Abstract: An apparatus for fusion welding one or several parallel optical fibers (102) to the same number of waveguides (101) includes a fiber guiding device and a highly reflective surface (104) located below the fiber for each fiber-waveguide pair, and a laser beam (103) whose wavelength is chosen such that its light is strongly absorbed by the fiber material and its shape is properly adjusted.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) comprising an accelerometer and a gyroscope, wherein the IMU is configured to detect chest and/or abdominal movement by a patient during the inspiration and expiration stages of a respiratory cycle and to generate positional data based on the detected movement. Positional data generated by the IMU is used by an implanted stimulation system to determine when to deliver electrical stimulation to a nerve which innervates an upper airway muscle, such as the hypoglossal nerve, to treat sleep apnea.

Abstract: A deep neural network training accelerator includes an operational unit sequentially performing first and second operations on a plurality of input data of a sub-set according to a mini-batch gradient descent, a determination unit determining each of the input data as one of skip data and training data based on a confidence matrix obtained by the first operation, and a control unit controlling the operational unit to skip the second operation with respect to the skip data.

Abstract: A system and method for performing secure exchanges of data over a computer network may include: generating, by a computerized blockchain entity, data points of the blockchain entity based on a data point from a first computerized signing entity; reconstructing, by the blockchain entity, data points of a plurality of signing entities, where data points of the signing entities are generated based on one or more of the data points of the blockchain entity; and performing an exchange of data between one or more of the entities based on the reconstructed data points. In some embodiments, the blockchain entity may comprise two components: a public component (which may be accessible to signing entities) and a private component (which may not be accessible to the signing entities). Some embodiments may include implementing the blockchain entity on a blockchain network, and/or simulating computerized operations by some of the relevant entities.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to gene therapy vectors, such as AAV vectors, comprising a polynucleotide encoding ?-sarcoglycan (SGCG) and methods of using such gene therapy vectors to treat subjects suffering from a muscular dystrophy, e.g. limb girdle dystrophy type 2C (LGMD2C).

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a system and method monitoring oxygenation in biological tissue, comprising a control unit configured and operable to receive data indicative of light response from a region of the biological tissue being subjected to illumination and/or collection at two separate wavelengths in two selected wavelength ranges and processing the data by comparing data indicative of each selected wavelength range to determine an oxygenated/deoxygenated status of the biological tissue. The two wavelength ranges include a first wavelength range in which the absorbance of the deoxyhemoglobin within the tissue is higher than the oxyhemoglobin, and a second wavelength range in which the absorbance of the oxyhemoglobin within the tissue is higher than the deoxyhemoglobin or vice versa. The two wavelengths in the two wavelength ranges include first and second wavelengths satisfying a predetermined condition of a ratio between the absorbance of the deoxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin for each wavelength.

Abstract: A whole building air quality control system includes an indoor air quality (IAQ) component having at least one control state, a plurality of sensors configured to measure a plurality of building conditions of a building space, and a controller communicably coupled to the IAQ component and the plurality of sensors. The controller includes memory storing a desired air quality index (AQI). The AQI includes a categorical variable. The controller is configured to iteratively modify a control state of the IAQ component using a machine learning algorithm until the plurality of building conditions of the building space satisfy the desired AQI.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled pedestal includes a pedestal, a temperature sensor to sense N temperature in N zones, and N temperature control devices arranged in the N zones, respectively. A voltage source selectively supplies power to the N temperature control devices. A controller is configured to cause the voltage source to control a temperature in the N zones by a) determining a hottest one of the N zones based on the N temperatures; b) if the hottest one of the N zones is not already cooling, increasing cooling to the hottest one of the N zones using one of the N temperature control devices; c) decreasing cooling to the N zones when a temperature of the N zones is less than a first temperature setpoint; and d) repeating a) to c) until all of the N zones have a temperate less than or equal to the first temperature setpoint.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an MRI-compatible robot comprising one or more fiducial markers, a first planar stage comprising a first joint configured to receive a surgical tool and a first mechanism configured to move the surgical tool, a second planar stage comprising a second joint configured to receive the surgical tool and a second mechanism configured to move the surgical tool, and wherein the second planar stage is generally parallel with the first planar stage.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to implantable systems and methods for treatment of pancreatic cancer. In an embodiment, a method of treating pancreatic cancer is included, the method including inserting an electrical stimulation lead through the inferior vena cava, a hepatic vein, and into the portal vein via a transjugular intrahepatic portosystem shunt (TIPS). The method can further include inserting the electrical stimulation lead into at least one of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein. The method can further include positioning electrodes on the lead within at least one of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein and delivering one or more electric fields through the electrodes to a treatment zone including at least a portion of the pancreas. The electric fields can be at frequencies and a field strength effective to prevent and/or disrupt cellular mitosis in a cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising, or consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or of a nucleic acid sequence of at least 1400 bp having at least 80% identity to said sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule leads to the specific expression in mouse cortex of an exogenous gene in a particular population of CNR1-positive cells when a nucleic acid sequence coding for said exogenous gene is operatively linked to said isolated nucleic acid molecule, said particular population of CNR1-positive cells being characterized in that it also expresses EFHD1, ENPP6 and GJC2.

