which the rod is reciprocably inserted. The granular bodies are elastic bodies each having a spherical shape. The granular bodies are filled in the cylinder.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to modified orthopoxvirus vectors, as well as methods of using the same for the treatment of various cancers. The disclosure provides modified orthopoxvirus vectors that exhibit various beneficial therapeutic activities, including enhanced oncolytic activity, spread of infection, immune evasion, tumor persistence, capacity for incorporation of exogenous DNA sequences and safety. The viruses we have discovered are also amenable to large scale manufacturing protocols.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include engineered CRISPR-Cas effector proteins that comprise at least one modification compared to an unmodified CRISPR-Cas effector protein that enhances binding of the CRISPR complex to the binding site and/or alters editing preference as compared to wild type. In certain embodiments, the CRISPR-Cas effector protein is a Type V-B effector protein, e.g., C2c1. Embodiments also include viral vectors for delivery of CRISPR-Cas effector proteins, including C2c1. In certain embodiments, the vectors allow packaging of the CRISPR-Cas effector protein within a single vector. The disclosure also includes delivery vectors, constructs, and methods of delivering larger genes for systemic delivery.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compositions and films comprising hydroxyapatite with minute amounts of doped inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanoparticles or doped inorganic nanotubes (INT); methods of preparation and uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and structures for broadband phase shifting for quantitative phase microscopy (QPI) that advantageously allows for a greater useable wavelength range for QPI wherein either/both illumination paths and/or scatter paths: 1) propagate through a reflective objective; 2) become quantifiably phase-shifted utilizing broadband mirror surfaces; 3) attenuate the relatively bright illumination paths to maximize contrast; and 4) recombine at a sensor plane for quantitative analysis.

Abstract: A triboelectric generator includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other, a first charging part on the first electrode, a second charging part on the second electrode, and a grounding unit. The first charging part and the second charging part may be configured to contact each other through a sliding motion. The grounding unit may be configured to intermittently connect a charge reservoir to the second charging part. The grounding unit may be configured to vary the electric potential of the second charging part so as to amplify current flowing between electrodes of the triboelectric generator.

Abstract: A high frequency response pressure sensor based on direct current glow discharge plasma principle is provided, including: discharging electrodes including a cathode and an anode and used for generating a plasma between the cathode and the anode under the effect of a high voltage direct current power supply; a support structure used for supporting and fixing the discharging electrodes and ensuring that a stable gap is provided between the cathode and the anode; and a shielding casing used for shielding the plasma from an external gas so that the plasma remains unaffected by a flow speed of the external gas and senses only a change in pressure of the external gas. The high frequency response pressure sensor is not affected by mass inertia and has the potential of breaking through MHz high frequency response.

Abstract: An artificial cornea and an associated manufacturing method are disclosed. The artificial cornea has two sides, each of which has an associated microstructure. In an embodiment, microlines can be provided on an anterior side, and a posterior side can have micropores. Both the geometry of the microstructures and their dimensions can be customized for an individual patient. The geometry of the artificial cornea itself and its dimensions can also be customized as such. In addition, the lifetime of the artificial cornea can be significantly enhanced by adding co-polymer(s) into the hydrogel to strengthen its mechanical properties. Patient recovery can be aided by adding peptides into the artificial cornea surfaces to improve cell growth post-operation.

Abstract: A non-label diagnosis apparatus for a hematologic malignancy may include a 3-D refractive index cell imaging unit configured to generate a 3-D refractive index slide image of a blood smear specimen by capturing a 3-D refractive index image in the form of the blood smear specimen in which blood (including a bone-marrow or other body fluids) of a patent has been smeared on a slide glass, an ROI detection unit configured to sample a suspected cell segment in the blood smear specimen based on the 3-D refractive index slide image and to determine, as ROI patches, cells determined as abnormal cells, and a diagnosis unit configured to determine a sub-classification of a cancer cell corresponding to each of the ROI patches using a cancer cell sub-classification determination model constructed based on a deep learning algorithm and to generate hematologic malignancy diagnosis results by gathering sub-classification results of the ROI patches.

Abstract: A micro disk laser having a greater strength of oscillation in one direction than in another direction and unidirectionally oscillating includes a micro disk having an oval shape corresponding to a modified ellipse obtained by changing a length of a short axis of an ellipse according to a position of a long axis while lengths of first and second side portions of the long axis are fixed in the ellipse, the ellipse having the long axis and the short axis having a different length than the long axis.

