Abstract: A method is provided for a condition related to the activity of a protease through the administration of a ?-defensin, analog, or derivative is described. Suitable proteases include metalloproteases and cysteine proteases such as Cathepsin-C. The ?-defensin, analog, or derivative can be effectively administered parenterally, topically, or orally.

Abstract: In a system for converting digital data into a modulated optical signal, an electrically controllable device, including a modulator having one or more actuating electrodes, provides an analog-modulated optical signal that is modulated in response to output data bits of a digital-to-digital mapping. A digital-to-digital conversion provides the mapping of input data words to the output data bits. The mapping enables adjustments to correct for non-linearities and other undesirable characteristics, thereby improving signal quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a testing and characterization method for an initial fatigue damage and development process of vulcanized rubber, and falls within the technical field of rubber. The testing and characterization method comprises the following steps: preparing vulcanized rubber; preparing test samples; preparing fatigue testing specimens; and characterizing an initial fatigue damage and development process. The testing and characterization method provided by the present invention is simple, and closely associates a simple and easy-to-implement macro mechanical property test with changes of an internal microstructure, which are difficult to observe and analyze; and the method is high in efficiency and easy for operation and data collection, and data measured has good reference.

Abstract: Provided are compounds, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are useful for inhibiting FOXM1, inhibiting cancer growth, and/or treating cancer. In particular, these compounds and their corresponding quaternary ammonium salts may be used to treat various forms of breast cancer.

Abstract: A circuit for post-binding testing of a 2.5D chiplet includes an interposer-dedicated TAP controller, an interposer test interface circuit and a chiplet test output control circuit. A chiplet test configuration register and its corresponding instructions are newly added for the interposer-dedicated TAP controller. The interposer test interface circuit uses an output control signal of the chiplet test configuration register to select the opening or closing of a test signal channel between an interposer and a chiplet. The chiplet test output control circuit uses the chiplet test configuration register to output a control signal for control of a test data output of the chiplet on the interposer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of construction engineering, and specifically to configurations and close-fitting joints for a second-order scissor damper and an assembly method for the same. There six parts in total, including first hinge joints, a first-order shuttle-shaped linkage mechanical component, second hinge joints, a second-order shuttle-shaped linkage mechanical component, third hinge joints, and a viscous damper; the second-order shuttle-shaped linkage mechanical component includes four small connecting rods of equal length and it is formed by hinging them together. The device of the present invention can constrain the joints, release the bending constraints on the ends of the rods, and enable a significant increase in the stroke amplification of the conventional scissor damper.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for administration of allogeneic lymphocytes as an exogenous source of CD4+ T cell help for endogenous, tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells engineered using hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and methods of making and using thereof.

Abstract: Methods for applying a sphingolipid aggregate coating to a surface of a substrate for inhibition and prevention of biofilm growth, methods for inhibiting and preventing biofilms, biofilm-inhibiting coatings and coated devices are provided. Coating processes include suspending an amount of sphingolipid in a medium-to-fast-evaporating organic solvent; b) applying energy to the suspension sufficient to create a colloidal dispersion of sphingolipid in the solvent; c) heating the dispersion sufficient to create a solution; and d) coating the surface of the substrate with at least one application of solution, each application followed directly by a complete solvent evaporation period. The resulting coatings exhibit aggregate architectures particularly effective for inhibition and prevention of biofilms.

Abstract: A microscope is provided to measure HbA1c fraction. The microscope measures the HbA1c fraction of a single red blood cell (RBC) in a trace blood sample. The HbA1c fraction can be measured through a non-invasive way while the RBC flows in a human epidermal microvessel, too. The microscope comprises a laser device, an upright microscope, a light splitter, a light detector, and a mainframe. Unlike traditional methods, the HbA1c fraction can be measured in vitro or in vivo at the level of a single RBC. Accurate measurement is achieved. Misdiagnosis rate is reduced. The microscope provides HbA1c fractions from hundreds of RBCs, instead of averaging HbA1c fractions obtained from a large number of blood samples. Hence, the present invention is a method of detecting a HbA1c fraction of a single RBC, and is a microscope supporting blood-drawing measurement and non-invasive measurement simultaneously.

