Abstract: A piezoelectric system comprises a piezoelectric sensor, a voltage stabilizer, a discharger and an operation sensor. The piezoelectric sensor outputs a sensing signal through a sensor output terminal according to a rate of change of pressure. The voltage stabilizer has a positive terminal electrically connecting with the sensor output terminal. The voltage stabilizer receives the sensing signal, stores the energy of the sensing signal, and keeps the voltage of the sensing signal as a constant when the rate of change of pressure is zero. The discharger has a first terminal connecting with the positive terminal, a second terminal coupled to ground, and a control terminal receiving a trigger signal to control the first terminal to conduct with or not conduct with the second terminal. The operation sensor electrically connects to the control terminal for sensing an operation generating the pressure and outputs the trigger signal accordingly.

Abstract: A method for mapping shear wave velocity in biological tissues includes using an ultrasound transducer to generate mechanical excitations at a plurality of locations in a region of interest. An MRI system is used to capture a phase image of each mechanical excitation, wherein motion encoding gradients (MEGs) of the MRI system encode a propagating shear wavefront caused by the mechanical excitation. A plurality of shear wave velocity maps is generated based on the phase images, wherein each shear wave velocity map depicts velocity between adjacent propagating shear wavefronts. The shear wave speed values are combined to generate a composite shear wave velocity map of the region of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for culturing a population of hepatocytes in vitro, comprising co-culturing the population of hepatocytes with at least one non-parenchymal cell population and incubating the co-culture in culture medium, wherein the co-culture is periodically incubated in culture medium that does not comprise serum (serum-free culture medium).

Abstract: A method for predicting collision of a machining path includes: a step of reading an NC program; a step of translating a plurality of block information in the NC program; a step of, prior to perform interpolation upon each of the plurality of block information, calculating a safety distance of a next block information with respect to a block information to be interpolated; a step of searching a number of individual block information having an accumulated distance greater than or equal to the safety distance; and a step of performing an anti-collision detection upon each of the individual block information contributing the accumulated distance. In addition, a system for predicting collision of a machining path is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for measuring a concentration of a contrast agent using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method includes acquiring pre- and post-contrast data from a volume of a subject, where the pre-contrast data is acquired before a contrast agent is administered and the post-contrast data is acquired after the contrast agent is administered. Pre- and post-contrast resonance frequency maps are then computed, where the pre-contrast frequency map is based on one or more pre-contrast resonance frequency values, and the post-contrast resonance frequency map is based on one or more post-contrast resonance frequency values. The pre- and post-contrast frequency maps are then used to generate a resonance frequency change map that is subsequently used to generate a contrast agent concentration map that indicates a concentration of the contrast agent that was present at each voxel in the volume at the second time.

Abstract: Described herein are modified gal1 monomers that can contain one or more mutated cysteines and/or can be pegylated. Also described herein are modified gal1 dimers, trimers, and tetramers that can contain one or more modified gal1 monomers as described herein. Also described herein are pharmaceutical formulations containing a modified gal1 monomer, dimer, trimer, and/or tetramer. Also described herein are methods of making the modified gal1 polypeptides and complexes thereof. Also described herein are methods of using the modified gal1 polypeptides and complexes thereof.

Abstract: An atomic beam generator includes a cathode constituted as a housing having an emission surface provided with an irradiation port through which an atomic beam is emissive; an anode disposed inside the cathode to generate plasma between the cathode and the anode; and a magnetic field generating unit including a first magnetic field generating unit that generates a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field generating unit that generates a second magnetic field, and guiding positive ions produced in the cathode to the emission surface by generating, in the cathode, the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field both parallel to the emission surface such that a magnetic field direction is leftward in the first magnetic field and is rightward in the second magnetic field when viewed from an emission surface side on condition of the first magnetic field being positioned above the second magnetic field.

Abstract: Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of generating multiplexed genetically modified animals, for example, porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV)-inactivated pigs. The disclosure also provides methods of improving the birth rate of multiplexed genetically modified animals. In some embodiments, the present closure is concerned with the generation and utilization of porcine cells in which porcine endogenous retroviral (PERV) elements have been inactivated. In sonic embodiments, the PERV-free or PERV-reduced porcine cells are cloned to produce porcine embryos. In some embodiments, the PERV-free or PERV-reduced embryos may be grown into adult swine from which organs and/or tissues may be extracted and used for such purposes as xenotransplantation into non-porcine animals such as humans.