Abstract: Methods for making particles, such as nanoparticles, devices useful in the methods, and particles made by the method are described herein. The methods involves the use of microfluidic device, such that upon mixing solutions of the materials to form the particles (or a solution of the material or materials to form the particles and a non-solvent for the material or materials) at least two symmetrical microvortices are formed simultaneously. The method can be used to prepare polymeric or non-polymeric particles and hybrid particles, such as lipid-polymer hybrid particles, as well as such particles containing one or more agents associated with the particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNab), including screening memory B cell cultures from a donor PBMC sample for neutralization activity against a plurality of HIV-1 species, cloning a memory B cell that exhibits broad neutralization activity; and rescuing a monoclonal antibody from that memory B cell culture. The resultant monoclonal antibodies are characterized by their ability to selectively bind epitopes from the Env proteins in native or monomeric form, as well as to inhibit infection of HIV-1 species from a plurality of clades. Compositions containing human monoclonal anti-HIV antibodies used for prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection are provided. Methods for generating such antibodies by immunization using epitopes from conserved regions within the variable loops of gp120 are provided. Immunogens for generating anti-HIV1 bNAbs are also provided. Furthermore, methods for vaccination using suitable epitopes are provided.

Abstract: A linker-drug represented by formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is provided. In formula (I), C is a conjugator, L is a linker unit, D is a toxin unit, and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4. The structure of the conjugator is represented by formula (II). In formula (II), X is a leaving group, each of R1 and R2 is independently a single bond or —NH—, and Z is substituted aryl, heteroaryl, linear alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or a combination thereof. The antibody is conjugated to the linker unit through a cysteine residue of the antibody. An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) employing the above linker-drug is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing a vanadium battery high-purity electrolyte, comprising preparing a low-valence vanadium oxide with a valence of 3.5 with liquid phase hydrolysis and fluidization reduction with vanadium oxytrichloride, adding clean water and sulfuric acid for dissolution, and further performing ultraviolet activation to obtain the vanadium electrolyte, for use in an all-vanadium redox flow battery stack. The high-temperature tail gas in the reduction fluidized bed is combusted for preheating the vanadium powder material, to recover the sensible heat and latent heat of the high-temperature tail gas, and the sensible heat of the reduction product is recovered through heat transfer between the reduction product and the fluidized nitrogen gas. An internal member is arranged in the reduction fluidized bed to realize the precise regulation of the valence state of the reduction product, and ultraviolet is used to activate the vanadium ions, improving the activity of the electrolyte.

Abstract: A two-phase microchannel heat sink can be a fluid channel including a bottom wall including a superhydrophilic surface with microstructures and a side wall including a surface that is hydrophobic relative to the superhydrophilic surface of the bottom wall. When heat flux is applied to the fluid channel, a liquid film on the bottom wall is maintained and nucleation of boiling occurs only on the side wall.

Abstract: The present inventions in various aspects provide elastic biodegradable polymers. In various embodiments, the polymers are formed by the reaction of a multifunctional alcohol or ether and a difunctional or higher order acid to form a pre-polymer, which is cross-linked to form the elastic biodegradable polymer. In preferred embodiments, the cross-linking is performed by functionalization of one or more OR groups on the pre-polymer backbone with vinyl, followed by photopolymerization to form the elastic biodegradable polymer composition or material. Preferably, acrylate is used to add one or more vinyls to the backbone of the pre-polymer to form an acrylated pre-polymer. In various embodiments, acrylated pre-polymers are co-polymerized with one or more acrylated co-polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for automatic sampling and detection of on-line gas by high-temperature and high-pressure simulator and a detection method thereof. A vacuum manifold I is successively connected to a pressure controller, a gas-liquid separator, a gas automatic metering collector, a first trace quantitative gas collector, and a mechanical pump. On a vacuum manifold II, a high-low pressure convertor, a second trace quantitative gas collector, a gas transferring device, a heavy oil trap, a filtering trap, and a pressure gage head are connected successively. In the present invention, discharged simulation products, enter an empty gas chromatograph at a normal temperature and a normal pressure after treatment, completing on-line detection of an accumulated gas and a stage gas, and improving accuracy of gas composition measurement.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns methods and materials for diagnosing, monitoring the progress, and/or providing a prognosis for multiple myeloma and other conditions associated with antibody production in a person or animal. The methods of the invention utilize mass spectrometry for quantitative monitoring and detection of antibody produced by the plasma cells. The methods of the invention can be utilized for diagnosis, monitoring, and/or prognosis of multiple myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy, and other immunological or hematological conditions and disorders. In addition to detecting and quantifying antibody in a sample, other biological markers, such as serum albumin and/or beta-2-microglobulin, can also be detected and quantified using the present invention, and in combination with detection and quantification of antibody.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thin film solar cell for BIPV capable of improving a utility value for the exterior by visually changing a black color of an inorganic thin film solar cell into a color of reflected light therefrom to exhibit an exterior appearance having the color without substantially lowering efficiency required for a solar cell to thereby facilitate commercialization of the inorganic thin film solar cell. Also disclosed is a thin film solar cell for BIPV capable of maintaining a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) required for a solar cell when used as a finishing material of a building envelope, and visually changing a black color of an inorganic thin film solar cell into a color of reflected light therefrom to be suitable for the exterior with only a slight reduction of relative harvesting efficiency and a short circuit photocurrent density without a decrease of an open circuit voltage Voc.