Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes multiple fuel injections external to a pre-chamber. A further aspect provides an engine pre-chamber ignition apparatus which employs a pre-assembled and/or removable cartridge including an ignitor and a fresh air inlet but not a fuel inlet injector directly mounted thereto. Another aspect of a vehicular engine apparatus includes a fuel injector positioned externally to a pre-chamber which delivers an initial greater quantity of fuel for combustion and then a later and smaller quantity of fuel for pre-chamber ignition.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously modifying degradation rates of at least two compounds including a first compound having a first unmodified degradation rate constant k1 and a second compound having a second unmodified degradation rate k2 is provided. The method includes combining a first composition including the first compound with a second composition including the second compound, degrading the first compound and forming a first degradation product; and degrading the second compound and forming a second degradation product. The second degradation product modifies the first unmodified degradation rate constant k1 of the first compound to a first modified degradation rate k1? and the first degradation product modifies the second unmodified degradation rate k2 of the second compound to a second modified degradation rate k2?. Compositions resulting from the method are also provided.

Abstract: A technique is presented for quantizing pixels of an image using Sigma Delta quantization. In one aspect, pixel values for an image are segmented into columns of pixel values; and for each column in the matrix, pixel values of a given column are quantized using sigma delta modulation. The pixel values in a given column are preferably quantized as a whole, thereby minimizing accumulated quantization error from a starting pixel value in the given column to a current pixel value in the given column. In another aspect, the pixels of an image are quantized using a 2D generalization of Sigma Delta modulation.

Abstract: A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite is disclosed. The method includes distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphite successively with each event until at least 50% of the graphite is exfoliated to form a distribution in the molten polymer phase of single- and multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along the c-axis direction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a representation for a fingerprint includes receiving, by a computer processor, an image of a given fingerprint. The method extracts particular attributes for the given fingerprint from the image using a first neural network. The first neural network is trained to identify particular attributes in fingerprints and constructs a first feature vector from the extracted particular attributes, where the first feature vector has a first fixed length. The method includes extracting textural features of the given fingerprint from the image using a second neural network, where the second neural network is trained to identify textural features that are not limited to particular attributes and constructing a second feature vector from the extracted textural features, where the second feature vector has a second fixed length. The method includes concatenating the first feature vector with the second feature vector to form a representation for the given fingerprint.

Abstract: Polymer composite photonic crystal materials are disclosed as coatings which have high reflection (>30%) in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultraviolet (<400 nm), visible (Vis, 400 nm-700 nm), or near-infrared radiation range (NIR, 700-2000 nm), and relatively low reflection (<20% reflection) in a second, different range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Surprisingly, it was found that through a formulation and additives approach, the optical properties of polymer composite photonic crystal films can be selectively modified from a variety of different coating methods, including spray deposition.

Abstract: A transection device including a curved tubular body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, having a wall and an internal chamber and a receiving chamber. The receiving chamber may be defined by the distal end and an opening in the wall, and said distal end may have a surface facing the receiving chamber and an outside surface comprising an elongated region. A protrusion may extend from the distal end towards the center of said opening. A cutting member may be positioned within said curved tubular body and may be moveable between an initial position and an extended position and at least a portion of the cutting member may extend into the receiving chamber. A depressible member may be configured to move the cutting member and a compression member may extend between the cutting member and the depressible member. Some embodiments may utilize an electrosurgical cutting member.

Abstract: The present exemplary embodiments relate to a privacy preserving approach to peak load management. It finds example application in conjunction with, for example, power systems, such as smart homes, smart buildings, microgrids, distribution systems and bulk systems, and energy management systems.

Abstract: Most automatic cuff blood pressure (BP) measurement devices are based on oscillometry. These devices estimate BP from the envelopes of the cuff pressure oscillations using fixed ratios. The values of the fixed ratios represent population averages, so the devices may be accurate only in subjects with normal BP levels. A patient-specific oscillometric BP measurement method was developed. The idea was to represent the cuff pressure oscillation envelopes with a physiologic model and then estimate the patient-specific parameters of the model, which includes BP levels, by optimally fitting it to the envelopes.