Abstract: A burner-based exhaust replication system that includes mechanisms for rapidly exchanging exhaust aftertreatment devices for testing. The exhaust replication system has a test leg for delivering exhaust to an exhaust aftertreatment device and a bypass leg for bypassing exhaust around the test leg. The test leg is equipped with a rotating drum that holds a number of exhaust aftertreatment devices. The drum is rotatable to selectively align the aftertreatment devices with the test leg and is moveable laterally in a direction parallel to the test leg to aid in sealing the test leg to the aftertreatment device.

Abstract: An entry module for facilitating passage of one or more cables into an enclosure may include first and second module plates. The first module plate may include a first edge defining a first edge profile, and the second module plate may include a second edge defining a second edge profile. The first and second module plates may be configured to approach one another, such that the first edge profile and the second edge profile define one or more apertures for receiving a cable passing from exterior the enclosure to the interior of the enclosure. The first edge profile may define first aperture portions and first edge segments between at least some of the first aperture portions, and the second edge profile may define second aperture portions and second edge segments between at least some of the second aperture portions. The first and second aperture portions may define the apertures.

Abstract: An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500° C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170° C. to 360° C.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical transceiver module includes an optical Tx block including a light source configured to output an optical Tx signal; an optical Rx block provided in parallel to the optical Tx block and including a PD configured to receive an optical Rx signal; a wavelength distributor configured to change a travel path of the optical Tx signal; an optical filter provided on a predetermined area of a first surface of the wavelength distributor adjacent to the optical Tx or Rx block and configured to transmit the optical Rx signal and reflect the optical Tx signal; a first lens provided between the optical Tx block and the wavelength distributor; a second lens provided between the optical Rx block and the wavelength distributor; and a third lens configured to output the optical Tx signal to outside and output the optical Rx signal from the outside to the wavelength distributor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for video encoding/decoding by using a geometric modified picture. The encoding method according to the present invention includes: generating a geometric modified picture by geometrically modifying a reference picture; and generating a first prediction block of a current block by performing inter prediction referencing the geometric modified picture.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides an improved system and method for motion estimation and motion compensation in cone beam computer tomography (CBCT). The present invention utilizes a method for alternating minimization between volume and motion sub-iterations and results in an improved system and method for motion estimation and compensation in CBCT.

Abstract: Method for constructing a continuous design space for generating a physical property model in a faulted subsurface medium. The matching relationship of the fault traces on the two sides of each fault is used in a systematic way to determine the location of the fault traces in the design space. The location of any other point in the design space may then be determined by interpolation of the locations of fault traces. The fault traces are thus used as control points for the mapping. The method involves: (a) identifying the control points and determining their location in both physical and design space and (b) using selected control points, mapping any point from physical space to design space, preferably using the moving least squares method.

Abstract: A system for controlling an operation of an induction motor (IM). A controller processor detects a spectrum of a current signal from received sensor data using a module. Obtain a number of rotor bars and a number of pole pairs of the IM to identify a principle slot harmonics (PSH) type IM from stored IM data. Use the PSH-type IM to identify a static eccentricity (SE) fault signature signal located at a secondary PSH frequency of the PSH-type IM. Determine a level of signal strength in the spectrum of the current signal at a location of the secondary PSH frequency, and compare to a SE fault table database to obtain a SE fault level of the PSH-type IM. Compare the SE fault level to a database to obtain a SE fault threshold, and if the SE fault level is outside the SE threshold, generate an interrupt command to the controller.

Abstract: A desalination and cooling system includes a single effect water-lithium bromide vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system and a forward osmosis with thermal-recovery (FO-TR) desalination system. The FO system employs a Thermo-Responsive Draw Solution (TRDS) Fresh water flows from the FS to the TRDS without application of pressure on the saline water. Afterwards, only thermal energy is required to extract fresh water from the TRDS and recover or regenerate the draw solution. The VAC system serves as a cooling source for cooling or air conditioning applications, generating waste heat as a result. The waste heat generated by the VAC system provides the thermal energy needed to recover the draw solution (DS). The VAC system can be powered by low-grade heat sources like solar thermal energy.

Abstract: A stress measuring device and a stress measuring method for measuring a stress distribution of an object are provided. The stress measuring method includes: receiving a first-dimension image of the object; marking an area of the first-dimension image to generate a marked area; calculating a first stress applied to the marked area and transforming the marked area to a strained marked area corresponding to a second-dimension image to generate a determination result; and calculating the stress distribution corresponding to the first-dimension image of the object according to the determination result.