Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to treating diseased tissue with ablation therapy. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a catheter having an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus further includes a balloon structure arranged proximal to the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon structure has a first portion with a first permeability and a second portion with a second permeability such that the first permeability is different than the second permeability. In addition, the apparatus includes a first electrode arranged on or within the balloon structure and configured to: transmit current through the first portion, receive current transmitted through the first portion or both.

Abstract: A method and an image processing apparatus for video coding are provided. The method is adapted to the image processing apparatus and includes following steps. A current coding unit is received, and filter selection is performed according to a size of the current coding unit. At least one selected filter is used to perform a filtering operation on a plurality of reference boundaries of the current coding unit to generate a plurality of filtering reference values. An interpolation operation is performed on the current coding unit according to the filtering reference values to generate a plurality of interpolated prediction values.

Abstract: A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method for recycling a spent alkaline battery comprising: dissolving insoluble metal ions in aqueous solution thereby producing pregnant leach solution; extracting zinc sulfate from aqueous solution thereby producing zinc sulfate product and raffinate solution comprising manganese sulfate and potassium sulfate; separating manganese hydroxide from raffinate solution thereby producing manganese sulfate product and aqueous potassium sulfate solution; crystallizing aqueous potassium sulfate solution to produce solid potassium sulfate product.

Abstract: A neuromodulator includes one or more coil sets. Each of the coil sets has three coils aligned to produce magnetic and electric fields in three different directions. A plurality of conductors couple the coils of the one or more coil sets to one or more input signals such that each of the coils is independently activated via an individually selectable current applied through the conductors. The individual activation creates a resultant field that is a combination of the magnetic and electric fields in three different directions for each of the coil sets.

Abstract: A mobile robot control method includes: acquiring a first image that is captured by a camera on a robot when the robot is in a desired pose; acquiring a second image that is captured by the camera on the robot when the robot is in a current pose; extracting multiple pairs of matching feature points from the first image and the second image, and projecting the extracted feature points onto a virtual unitary sphere to obtain multiple projection feature points, wherein a center of the virtual unitary sphere is coincident with an optical center of coordinates of the camera; acquiring an invariant image feature and a rotation vector feature based on the multiple projection feature points, and controlling the robot to move until the robot is in the desired pose according to the invariant image feature and the rotation vector feature.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, formulations and kits for treating a patient with cancer with nanoparticle complexes comprising a carrier protein, a binding agent and paclitaxel and optionally co-treated with an anti-PD-L1 antibody.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber reinforced energetic composite is provided. The method includes providing a mold or mandrel defining a shape for the fiber reinforced energetic composite, providing an impregnated fiber layup over the mold or mandrel, and curing the impregnated fiber layup. The impregnated fiber layup includes a fiber layup and polymer resin, the fiber layup formed from a plurality of reinforcing fiber layers and an energetic polymer nanocomposite disposed adjacent one or more of the reinforcing fiber layers with the polymer resin impregnated within the reinforcing fiber layers. The energetic polymer nanocomposite includes core-shell nanoparticles entrained in a thermoplastic polymer matrix where the core-shell nanoparticles include a core made of metal and at least one shell layer made of metal oxide disposed on the core or a core made of metal oxide and at least one shell layer made of metal disposed on the core.

Abstract: A method for treatment of irritation or damage to corneal or conjunctival epithelial cells, particularly for irritation or damage to corneal or conjunctival epithelial cells due to severe Sjögren's syndrome, comprising applying topically to an affected eye an aqueous solution of glycerol characterized by a glycerol concentration of >1% (w/v), most preferably 2.5% (w/v). The method is effective even in the case of very low tear formation, and its effectiveness cannot be explained by the known humectant effect of glycerol.

Abstract: A method for removing compressed Poisson noises in an image, based on deep neural networks, may comprise generating a plurality of block-aggregation images by performing block transform on low-frequency components of an input image; obtaining a plurality of restored block-aggregation images by inputting the plurality of block-aggregation images into a first deep neural network; generating a low-band output image from which noises for the low-frequency components are removed by performing inverse block transform on the plurality of restored block-aggregation images; and generating an output image from which compressed Poisson noises are removed by adding the low-band output image to a high-band output image from which noises for high-frequency components of the input image are removed.

