Abstract: A dual-mode dielectric resonator using two dissimilar modes is described, the dissimilar modes supported by a ridge waveguide resonator and a ¼-wavelength (¼?) metalized cylindrical resonator within a single, metal-coated dielectric block. Each ridge waveguide resonator and cylindrical resonator form a dual-mode resonator pair. Coupling control posts set between the ridge waveguide resonator and cylindrical resonator can adjust their coupling. Multiple pairs of ridge waveguide/cylindrical resonators are fabricated in the same dielectric block to form a coupled resonator bandpass filter, including an 8-pole or 10-pole dielectric resonator filter, for 5G or other applications. Transmission zeros can be introduced by a metalized blind hole extending vertically between two ridge waveguide resonators or a microstrip extending between two dual-mode resonator pairs between which there exists no partial-width or full-width dielectric window.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid hydrogel stabilized by multivalent cross-linking domains. The hydrogel combines inorganic nanoparticles along with an organic polymer network. The resulting material has reinforced mechanical properties and significant mineralization, and affords sustained long-term release of ions. Furthermore, ions released from the hydrogel can enhance cell spreading and promote the osteogenic differentiation of implanted cells. These promising results indicates that the provided compositions and methods are particularly appealing for bone regenerative applications.

Abstract: Provided are DNA-coated nanoparticles (DNA-NPS), superparamagnetic nanoparticles (DNA-SPNs), and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanopa rticles (DNA-SPIONs) as efficient imaging agents for targeting and imaging atherosclerotic lesions and treating atherosclerotic disease. The DNA-NS, DNA-SPNs, and DNA-SPIONs can enter macrophage cells via the Class A scavenger receptor (SR-A)-mediated pathways and can be used to specifically target atheroscleortic plaques.

Abstract: Methods and devices for long term, cuffless, and continuous arterial blood pressure estimation using an end-to-end deep learning approach are provided. A deep learning system comprises three modules: a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) module for learning powerful features; a one- or multi-layer recurrent neural network (RNN) module for modeling the temporal dependencies in blood pressure dynamics; and a mixture density network (MDN) module for predicting final blood pressure value. This system takes raw physiological signals, such as photoplethysmogram and/or electrocardiography signals, as inputs and yields arterial blood pressure readings in real time.

Abstract: Optimizations are provided for segmenting tissue objects included in an ultrasound image. Initially, raw pixel data is received. Here, each pixel corresponds to ultrasound information. This raw pixel data is processed through a first fully convolutional network to generate a first segmentation label map. This first map includes a first set of objects that have been segmented into a coarse segmentation class. Then, this first map is processed through a second fully convolutional network to generate a second segmentation label map. This second map is processed using the raw pixel data as a base reference. Further, this second map includes a second set of objects that have been segmented into a fine segmentation class. Then, a contour optimization algorithm is applied to at least one of the second set of objects in order to refine that object's contour boundary. Subsequently, that object is identified as corresponding to a lymph node.

Abstract: A dual-mode dielectric resonator using two dissimilar modes is described, the dissimilar modes supported by a ridge waveguide resonator and a ½-wavelength metalized cylindrical resonator within a single, metal-coated dielectric block. Each ridge waveguide resonator and cylindrical resonator form a resonator pair. Multiple pairs of ridge waveguide/cylindrical resonators are fabricated in the same dielectric block to form an 8-pole dielectric resonator filter for 5G or other applications. Transmission zeros can be positioned by the location of feeding probes along the cylindrical resonators.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for controlling electromagnetic field generation system to generate dynamic magnetic fields. The method can comprise: establishing a dynamic model that describes open-loop dynamics of the electromagnetic field generation system and has an unified state-space form with time delay; configuring a controller based on the dynamic model; applying, by the controller, a control signal to the electromagnetic field generation system; detecting one or more feedback signals from the electromagnetic field generation system; and updating, by the controller, the control signal for controlling the electromagnetic field generation system, according to a reference signal corresponding to a desired dynamic magnetic field, one or more compensated feedback signals, and system states. To address time delay and modeling error and to estimate system states, a Kalman filter and a Smith predictor based compensator can be incorporated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining increased risk of premature birth in a pregnant woman by detecting altered expression level of one or more marker genes in the woman's blood. A kit and device useful for such a method are also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a method for preventing or reducing the likelihood of premature birth.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials, devices, methods and systems for the detection of target molecules in test samples using microrobots. The target molecules may be bacterial toxins. The microrobots may include biohybrid materials such as porous spore core, a middle layer coated on the spore core for the actuation and steering in a fluid and further conjugation with a functional probe, and a sensing probe anchored onto middle layer for attaching to the targeted molecules in a fluid to respond to fluorescent tracking. A system for detecting bacterial toxin, is disclosed and comprises an intelligent motion control system based on automated fluorescent recognition and detection methods, which can propel and guide the microrobots to realize the automated motion in a pre-designed path and perform the real-time monitoring when integrating with an inverted fluorescent microscope or a fluorescent emission multi-reader.