Abstract: Compositions and methods that utilize anti-CD11b antibodies, anti-CD18 antibodies, anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies, anti-integrin ?V antibodies, anti-integrin ?1 antibodies, Abciximab, neutrophil inhibitory factor (NIF) protein, and/or combinations thereof to treat solid tumors are described.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for cuff-less blood pressure measurement in a mobile device. A key aspect of this disclosure is the discovery of a new location for blood pressure measurement at the fingertip of a subject and that reflectance-mode photoplethysmography can be used to help make this measurement. Through experiments in human subjects, it was discovered that it is indeed possible to measure systemic blood pressure by having a subject press the fingertip against a reflectance-mode photo-plethysmography-force sensor unit under visual guidance and then compute blood pressure from the resulting variable-amplitude blood volume oscillations and applied pressure via an oscillometric algorithm.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) device includes an emissive layer having a first sublayer with a first emitter as a dopant, a second sublayer with a second emitter as a dopant, and a third sublayer with a third emitter as a dopant. The second sublayer is between the first sublayer and the third sublayer. A concentration of the first emitter in the first sublayer exceeds a concentration of the third emitter in the third sublayer, and the concentration of the third emitter in the third sublayer exceeds a concentration of the second emitter in the second sublayer.

Abstract: The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for targeting nucleic acids. In particular, the invention provides non-naturally occurring or engineered DNA or RNA-targeting systems comprising a novel DNA or RNA-targeting CRISPR effector protein and at least one targeting nucleic acid component like a guide RNA.

Abstract: Provided is a field shaping multi-well photomultiplier and method for fabrication thereof. The photomultiplier includes a field-shaping multi-well avalanche detector, including a lower insulator, an a-Se photoconductive layer and an upper insulator. The a-Se photoconductive layer is positioned between the lower insulator and the upper insulator. A light interaction region, an avalanche region, and a collection region are provided along a length of the photomultiplier, and the light interaction region and the collection region are positioned on opposite sides of the avalanche region.

Abstract: Stimulating cell activity within a tissue is performed by an ultrasound array transducer having a plurality of transducer elements and a controller that actuates a plurality of transducer elements to emit focused acoustic energy to a plurality of focal zone locations in a scan direction at a focal zone scan rate. The actuation of the plurality of transducer elements to emit focused acoustic energy to the plurality of focal zone locations in the scan direction at the focal zone scan rate is repeated for a plurality of sweep cycles at a sweep rate which stimulates cells for optimal tissue growth.

Abstract: Biocatalytic conversion systems and methods of producing and using same that have improved yields are disclosed. The systems and methods involve co-fermentation of sugars and gaseous substrates for alcohol, ketone, and/or organic acid production. The systems and methods may include biocatalytically converting at least one sugar substrate into at least one of alcohol, at least one ketone, and/or at least one organic acid. The systems and methods may further include biocatalytically converting gases that comprise CO2 and H2 to at least one alcohol and/or at least one organic acid, thereby adding extra revenue to biorefineries.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for making and using recombinant bacteria that are capable of regulated attenuation and/or regulated expression of one or more antigens of interest.

Abstract: A single-switch-per-bit topology for reconfigurable reflective surfaces (RRSs) is provided. Novel multi-bit unit-cell configurations are presented for radio-frequency (RF) RRSs with improved radiation efficiency and compact designs. Embodiments described herein realize a multi-bit RRS using an antenna array with multiple integrated switches at the ports of every antenna element (e.g., one at each port, providing one control bit per switch). By manipulating the states of the switches, the impinging waves on the surface are modulated, leading to beamforming in the desired direction. Some embodiments utilize a single switch-per-bit topology integrating single-pole-single-throw (SPST) switches (e.g., PIN diodes) into the unit-cell design, achieving up to 4 bits of phase quantization with only 4 switches. The exhibited radiation efficiency of the multi-bit RRS is significantly improved compared to lower bit configurations.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for intravenous cannulation. The device employs a spring to precisely and accurately control the force and velocity imparted to a piercing needle, with mechanical constraints built into the device to precisely and accurately control the distance through which the piercing needle travels. A sheathed-needle configuration is used with an outer, echogenic needle that can be seen via ultrasound; and an inner needle used to pierce the vein. The operator releases the piercing needle with a controlled velocity, controlled force, and controlled travel distance. The device reduces the human error and complications that have previously been associated with manually piercing a vein for cannulation.

Abstract: A system for measuring the membrane potential of a neuron is disclosed. The system comprises one or more photoacoustic ion indicators, each comprising a metal chelating agent linked to a chromophore molecule. The metal chelating agent is configured to selectively bind to one of sodium ions, calcium ions, and potassium ions. The system further comprises a photoacoustic probe including a laser configured to emit a light signal to the chromophore and an ultrasound transducer configured to receive a photoacoustic signal in response to the light signal. The system further comprises a processor configured to receive the photoacoustic signal from the ultrasound transducer, determine a quantity of photoacoustic ion indicators exhibiting the shift, and calculate a membrane potential of the neuron based on quantity of photoacoustic ion indicators exhibiting the shift.