Abstract: Disclosed is a system for assessing quality of a singing voice singing a song. The system comprises memory and at least one processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive a plurality of inputs comprising a first input and one or more further inputs, each input comprising a recording of a singing voice singing the song, to determine, for the first input, one or more relative measures of quality of the singing voice by comparing the first input to each further input; and to assess quality of the singing voice of the first input based on the one or more relative measures. Also disclosed is a method implemented on such a system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a time-to-digital converter (TDC)-based device comprising a crossbar array for generating a current, a current-controlled delay line 104 for converting the current received from the crossbar array into a time pulse, and a TDC circuit 106 for measuring and converting the time pulse into digital output.

Abstract: A triboelectric sensor comprises a substrate; at least one grid structure disposed in or on the substrate; and at least one electrode for collecting triboelectric charges that are generated by sliding of an object over a surface of the substrate; wherein the at least one grid structure is configured such that motion of the object is detectable from a signal generated by crossing of the object over at least part of the grid structure.

Abstract: A spin-orbit torque device is described. The spin-orbit torque device comprising an interfacing layer and a magnetic layer having a switchable magnetization direction. An interface is formed between the interfacing layer and the magnetic layer, the interface having a 3m1 crystallographic point group symmetry adapted to interact with an electric current to generate a spin torque for switching the magnetization direction of the magnetic layer. A method for fabricating the spin-orbit device and a method for switching the switchable magnetization of a spin-orbit torque device are also described.

Abstract: Wirelessly powered photodynamic therapy devices are disclosed and systems and methods using such devices are also disclosed. In an embodiment, a photodynamic therapy system comprises: an implantable illumination device comprising a light source configured to emit light having a spectrum which overlaps with an absorption peak of an absorption target and a receiver antenna coupled to the light source and configured to extract power from a radiofrequency power signal incident on the implantable illumination device; and a transmitter comprising an antenna, a powering module configured to generate a drive signal which causes the antenna to generate the radiofrequency power signal, and a dosimetry module coupled to the antenna and configured to detect a radiofrequency signal backscattered from the implantable illumination device and determine an indication of the power extracted by the implantable illumination device from the radiofrequency signal backscattered from the implantable illumination device.

Abstract: Provided is a method for coupling flavonoid-containing compounds to provide flavonoid dimers, trimers and oligomers. The method comprises contacting a flavonoid-containing compound with base in the presence of air. Flavonoid dimers, trimers and oligomers may also be useful in the treatment of diseases, such as fungal infections and diseases associated with starch hydrolase.

Abstract: A method of detecting a rotor bar fault of an electrical machine, said method comprising, acquiring a set of online signals from the electrical machine over a period, said set of online signals comprising at least one vibration signal, and a summed signal of magnetic flux signals, each magnetic flux signal obtained from a respective flux sensor positioned on an external surface of the electrical machine; extracting an online anomaly indicator value from the set of online signals; comparing the online anomaly indicator value with a baseline anomaly indicator value of a corresponding loading condition; and determining presence of the broken or cracked rotor when the online anomaly indicator value deviates from the baseline anomaly indicator value by a threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for training a neural network to quantify the vessel calibre of retina fundus images. The method involves receiving a plurality of fundus images; pre-processing the fundus images to normalise images features of the fundus images; and training a multi-layer neural network, the neural network comprising of a convolutional unit, multiple dense blocks alternating with transition units for down-sampling image features determined by the neural network, and a fully-connected unit, wherein each dense block comprises a series of cAdd units packed with multiple convolutions, and each transition layer comprises a convolution with pooling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods modifying cell surface markers of red blood cells (RBCs) and uses of the same. In particular, the method comprises contacting an RBC with a peptide in the presence of a ligase, under suitable conditions and for sufficient time to allow ligation of the peptide to the RBC to form an RBC-peptide conjugate. In one embodiment, the ligase is OaAEPI ligase. The RBC-peptide conjugate may be further contacted with an effector molecule under suitable conditions and for sufficient time for conjugation of the effector molecule to the RBC-peptide to form an RBC-peptide-effector molecule conjugate.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising an anti-CD7 chimeric activating receptor (CAR) and an anti-CD7 protein expression blocker, and methods of using such compositions in cancer therapy.