Abstract: An energy concentration apparatus is disclosed. The energy concentration apparatus includes a body part; a loop antenna coil part disposed on the body part; and a cover part coupled to the body part in order to cover the loop antenna coil part. The cover part has a central hole and a micro-slit.

Abstract: A user matching and power distribution methods for a MIMO-NOMA downlink communication system is provided. The user matching method includes: dividing all users into a strong user group and a weak user group according to a channel gain sorting result; and sequentially selecting a user in the strong user group, calculating a correlation coefficient between the user and each user in the weak user group, selecting a weak user with the highest correlation coefficient as a weak user in a cluster where the strong user is located, and excluding matched users from respective user groups, until the matching between all strong users and weak users are completed. The present invention enables weak users in a cluster to experience less inter-cluster interference in scenarios where the channel correlation between users is relatively low, thereby improving the total throughput of the communication system.

Abstract: Provided herein are improved expansion microscopy methods. Also provided herein are kits useful in expansion microscopy.

Abstract: The invention provides for metal-based flame-retardants that are soluble in flammable or combustible materials and methods for preparation. The flame-retardants of the invention are also effective in reducing the rate of heat, smoke, CO, and CO2 release.

Abstract: An image prediction method and device are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining a first reference unit of an image unit, where respective predicted images are obtained for the image unit and the first reference unit by using a same affine model; obtaining motion information of basic motion compensation units at two or more preset positions of the first reference unit; and obtaining motion information of a basic motion compensation unit of the image unit according to the motion information. In this way, motion information of the first reference unit using a same affine motion prediction model is reused, and a more accurate motion vector of a current image unit is obtained, improving prediction accuracy and maintaining encoding and decoding complexity, thereby improving encoding and decoding performance.

Abstract: A sand dune extraction method based on fusion of positive-negative terrains and light shading includes: obtaining an original digital elevation model of a study region; using a neighborhood analysis method to process the original digital elevation model of the study region, thereby extracting a positive terrain region and a negative terrain region of the study region; using a lighting shading method to perform six directional lighting simulation calculations on each pixel of the original digital elevation model of the study region to obtain a lighting shading map, and extracting a lighting region and a shadow region of the study region from the lighting shading map; using an embedding method to fuse the positive terrain region and the negative terrain region with the lighting region and the shadow region. The sand dune extraction method is a method for remote sensing monitoring and governance of desertification regions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a grinding robot for an inside wall of a small diameter pipe. The grinding robot includes a grinding device, a transmission device, and a driving device. By arranging the grinding robot into the above three portions, the overall bending pipe passability of the robot can be increased, which is convenient for the grinding robot to grind the small diameter pipe. A first gimbal and two second gimbals provided in the transmission device enable the grinding robot to flexibly pass through bends of the pipe, and enable a grinding driving force to be variably transmitted to the grinding device. When the grinding body rotates and contacts a pipe wall, a reaction force of the pipe wall on the grinding body is balanced by an adjusting spring adjustment force in a balance adjusting device and a self-weight of a grinding body.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating cancer, particularly improved CAR-T methods, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods and compositions useful for imaging inflammation and inflammatory disease markers with an affinity for TREM-1 antibodies. The methods and compositions can include a labeled probe having a TREM-1 antibody and a radiolabel.

Abstract: A disinfection robot, including a top plate, a bottom plate and a swinging mechanism. The top plate is located above the bottom plate. The swinging mechanism is located between the top plate and the bottom plate, and includes a swinging arm, a hinge shaft, a swinging gear, two swinging units and a driving unit. The swinging arm is hingedly connected to the bottom plate through the hinge shaft. The two swinging units are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the swinging gear. Each of the two swinging units includes a swinging shaft, an incomplete gear and a linear driver. The driving unit is configured to simultaneously drive swinging shafts of the two swinging units to rotate in opposite directions. The disinfection robot can adjust a swing amplitude of the swinging arm according to a size of a disinfection site.