Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining integrity and/or quantity of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in a bio logical sample comprising amplifying target sequences with at least a first primer/probe set and at least a second primer probe/set, amplifying the target sequences of differing lengths, and monitoring for detection of the labels of the oligonucleotide probes, and determining the integrity and/or quantity of the cfDNA based on the level of detection of the label of the oligonucleotide probe from the first primer/probe set compared to the level detection of the label of the oligonucleotide probe from the second primer/probe set. The present invention also provides methods for generating a library with the cfDNA for sequencing and analysis.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a portable magnetic resonance imaging system is provided, comprising a B0 magnet configured to produce a B0 magnetic field for an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system, a noise reduction system configured to detect and suppress at least some electromagnetic noise in an operating environment of the portable magnetic resonance imaging system, and electromagnetic shielding provided to attenuate at least some of the electromagnetic noise in the operating environment of the portable magnetic resonance imaging system, the electromagnetic shielding arranged to shield a fraction of the imaging region of the portable magnetic resonance imaging system. According to some aspects, the electromagnetic shield comprises at least one electromagnetic shield structure adjustably coupled to the housing to provide electromagnetic shielding for the imaging region in an amount that can be varied.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a security enhanced channel control system useable on a wireless device comprising a policy module including at least one processor and memory, the policy module configured to store, in the memory, one or more security policies and apply a compliance check to a first system layer and a second system layer; and a first policy base stored in the memory of the policy module, the first policy base being associated with a mandatory access control (“MAC”) base and defining one more security polices for access to a plurality of channels associated with the first and second system layers. The policy module cooperates with the first policy base to establish one or more access control rules that are applied to at least one of the plurality of channels to preclude an unauthorized application from accessing at least one of the channels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for indicating a radio resource to a receiver in a wireless communication system, the method including allocating a plurality of reference signals (RSs) for beam indication, selecting one of the plurality of RSs for the receiver, and transmitting information about the selected RS to the receiver, wherein the information includes a reference indication (RI) that indicates the radio resource of the selected RS.

Abstract: According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method for converting energy. The method comprises receiving energy from an external source, using the received energy for inducing a mass exchange process to release thermodynamic energy, and converting the thermodynamic energy directly into electrical energy at sufficient amount for performing work therewith. In some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the released energy is converted to a pressure wave, and the mechanical energy constituted by the pressure wave is converted to non-mechanical energy.

Abstract: Modified glucagon peptides are disclosed having improved solubility and/or stability while retaining glucagon agonist activity. The glucagon peptides have been modified by the substitution of pyridyl-alanine for a native amino acid at one or more of positions 6, 10 or 13 and/or substitution with an amino acid in the D-conformation at position 20 or 21 compared to native glucagon.

Abstract: A device for measuring pH levels and contaminant concentration includes an electrode assembly that is electrically coupled to a control unit. The electrode assembly includes a first contact electrically coupled to a reference electrode, a second contact electrically coupled to a working electrode, and a third contact electrically coupled to a counter electrode. The working electrode may be modified to include a cysteine functionalized graphene oxide with polypyrrole nanocomposite. In operation, the control unit may apply a complex signal to the working electrode via the second contact in order to adhere and subsequently strip contaminant ions from the fluid sample to the working electrode. During this process, a current may be measured across the working electrode and the counter electrode to measure contaminant ion concentration. The pH of the fluid sample may also be determined by a current measured across the reference electrode and the counter electrode.

Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine system having a turbine combustor, a turbine driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor, and an exhaust gas compressor driven by the turbine. The exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and supply an exhaust gas to the turbine combustor. The gas turbine system also has an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The EGR system is configured to recirculate the exhaust gas along an exhaust recirculation path from the turbine to the exhaust gas compressor. The system further includes a main oxidant compression system having one or more oxidant compressors. The one or more oxidant compressors are separate from the exhaust gas compressor, and the one or more oxidant compressors are configured to supply all compressed oxidant utilized by the turbine combustor in generating the combustion products.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are immunoglobulin fusion proteins comprising a first antibody region, a first therapeutic agent, and a first connecting peptide; wherein the first therapeutic agent is attached to the first antibody region by the connecting peptide; and wherein the connecting peptide does not comprise a region having beta strand secondary structure. The connecting peptide may comprise an extender peptide. The extender peptide may have an alpha helical secondary structure. The connecting peptide may comprise a linker peptide. The linker peptide may not comprise any secondary structure. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising the immunoglobulin fusion proteins and methods for using the immunoglobulin fusion proteins for the treatment or prevention of a disease or condition in a subject.