Abstract: Optical texture analysis of the inner retina, including the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), or inner plexiform layer (IPL), or a combination of these layers, can be used to detect and quantify RNFL/GCL/IPL abnormalities. From a set of scans of a retina, anterior and posterior boundaries of an inner retinal layer of interest can be determined. Optical density measurements at specific locations on the retina and depths within the layer of interest can be extracted from the scans. From these measurements, a set of optical texture signature values corresponding to different locations can be computed, where the optical texture signature value for a given location provides information about a tissue composition of the inner retinal layer at that location. The texture signature values can provide a topographical map of a retinal layer, which can facilitate detection and quantification of abnormalities.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method, a data acquisition and image processing system and a non-transitory machine-readable medium for obtaining a super-resolved image of an object. The method comprises: obtaining a plurality of structured images of the object by structured light; determining, from the structured images, modulation information of each structured light that comprises spatial frequency, phase shift and modulation factor; initializing a sample image of the object according the structured images and initializing structured pattern of each structured light by the corresponding modulation information; and restoring the image with improved resolution by adjusting the sample image and the structured pattern iteratively.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel method for inhibiting an undesirable immune response, especially in transplant recipients such as those having received an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Also disclosed are related compositions and kits for inducing immunotolerance.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for assessing the likelihood of effectiveness of chemotherapy such as oxaliplatin treatment in colorectal cancer patients as well as their survival prospect by determining the level of miR-133a in the cancer tissue. A kit useful for such methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for determining zygosity of a multiple-fetus pregnancy using a biological sample taken from the mother. The fetal and maternal DNA in the sample (e.g. plasma) can be analyzed for a particular chromosomal region to identify genetic differences in the fetuses. For example, a normalized parameter for the measure of a primary or secondary allele can show variances for different chromosomal regions when fetuses are dizygotic. Such a variance can be determined relative to an expected value if the fetuses were genetically identical. Statistical methods are provided for analyzing the variation of the normalized parameters to determine fetal DNA concentration and the maternal-fetal mixed genotype at various loci. Parental genotype and haplotype information can also be used to identify inheritance of different parental haplotypes to indicate genetic differences among the fetuses.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for laser beam shaping and scanning. The apparatus includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) including a plurality of micromirrors, configured to receive a first laser beam, adjust an axial position of a focal point of the first laser beam along a moving direction of the first laser beam by controlling a focal length of wavefront of a binary hologram applied to the DMD, and adjust a lateral position of the focal point on a plane perpendicular to the moving direction by controlling a tilted angle of a fringe pattern and a period of fringes of the binary hologram applied to the DMD, wherein the DMD simultaneously functions as programmable binary mask and a blazed grating.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying compounds that act as miR-34a modulators. The present invention also provides miR-34a modulators and compositions containing the modulators. The present invention further provides methods for treating diseases by administration of miR-34a modulators.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a sensor network are provided. In one example, a server may provide graphical data representing a hierarchical sensor network for displaying at a client device. The server may receive a selection to display sensor data from a first node of the nodes of the hierarchical sensor network and determine, based on the selection, a hierarchical sensor label associated with one or more first sensors of the hierarchical sensor network corresponding to the first node. The server may also receive a plurality of messages including sensor data generated by a plurality of sensors of the hierarchical sensor network from an in-bound real-time message processor, and identify a first set of messages based on the hierarchical sensor label. The server may extract the sensor data from the first set of messages and provide the sensor data for displaying at the client device.

Abstract: Various aspects of a systems and method for reconstructing a surface of a three-dimensional (3D) target are disclosed herein. The method may comprise projecting a sequence of patterns to the surface of the target; capturing a first stereo endoscopic image and a second stereo endoscopic image from the patterns reflected from the surface; performing a coarse matching for the captured first and second stereo endoscopic images to acquire a set of matching candidates; and performing a precise matching for the acquired set of matching candidates to acquire reconstruction pixels for reconstructing the surface.

Abstract: A laser fabrication method and a laser fabrication system. The laser fabrication system includes an ultrafast laser source configured to output a laser beam; and a digital micromirror device (DMD), configured to receive, shape, and scan the laser beam, wherein more than one binary holograms are synthesized to form a scanning hologram applied to the DMD. The shaped laser beam, containing one or multiple focal points, leaving the DMD, are focused to the sample for fast laser fabrication.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detecting hematological disorders using cell-free DNA in a blood sample, e.g., using plasma or serum. For example, an assay can target one or more differentially-methylated regions specific to a particular hematological cell lineage (e.g., erythroblasts). A methylation level can be quantified from the assay to determine an amount of methylated or unmethylated DNA fragments in a cell-free mixture of the blood sample. The methylation level can be compared to one or more cutoff values, e.g., that correspond to a normal range for the particular hematological cell lineage as part of determining a level of a hematological disorder.