Abstract: A method for conditioning a ceramic layer with a thickness of less than 150 ?m over a substrate is provided. The ceramic layer is cleaned. A region of the ceramic layer is scanned with a pulsed excimer laser beam at a repetition rate of 3-300 Hz.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed to design and engineer glycan dynamics to improve immunogen antigenicity. These include systems for identify glycosylation sites that that impact binding of antibodies to the immunogen, and modifying the glycan profiles on these glycosylation sites to synthesize novel immunogens, antibodies and vaccines. Then, the machine learning algorithm may output data relating to the glycosylation sites that are determinant or likely impact the binding affinity of the variants to the one or more antibodies.

Abstract: A system and method to predict rock strength by directly inverting for petrophysical properties. In one embodiment, seismic data is received or obtained from a seismic survey (step 101). The seismic data are then conditioned (step 103) in order to prepare them for an inversion process (step 105). The inversion process has an embedded rock physics model that allows the inversion to be formulated based upon, and thereby outputting or calculating (step 107), petrophysical properties. Rock strength data may then be calculated from the petrophysical properties (step 109).

Abstract: A method is provided for deep tissue imaging using multi-photon excitation of a fluorescent agent. The fluorescent agent is irradiated with an ultrafast laser to produce an excited singlet state (Sn) which subsequently undergoes non-radiative relaxation to a first singlet state (S1). The S1 state undergoes fluorescence to the ground state S0 to produce an emission wavelength. Both the excitation and emission wavelengths are within the near infrared optical window, thereby permitting deep tissue penetration for both the incoming and outgoing signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In certain embodiments, compounds are provided that increase full-length survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein production by an SMN2 gene.

Abstract: A high-speed low-power-consumption trigger, which comprises a control signal generation circuit, an enabling unit, and a latch structure. The latch structure comprises two input ends, two output ends, two enabling ends, a second enabling end, and a ground end. The enabling unit comprises two enabling circuits. An output signal X of the control signal generation circuit and an external control signal D serve as input signals of the first enabling circuit. An output end of the first enabling circuit is connected to the first enabling end. The output signal X of the control signal generation circuit and a phase-inverted signal DB of the external control signal D serve as input signals of the second enabling circuit. An output end of the second enabling circuit is connected to the second enabling end.

Abstract: A host device uses an intermediate frequency determined based on frequencies of a second-order nonlinear intermodulation distortion component and a harmonic component which are generated in an analog optical link connected to the host device, for example, an analog optical link of a distributed antenna system (DAS), and precompensates for the second-order nonlinear intermodulation distortion component and the harmonic component generated in the analog optical link.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Bak binding proteins that change the conformation of Bak and uses thereof.

Abstract: A composition is provided that comprises a therapeutic agent encapsulated by a milk-derived microvesicle. The compositions can include therapeutic agents such as phytochemical agents or chemotherapeutic agents, while the milk-derived microvesicle can be derived from raw milk or colostrum. Further provided are methods for isolating a microvesicle that includes the steps of obtaining an amount of milk, and subjecting the milk to a series of sequential centrifugations configured to yield greater than about 300 mg of microvesicle protein per 100 ml of milk. Methods of modifying an immune response and treating a cancer in which a milk-derived microvesicle composition is administered are also provided.

Abstract: A monitoring system comprises a lift assembly configured to lift a patient; a control system configured to control operation of the lift system; and a reporting system in communication with the control system and configured to receive operational information for the lift assembly. The reporting system compares the operational information to a predetermined set of values to determine if the operation of the lift is in compliance with the protocols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of racemic nicotine from 3-pyridylaldehyde using a one-pot or step-wise method. The process comprises the following steps: Stetter reaction, reduction-cyclization and methylation.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a server computer, a selection of patient records. The method further includes aggregating the patient records by geographic unit based on at least one healthcare metric. In addition, the method includes accessing a map of a geographic region covered by the selected patient records. Further, the method includes annotating the map based on a geographic variance of the at least one healthcare metric. The method also includes receiving, by the server computer, a selection of at least one environmental factor. Additionally, the method includes aggregating, by the server computer, environmental data for the environmental factor by the geographic unit. The method further includes annotating the map based on a geographic variance of the environmental factor.

Abstract: Methods for typing a strain of an organism are provided, the methods comprising the steps of amplifying, in a single reaction mixture containing nucleic acid from the organism, dividing the reaction mixture into a plurality of sets of second-stage reaction wells, each set of second-stage reaction wells containing a different pair of second-stage primers, subjecting each of the second-stage reaction wells to amplification conditions to generate a plurality of second-stage amplicons, melting the second-stage amplicons to generate a melting curve for each second-stage amplicon, and identifying the strain of the organism from the melting curves.

Abstract: A plasma source includes a ring plasma chamber, a primary winding around an exterior of the ring plasma chamber, multiple ferrites, wherein the ring plasma chamber passes through each of the ferrites and multiple plasma chamber outlets coupling the plasma chamber to a process chamber. Each one of the plasma chamber outlets having a respective plasma restriction. A system and method for generating a plasma are also described.

Abstract: Metapneumovirus (MPV) F proteins stabilized in a prefusion conformation, nucleic acid molecules and vectors encoding these proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the MPV F proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules can be used to generate an immune response to MPV in a subject. In additional embodiments, the therapeutically effective amount of the MPV F ectodomain trimers and/or nucleic acid molecules can be administered to a subject in a method of treating or preventing MPV infection.

Abstract: A counterbalancing linkage mechanism includes a base link including a first joint; a second link forming a second joint to be rotatably connected to the base link; and a counter balancer having one portion disposed at the second joint and another portion movably disposed at the base link along a length direction of the second link. The counter balancer compensates a gravitational torque generated due to a weight of the second link when the second link rotates on the second joint. A third link is connected to the second link. The counter balancer comprises a counter balancer delivery portion connected to the second link and rotating by the rotation of the second link. A counter balancer driving portion is in contact with the counter balancer delivery portion, linearly moves by the rotation of the counter balancer delivery portion, and compensates the gravitational torque and a load capacity due to interaction with the counter balancer delivery portion.

Abstract: A memory controller accessing a memory including a plurality of blocks is provided. The memory controller includes a storage circuit and a control circuit. The storage circuit stores a refresh value and a data table. The data table has a plurality of bits. Each bit indicates whether a corresponding block has valid data. The control circuit selects a specific block according to the refresh value and determines whether the specific block stores valid data according to the data table. When the specific block stores valid data, the control circuit accesses the memory after a first waiting time. When the specific block does not store any data or stores invalid data, the control circuit accesses the memory after a second waiting time. The second waiting time is shorter than the first waiting time.

Abstract: A device for estimating a state-of-health (SOH) of a battery module controls a battery current to have a predetermined current value for a testing period such that a battery voltage decreases during the testing period, corrects a voltage variation value of the battery module during the testing period according to a temperature value of the battery module, and estimates the SOH of the battery module according to the corrected voltage variation value, a current variation value of the battery module during the testing period, and a rated capacity of the battery module.