Abstract: A transmitting method, a transmitter, a receiver and an associated scheduling method for control signal and data signal are provided. The transmitting method includes following steps. Firstly, a first control power and a first data power are respectively allocated to a first control signal and a first data signal which are to be transmitted with a first sub-carrier in a first time duration. The first control power and the first data power are different. The first control signal and the first data signal are multiplexed by superimposing the first control power and the first data power before the multiplexed first control signal and the multiplexed first data signal are transmitted.

Abstract: The object of the invention are compositions and medical treatment methods with an inheritable, Gram-negative, strictly anaerobic and commensal bacterium of the family Christensenellaceae belonging to an OTU (Operational Taxonomic Unit) characterized by a 16S rRNA sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or to an OTU characterized by a 16S rRNA sequence SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions for use in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, and/or a ocular and retinal degenerative disease, such as age related macular degeneration. The described compositions include effective amounts of LLMe, the hydrobromide form thereof, or functional derivatives thereof. Methods of treatment of a retinal degenerative disease of Alzheimer's Disease using the described compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of microRNAs associated with acne and to the use thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an audio signal processing method including identifying a sound source provided inside a preset reference distance and a sound source provided outside the reference distance to represent a sound field based on virtual reality (VR) content that is represented in a predetermined virtual space in which a user is located in a VR environment, processing a sound field using three-dimensional (3D) ambisonics based on height information and horizontal information of the sound source provided inside the reference distance, and processing a sound field using two-dimensional (2D) ambisonics based on horizontal information of the sound source provided outside the reference distance.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatuses for processing substrates having carbon-containing material using atomic layer etch and selective deposition are provided. Methods involve exposing a carbon-containing material on a substrate to an oxidant and igniting a first plasma to modify a surface of the substrate and exposing the modified surface to a second plasma at a bias power to remove the modified surface. Methods also involve selectively depositing a second carbon-containing material onto the substrate using a precursor having a chemical formula of CxHy, where x and y are integers greater than or equal to 1. ALE and selective deposition may be performed without breaking vacuum.

Abstract: Methods and systems to improve printed electrical components and for integration in circuits are disclosed. Passive components, e.g., capacitors, resistors and inductors, can be printed directly into a solid ceramic block using additive manufacturing. A grounded conductive plane or a conductive cage may be placed between adjacent electrical components, or around each component, to minimize unwanted parasitic effects in the circuits, such as, e.g., parasitic capacitance or parasitic inductance. Resistors may be printed in non-traditional shapes, for example, S-shape, smooth S-shape, U-shape, V-shape, Z-shape, zigzag-shape, and any other acceptable alternative configurations. The flexibility in shapes and sizes of the printed resistors allows optimal space usage of the ceramic block. The present invention also discloses an electrical component comprising combined predetermined values of capacitance, resistance and inductance.

Abstract: A mobile application running on a host mobile device is used to control the display of notifications, received by the host mobile device, on a mobile device cover. A single button on the mobile device cover is used to display, configure, and navigate through functionality menus of functions provided by the mobile device cover.

Abstract: A microfabricated platform for mimicking the liver zonation and an evaluating method of zone-specific hepatotoxicity using the same is provided. The microfabricated platform for mimicking the liver zonation prepared according to the method of the present invention is divided into three zones of zone 1, zone 2 and zone 3 similarly to in vivo liver tissue and thus the zone-specific hepatotoxicity of a drug in the liver can be evaluated using the same. According to the present invention, the zone-specific hepatotoxicity results can be analyzed quantitatively by using image analysis, so that the platform of the present invention can be effectively used for in vitro screening of zone-specific hepatotoxicity.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the expression, secretion and use of novel compositions for use as, e.g., vaccine and antigen delivery vectors, to delivery antigens to antigen presenting cells. In one embodiment, the vector is an anti-CD40 antibody, or fragments thereof, and one or more antigenic peptides linked to the anti-CD40 antibody or fragments thereof, including humanized antibodies.