Abstract: A system and a method for separation of ions from ions-containing medium is disclosed herein, that utilizes capacitive-faradaic fuel cells (CFFC) particles coated at least partially with catalysts capable of catalyzing redox reactions provided a reductant (fuel) and/or an oxidant, thereby polarizing the particles to more effectively absorb charged species (ions) from the water upon introducing, e.g., H2 gas or O2 gas, in the medium during the adsorption or regeneration. The same concept is utilized in a hybrid electrochemical cell for providing a system and a method for generating and converting electrochemical energy.

Abstract: A composite comprised of: (i) at least one inverse freezing material, and (ii) an additive in the form of at least one solid particle. Articles made of the composites, and uses of the composites or the articles incorporating same, particularly for reducing incoming shockwaves, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A modular robotic surgical system comprising: a base; a plurality of tool-receivers arranged as separate units, each tool-receiver unit operable to move an elongate surgical tool received therein; a plurality of interface coupling pairs, each coupling pair comprising a first coupler as part of the base and a second coupler as part of each of the tool-receiver units; wherein each of the tool-receiver units is independently and interchangeably attachable to the base via the coupling pair.

Abstract: A compositions-of-matter in the form of HIPE-templated hydrogels, comprising a crosslinked polymer of zwitterionic monomers, which exhibit unusual antipolyelectrolyte characteristics, dual pH-, and temperature-responsiveness, as well as processes of obtaining the same and using the same.

Abstract: A spectrally encoded flow cytometry (SEFC) technique for imaging blood in the microcirculation. Since the dependency of one of the axes of the image on time prevents effective quantification of essential clinical parameters, the optical path in an SEFC system is split into two parallel imaging lines, followed by data analysis for recovering the flow speed from the multiplexed data. The data analysis may be auto-correlation of a pair of images obtained from a sequence of images of the imaged blood vessel.

Abstract: Protein based highly stretchable compositions with ionic conductivity are disclosed herein. Methods for preparing such compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of representing a three dimensional (3D) object using univariate curves, comprising: receiving an initial definition of a 3D object representation, calculate a covering set of univariate curves, the covering set comprising at least one non-planar univariate curve, wherein the covering set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object within a tolerance requirement, and generating a representation of the 3D object based on the set of univariate curves, wherein the set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object.

Abstract: A polyHIPE-based substance-releasing system capable of releasably encapsulating a highly concentrated solution and/or a room temperature solid while minimizing or avoiding burst release from the closed-cell microstructure of an elastic polyHIPE.

Abstract: A method comprising: receiving a plurality of pairs of queries associated with a database, wherein the queries in each pair in the plurality of pairs of queries have an identical FROM clause; at a training stage, training a machine learning model on a training set comprising: (i) the plurality of pairs of queries, and (ii) labels associated with containment rates between each of the pairs of queries over the database; and at an inference stage, applying the trained machine learning model to a pair of target queries, to estimate containment rates between the target pair of queries over the database.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and kits for determining the presence of a mutated SLC30A2 polynucleotide. The invention is further directed to methods of determining a subject's genetic-susceptibility to zinc deficiency and evaluating zinc levels in a composition comprising breast milk.

Abstract: A method for controlling a controlled system by a control device, the method may include transmitting multiple actuation signals to multiple degree of freedom (DOF) points of the controlled system; wherein the multiple actuation signals comprise multiple alternating current (AC) components that are mutually orthogonal, measuring at least one feedback signal from at least one probe point of the controlled system; wherein a number of DOF points exceeds a number of the at least one probe point; determining, based upon the at least one feedback signal, values of line search pulses to be sent to the multiple DOF points during at least one line search iteration; and performing the at least one line search iteration.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method are presented for use in monitoring a target. The monitoring system comprises: an input utility for receiving input data comprising measured data indicative of optical response of the target measured under predetermined conditions and comprising phase data indicative of a two-dimensional profile of full phase of the optical response of the target in a predetermined two-dimensional parametric space including a two-dimensional range in which said target exhibits phase singularity; an analyzer module for processing said measured data and extracting at least one phase singularity signature of the target characterizing the target status, the phase singularity signature being formed by a number N of phase singularity points, each corresponding to a condition that the physical phase continuously accumulates a nonzero integer multiple m of 2? around said point.

Abstract: Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of maintaining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for belief space planning for multiple robots at an initial belief state, for reducing belief space uncertainty, including receiving multiple, candidate, multi-robot paths, each including one or more pose constraints; generating a candidate factor graph for each candidate multi-robot path, and generating from each candidate factor graph a topology graph; calculating a signature metric from each topology graph, wherein the signature metric is one of a Von Neumann (VN) metric and a spanning tree (ST) metric; selecting a multi-robot path having the greatest signature metric from among the candidate, multi-robot paths; and instructing the multiple robots to proceed according to the selected multi-robot path.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising a fusion protein attached to the outer surface of a substrate is disclosed. The fusion protein comprises a light-generating protein and a light-transducing protein. Uses of the composition of matter are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments are a computing system and a computer-implemented method for distributed training of a machine learning model over a plurality of computing nodes, in a plurality of iterations, characterized by gradient gap based mitigation of the gradient staleness problem. The disclosed method evaluates the staleness of the gradient based on the difference in gradients between a central point, for example an iteration's common starting point, and the points reached by the respective computing node during one or more iterations, and aggregates the update steps from the plurality of computing nodes, while giving more weight to computing nodes having a lesser change in the gradient.

Abstract: A methodology is provided for generating hydrophobic superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic surfaces. Compositions of matter made of a substrate having deposited on a surface thereof (e.g., by thermal evaporation) hydrocarbon waxes, including fluorinated waxes, are disclosed. Process of preparing such compositions of matter and articles of manufacturing incorporating such compositions are also disclosed. Further disclosed are articles of manufacturing and methods which are useful in inhibiting, reducing and/or retarding biofilm formation, and which include applying waxes (e.g., by thermal evaporation) on a surface of the articles.

Abstract: Provided are novel serum-free culture media which comprise basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor beta-3 and ascorbic acid at a concentration of at least about 50 microgram/ml; ascorbic acid at a concentration range of about 400-600 microgram/ml, bFGF at a concentration range of about 50-200 ng/ml, xeno-free serum replacement and a lipid mixture; the IL6RIL6 chimera at a concentration range of about 50-200 picogram per milliliter (pg/ml); or leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) at a concentration of at least 2000 units/ml; cell cultures comprising same with pluripotent stem cells such as human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and methods of using same for expanding pluripotent stem cells in an undifferentiated state using two-dimensional or three-dimensional culture systems; and methods of expanding iPS cells in a suspension culture devoid of substrate adherence and cell encapsulation.

Abstract: A method for modulating an immune response by activating or inhibiting dopaminergic neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) is provided. Modulation is achieved by modulating the activity, the abundance or both of: a natural killer cell, a CD8 T-cell, a CD4 T-cell, a B-cell, a dendritic cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or their combination.

Abstract: Provided are methods of determining prognosis of a subject diagnosed with sepsis, by determining the baseline levels of T-cell senescence in the subject. Also provided are methods of treating a subject diagnosed with sepsis, by monitoring the subject diagnosed with sepsis and treating the subject which exhibits high baseline levels of T-cell senescence.