Abstract: A method of preparing a graphene-based membrane is provided. The method may include providing a stacked arrangement of layers of a graphene-based material, wherein the layers of the graphene-based material define one or more nanochannels between neighboring layers, and varying an electrical charge on a surface of the layers of the graphene-based material defining the one or more nanochannels to control size selectivity and/or ionic selectivity of the graphene-based membrane. A graphene-based membrane and a method of separating ions from a fluid stream are also provided.

Abstract: A thin-film-composite hollow-fiber membrane includes a phase-inversion layer, which is in the form of a hollow fiber, and an active layer coated on the phase-inversion layer. The active layer selectively allows passage of water molecules but rejects at least some dissolved ions. The thin-film-composite hollow-fiber membrane can have an internal burst pressure of at least 4 MPa. In a method for forming the membrane, the polymer concentration in the spinning dope from which the hollow-fiber substrate is formed can have a polymer concentration no greater than 5% below the critical concentration.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and devices for separation of motile sperm. A method of separating motile sperm comprises: introducing a fluid sample comprising motile sperm to an inlet portion of a microfluidic device; and causing the fluid sample to flow through a separation portion of the microfluidic device at a flow velocity within a rheotaxis range such that motile sperm in the sample undergo rheotaxis and remain in the separation whereas a part of the fluid sample flows out of the separation zone through an outlet portion of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Embedded memory structures and methods where an array of bitcells is interconnected by a plurality of bitlines and wordlines, each bitcell comprising a transistor connected to one of the wordlines and one of the bitlines. A TRNG circuit, peripheral to the array of bitcells, sets transistors connected to the one or more of the bitlines to an off state, determines a time interval between different crossing thresholds in a voltage discharge in the bitlines, and digitizes the time interval into bits of an TRNG output. A PUF circuit. peripheral to the array of bitcells, sets a pair of transistors connected to the pair of bitlines and the same wordline to an underdriven state, determines respective times of the transistors of the pair crossing a threshold in a voltage discharge in the pair of bitlines, and digitizes a time difference into an n-bit PUF output.

Abstract: The invention concerns a trans-splicing RNA (tsRNA) molecule comprising one or multiple unstructured binding domains; a cell or vector comprising said tsRNA; and a method for killing cells or treating a disease using said tsRNA.

Abstract: A fluid-driven actuator 100 includes a bending actuator 200 including a first wall portion 201, a second wall portion 203 cooperating with the first wall portion 201 to define an undulating actuator profile. The bending actuator 200 also includes an inner fluid bladder 202 disposed between the first and second wall portions 201,203 and following the undulating actuator profile. The fluid-driven actuator 100 further includes a restraint member 300 arranged to cooperate with the bending actuator 200 to produce a plurality of motions in response to fluid supplied to the inner fluid bladder 202.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ligation and/or assembly of nucleic acid molecules. Particularly, a double-stranded target nucleic acid having overhangs of at least one nucleotide is ligated with another nucleic acid molecule capable of forming a stem-loop structure with an overhang of at least one nucleotide. The invention is suitable for tagging nucleic acid molecules. In specific embodiments, the overhangs can be produced by chemical cleavage of phosphorothioate-modified nucleic acid molecules. The invention further relates to the amplification of the ligated product, and using the resultant amplicon for assembly of multiple nucleic acid fragments.

Abstract: This document describes a system and method for selectively switching the fast-wet-etching direction of crystalline silicon, c-Si, nanostructures between the (100) and the (110) crystallographic planes of c-Si by a simple method of sample agitation. This method effectively allows the invention to achieve anisotropic and isotropic wet-etching of c-Si.

Abstract: Wirelessly powered photodynamic therapy devices are disclosed and systems and methods using such devices are also disclosed. In an embodiment, a photodynamic therapy system comprises: an implantable illumination device comprising a light source configured to emit light having a spectrum which overlaps with an absorption peak of an absorption target and a receiver antenna coupled to the light source and configured to extract power from a radiofrequency power signal incident on the implantable illumination device; and a transmitter comprising an antenna, a powering module configured to generate a drive signal which causes the antenna to generate the radiofrequency power signal, and a dosimetry module coupled to the antenna and configured to detect a radiofrequency signal backscattered from the implantable illumination device and determine an indication of the power extracted by the implantable illumination device from the radiofrequency signal backscattered from the implantable illumination device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a metal organic framework (MOF) having a UTSA-16 structure, where the composition comprises: from 0 to 80 mol % of the total metal in the MOF is a first metal selected from one or more of the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Co; and from 20 to 100 mol % of the total metal in the MOF is a second metal selected from one or more of the group consisting of Cd, Mn, and Zn.