Abstract: In the present system and method, a conduit from a LC device continuously transports solvent, buffers, and analytes to the inlet of a solvent removal and analyte conversion device which evaporates the solvents, leaving non-volatile analytes for detection. The device comprises a rotating disk. The liquid chromatograph device can be any device using liquid chromatography to separate molecules. The solvents in the LC effluent can include, but are not limited to, water, methanol, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and acetone. After removal of the volatile components, the non-volatile analytes are converted with a concentrated energy source so that they may be detectable.

Abstract: Yield monitoring systems for round baling machines and methods that can provide weight estimations for round bales at the time of formation are described. Balers can include those that incorporate hydraulically actuated bale kicking or pushing assemblies as well as those that incorporate spring-loaded off ramps. Farm implements including baling machines and cotton module builders are encompassed. The system includes a sensor that can ascertain a physical parameter associated with ejection of a round bale from the farm implement. Physical parameters as may be ascertained can include pressures, velocities, accelerations, etc. associated with bale ejection.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition can include an amount of amniotic fluid having a therapeutically effective amount of at least one protein, hyaluronic acid, or both. The therapeutic composition can be substantially free of lanugo, vernix, and cells harvested with the amniotic fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds, their pharmaceutical salts, and pharmaceutical compositions that selectively activate the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)/X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s) signaling pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR), but that do not target the IRE1 kinase domain. The compounds are useful in treating diseases or conditions characterized by imbalances in proteostasis within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or secretory pathway, including those not associated with ER stress or activation of UPR.

Abstract: One embodiment can include a system for providing an image-capturing recommendation. During operation the system receives, from a mobile computing device, one or more images. The one or more images are captured by one or more cameras associated with the mobile computing device. The system analyzes the received images to obtain image-capturing conditions for capturing images of a target within a physical space; determines, based on the obtained image-capturing conditions and a predetermined image-quality requirement, one or more image-capturing settings; and recommends the determined one or more image-capturing settings to a user.

Abstract: A battery having a thermal protection arrangement is disclosed which includes a housing, a first electrode, a second electrode, a polymer porous separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte interspersed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the polymer porous separator, at least one sensor holder having an electrode side and a housing side, with at least one cavity provided on the electrode side, the at least one sensor holder in firm contact with the first electrode or the second electrode, and at least one temperature sensor placed in the at least one cavity of the at least one sensor holder, the at least one cavity sized such that the outer surface of the temperature sensor being flush with remaining surface of the at least one sensor holder, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor has no contact with the polymer porous separator.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating multiple system atrophy in a mammal. Specifically, the methods comprises intrathecally administering to the mammal a composition comprising autologous mesenchymal stem cells (e.g. adipose deprived mesenchymal stem cells) to treat multiple system atrophy. Further disclosed is the composition comprising from about 5×10(6) to about 5×10(8) autologous mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: An information processing device for performing performance control in a virtualized environment is disclosed. The information processing device can include an I/O thread configured to transfer signals between a virtual machine and at least one physical resource, and a performance manager unit configured to compare a target performance for the virtual machine with an actual performance of the virtual machine and manage a resource allocated to the I/O thread based on the comparison result, where the performance manager unit may obtain information regarding the actual performance of the virtual machine, determine a performance adjustment value by using the difference between the actual performance of the virtual machine and the target performance for the virtual machine, and manage the resource allocated to the I/O thread based on the performance adjustment value.

Abstract: Provided herein are protein contrast agents and targeted protein contrast agents, formulations thereof, and methods of use, including but not limited to, as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.

Abstract: The present application provides a pipeline adapter including a first connection block, a second connection block, a fastener and a seal ring. The first connection block is provided with a first channel and a first annular positioning groove disposed around the first channel. The second connection block is provided with a second channel communicating with the first channel and a second annular positioning platform fitting inside the first annular positioning groove. The second annular positioning platform is disposed around the second channel. The fastener connects the first connection block to the second connection block. The seal ring fits between the first annular positioning groove and the second annular positioning platform. The pipeline adapter is convenient to use, has a favorable sealing effect, and facilitates pipeline connection of a refrigeration system.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and system for implementing inter-process communications. The method includes sending, by a first application, a first message to a forwarding application according to a first preset inter-process communication mode. The first message includes transmission data and identification information of a second application; obtaining, by the forwarding application, the second application in response to the first message; and sending, by the forwarding application, the transmission data to the second application according to a second preset inter-process communication mode of the second application.