Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems are provided for approximate message passing with universal denoising. In one example, a method includes applying an approximate message passing (AMP) conversion framework to a plurality of substantially linear measurements to produce a plurality of scalar measurements; applying a denoiser algorithm to the plurality of scalar measurements to generate a plurality of denoised scalar measurements; and applying a conversion term to the plurality of denoised scalar measurements to convert the plurality of denoised scalar measurements to a plurality of denoised substantially linear measurements.

Abstract: An exemplary water treatment unit comprises a horizontal tunnel comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a basin portion disposed below a dewvaporation portion, a center divider disposed in the basin portion so as to create a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet, a heat transfer wall disposed above the center divider so as to create an air flow path substantially parallel to the liquid flow path and extending from the inlet to the outlet, a first continuous longitudinal pump disposed in the horizontal tunnel and configured to wet the heat transfer wall with liquid disposed in the basin portion, and a heating mechanism configured to increase the temperature of air disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to amino acid, modified amino acid, peptide and protein identification and sequencing, by means of, for example, electronic detection of individual amino acids or small peptides.

Abstract: Methods, structures, and systems are disclosed for biosensing and drug delivery techniques. In one aspect, a device for detecting an analyte and/or releasing a biochemical into a biological fluid can include an array of hollowed needles, in which each needle includes a protruded needle structure including an exterior wall forming a hollow interior and an opening at a terminal end of the protruded needle structure that exposes the hollow interior, and a probe inside the exterior wall to interact with one or more chemical or biological substances that come in contact with the probe via the opening to produce a probe sensing signal, and an array of wires that are coupled to probes of the array of hollowed needles, respectively, each wire being electrically conductive to transmit the probe sensing signal produced by a respective probe.

Abstract: Methods for measuring and/or mapping in-plane strain of a surface of a substrate. A grating is formed on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. A laser is then used focused onto the grating to determine the strain on the surface by determining the variation of the grating wavelength due to the strain on the surface. The strain information is essentially carried by the grating, in terms of grating wavelength, because it varies according to the volume change of the underlying substrates. By scanning the surface grating with the small laser size, a high resolution strain map of the surface can be produced. The induced strain is related to the grating wavelength variation, which leads to the diffraction angle variation that is captured by the strain sensing measurements.

Abstract: A medical stopcock which allows easier switching operation of plural branch-tubes. The main body of the stopcock comprises a chamber part with a nearly spherical inner surface, and an upstream branch-tube, a downstream branch-tube and a merge-branch-tube all extending from the chamber part. A valve body of the stopcock comprises a nearly spherical valve main body and a rod-shaped operating part with a guide hole linking the inner surface of the chamber part to the outside. In operation, the rod-shaped operating part is moved along the guide hole through the use of the horizontal flow passages and the vertical flow passage to allow the predetermined branch-tubes out of the upstream branch-tube, the downstream branch-tube and the merge-branch-tube to communicate with one another or to shut-off the communication.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for determining the susceptibility of cattle to High Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension. Also provide are kits and reagents for performing such methods.

Abstract: Methods and systems for bridge damage detection using, for example, one or more strain range methods are provided. One exemplary embodiment provides a computer-implemented methods and systems for determining bridge damage from strain sensor data, for example, by collecting a batch of strain data from one or more sensor pairs. From the batch of strain data one or more sets of strain data may be extracted comprising a quasi-static response of the bridge under ambient traffic loads. A relationship may be established between the one or more sets of strain data extracted from the one or more sensor pairs by orthogonal regression. Bridge damage may be detected by generally isolating a damage indicator between the one or more sensor pairs by monitoring changes in a statistical Fshm value over time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods directed to routing in the wireless mesh network (WMN) with multi-beam directional antennas (MBDAs). The disclosed systems and methods describe Ripple-Diamond-Chain (RDC) shaped routing, systematic link quality modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) augmented path link selection. In simulations, real-time video as well as other types of traffic types are used to validate the high-throughput, quality of service (QoS)-differentiated, multi-beam routing efficiency of the disclosed systems and methods, as well as the intelligent path determination in dynamic WMN environments.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining blood pressure for a subject using a sphygmomanometer. The method includes: measuring an oscillometric cuff pressure waveform of the subject using the sphygmomanometer; representing the measured waveform with a physical model accounting for mechanics of the cuff, an artery and coupling between the cuff and the artery; determining the model unknowns from the measured waveform; and determining blood pressure for the subject using the determined model.

Abstract: The invention provides an antibacterial compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof, as well as an antibacterial compound of formula (II) or a salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, X, Y and n have any of the values defined in the specification.