Abstract: A process for making liquid fuels, especially diesel fuel, from primary alcohols. The process involves subjecting a feedstock comprising primary alcohols to Guerbet coupling to yield a first intermediate mix; subjecting the first intermediate mix to hydrogenolysis to yield a second intermediate mix; and subjecting the second intermediate mix to etherification to yield a liquid fuel suitable for use in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding/decoding a neural network-based personalized speech are provided. The method includes outputting a first bit stream in which an input speech signal is encrypted, based on the input speech signal, and outputting a second bit stream in which speaker information of the input speech signal is encrypted, based on the input speech signal.

Abstract: Provided are a two-terminal stretchable touch array sensor and a method of preparing the two-terminal stretchable touch array sensor, and the two-terminal stretchable touch array sensor includes an upper electrode including an upper electrode pattern embedded in a first elastic substrate, a lower electrode including a lower electrode pattern embedded in a second elastic substrate, a spacer interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and a first terminal and a second terminal each included at the same position of an end of the upper electrode pattern and an end of the lower electrode pattern.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for estimating an end-to-end delay between blockchain nodes in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. The system includes a coordinate system construction unit configured to designate an origin node and anchor nodes among participating nodes having a distributed ledger of P2P networks, construct a first coordinate system of a predetermined dimension by exchanging control messages between the origin node and the anchor nodes and the participating nodes, and construct a second coordinate system of another predetermined dimension and a dimension determination unit configured to determine a dimension to be applied to the current P2P networks by comparing dimension-specific delays or control message overheads of the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system.

Abstract: Provided is an operating method of a processing circuit, the method including generating a first compressed chunk including only a first valid value, generating a first mask includes a reference value at a same position as a position of the first valid value, and includes a plurality of first sub-masks, generating a second compressed chunk including only a second valid value, generating a second mask, includes a reference value at a same position as a position of the second valid value, and includes a plurality of second sub-masks, generating a valid pair position value for each of a current first sub-mask and a current second sub-mask, generating a first cumulative value corresponding to a number of reference values included in a first previous sub-mask, and generating a second cumulative value corresponding to a number of reference values included in a second previous sub-mask.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and techniques to improve scintigraphic images obtained by using nuclear medicine techniques for diagnostic analysis. The present invention describes a method and technique to up-sample and down-sample nuclear medicine images that models photon counts and noise characteristics of an image at its target resolution.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for use in making biodegradable biodegradable composite, and biodegradable composite comprising polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)-component; hemp powder; and optionally one or more compatibilizers and/or PBAT grafted with one or more compatibilizers selected from maleic anhydride, glycidyl methacrylate, pyromellitic anhydride, acrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, poly(glycidyl methacrylate, copolymer(s) of glycidyl methacrylate and/or copolymers of acrylic acid. The invention also relates to methods of preparing the composites.