Abstract: A oxygen transfer agent useful for the oxidative dehydrogenation of saturated hydrocarbons includes at least one mixed oxide derived from manganese or compounds thereof, as well as a promoter, such as tungsten and/or phosphorus. The oxygen transfer agent may also include an alkali metal or compounds thereof, boron or compounds thereof, an oxide of an alkaline earth metal, and an oxide containing one or more of one or more of manganese, lithium, boron, and magnesium. A reactor is at least partially filled with the oxygen transfer agent in the form of a fixed or circulating bed and provides an unsaturated hydrocarbon product, such as ethylene and/or propylene. The oxygen transfer agent may be regenerated using oxygen.

Abstract: Sensory information can be delivered to a subject mammal, for example, for restoring a sense of cutaneous touch and limb motion to the subject mammal. A biomimetic electrical signal is generated based on (a) a stimulation reference signal applied to a somatosensory region of a nervous system of a reference mammal, (b) a stimulated-response signal acquired from a sensory cortex of the reference mammal in response to application of the stimulation reference signal to the thalamic nucleus, and (c) a natural-response signal acquired from the sensory cortex in response to peripheral touch stimuli and/or peripheral nerve stimulation of the reference mammal. The biomimetic electrical signal is applied to a somatosensory region of a nervous system of the subject mammal to induce an activation response, in a sensory cortex of the subject mammal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing cooperation facilitators to achieve joint message and network state cooperation in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes: a plurality of transmitters; a receiver that has access to at least partial network state information and that includes a decoder configured to decode signals received via a multiple terminal channel from the plurality of transmitters using the at least partial network state information; and a cooperation facilitator. In addition, at least some of the plurality of transmitters are configured to transmit message information to the cooperation facilitator and the cooperation facilitator is configured to generate cooperation parameters based upon the message information and the manner in which state information is utilized by the receiver to decode signals received via the multiple terminal channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a surgical device and method of using the same. The surgical device includes a proximal ring, a distal ring, wherein the distal ring is operably connected to the proximal ring with a sleeve, the sleeve extending about a circumference of the proximal ring and a circumference of the distal ring, a film, a distal end of the film attached to a portion of the distal ring, wherein the film is configured to extend past the sleeve and past the distal ring, and wherein a proximal portion of the film comprises an opening and a channel and a draw string extending through the channel and exposed to an exterior of the device through the opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions, methods, kits, and assays related to the use and/or exploitation of isomers of cGAMP as well as the structure of the enzyme cGAS.

Abstract: The methods herein provide for analysis of ion populations. Certain aspects include: obtaining a first data set that includes: a first binary On-OFF frequency sweep across a range of frequencies resulting in a first raw data in the time domain and obtaining a second data set that includes: a second binary On-OFF frequency sweep 180° out of phase from the first binary On-OFF frequency sweep so as to result in a second raw data in the time domain from received ion current resulting from the second binary On-OFF frequency sweep. Thereafter the two data sets are combined to provide for raw mobility signals of the ion populations in the time domain for each m/z over a range of selected m/z values. Additional aspects include a hybrid system for performing the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: This document provides vaccine delivery devices and methods for vaccinating an animal (e.g., a mammal). For example, vaccine delivery devices that include a container having one or more openings, a vaccine depot located within the container, and a diffusion barrier located within the container in a manner such that material (e.g., an antigenic vaccine component) within the vaccine depot must pass through the diffusion barrier before reaching one of the openings are provided.

Abstract: An example system includes an auger assembly that is attachable to a vacuum system, in which the auger assembly includes a hose, an auger, and an auger motor. The hose includes an inlet at a distal end and an outlet at a proximal end. The auger includes a shaftless helical blade having a portion that is radially enveloped by the hose. The vacuum system is adapted to suck material from the septic tank or pit latrine via the hose. The auger motor is adapted to rotate the auger about a helical axis in a first direction, in which the rotation about the helical axis in the first direction causes the shaftless helical blade of the auger to translate along the helical axis from the outlet of the hose towards the inlet of the hose.

Abstract: A four bar apparatus and method are provided for lifting, lowering, providing exercise and facilitating self-propelled transit. The apparatus includes an actuator and interconnected four-bar lifting mechanism, which includes a crank, a coupler, a rocker, and a frame. Each of the crank, coupler, rocker and frame are rotatably interconnected, and operation of the actuator moves a lift point of the coupler, with the lift point connectable to a vest-type garment or belt worn by a user of the apparatus, with the lift point following a J shape path or an S shape path to lift the user from a shoulder or hip area, respectively.