Abstract: A blood collection tube for physically separating the plasma and red blood cell fractions of a centrifuged sample is described. The blood collection tube has an elastomeric sleeve with rigid tube segments at both ends. Following blood collection and centrifugation, the elastomeric sleeve may be twisted to constrict its inner diameter and physically separate the two fractions. The blood collection tube may be secured in this position with a pin and a clamp, and further with an adhesive tape with pH paper. This enables blood samples to be transferred over long distances to a central lab facility without spoiling.

Abstract: There are provided a neural network weight discretizing method, system and device, and a computer readable storage medium. The method includes acquiring a weight value range and a number of discrete weight states, the weight value range referring to a range of discrete weight values consisting of a maximum weight value of a current time step and a minimum weight value of the current time step, and the number of discrete weight states referring to the quantity of discrete weight states. The method also includes acquiring a weight state of a previous time step and a weight increment of the current time step and acquiring a state transfer direction by using a directional function according to the weight increment of the current time step. The method also includes acquiring a weight state of the current time step according to the weight state of the previous time step, the weight increment of the current time step, the state transfer direction, the weight value range and the number of discrete weight states.

Abstract: An image processing method includes: determining a source transmission map based on a dark channel map of an input image; determining transformed transmission maps by applying different filters to the determined source transmission map; generating haze-free images by removing haze from the input image based respectively on the determined transformed transmission maps; and generating an output image by blending the generated haze-free images.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical system and method for outputting a modulated signal comprising a single multimode interference (MMI) device having at least two inputs configured with a fixed phase and an output, wherein the output modulated signal is controlled by modulating the input power of at 5 least one of the inputs. The invention only requires a single MMI device to operate as the relative phase between the two inputs are fixed relative each other and one of the inputs can be used to modulate the output by modulating the power at a single input. In further embodiments, the invention shows how correct phases can be set by a single MMI device. Thus, no more than two 10 MMIs are required in conjunction with phase or amplitude modulating elements to fully generate a BPSK or QPSK signal.

Abstract: A recombinant ribonuclease is disclosed. The recombinant ribonuclease is produced by introducing a recombinant DNA sequence into a host; activating expression of the recombinant DNA sequence within the host to produce the recombinant ribonuclease; and isolating the recombinant ribonuclease from the host. Additionally, a method of analyzing an RNA sequence includes digesting the RNA with a first recombinant ribonuclease to give digestion products comprising nucleotides of the RNA sequence; and analyzing the digestion products using an analytical method to provide the identity of at least some of the nucleotides. The recombinant ribonuclease includes at least one of a uridine-specific recombinant RNase MC1 and a cytidine-specific recombinant RNase Cusativin.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel and improved methods of analyzing proteins, peptides and polypeptides by mass spectrometry using ion-ion reactions. More specifically the disclosure relates to improved methods for implementing the m/z selective arresting of ion-ion reactions within the ion-ion reaction cell of a mass spectrometer system during a period where ion-ion reactions are performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for loading microfabricated ion traps are disclosed. Photo-ablation via an ablation pulse is used to generate a flow of atoms from a source material, where the flow is predominantly populated with neutral atoms. As the neutral atoms flow toward the ion trap, two-photon photo-ionization is used to selectively ionize a specific isotope contained in the atom flow. The velocity of the liberated atoms, atom-generation rate, and/or heat load of the source material is controlled by controlling the fluence of the ablation pulse to provide high ion-trapping probability while simultaneously mitigating generation of heat in the ion-trapping system that can preclude cryogenic operation. In some embodiments, the source material is held within an ablation oven comprising an electrically conductive housing that is configured to restrict the flow of agglomerated neutral atoms generated during photo-ablation toward the ion trap.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a method and system that uses a vertical or upward facing imaging sensor to compute vehicle attitude, orientation, or heading and combines the computed vehicle attitude, orientation, or heading with range bearing measurements from an imaging sensor, LiDAR, sonar, etc., to features in the vicinity of the vehicle to compute accurate position and map estimates.

Abstract: A water damping device includes a steel frame and a water-blocking cup; the device is immersed in the water and connected under the main bridge girder by wire ropes. One end of the water-blocking cup is provided with a blocking ring and a cover. The water-blocking cup cover is mounted between the cup and the blocking ring and is movably connected to the water-blocking cup. The blocking ring is used to prevent the water-blocking cup cover from opening towards the outside of the cup; an array of water-blocking cups is mounted on the steel frame along the downward direction of the water-blocking cup cover.

Abstract: Provided herein are a probe capable of simultaneously detecting a virus and treating virus-infected cells, a composition for detecting a virus, which comprises the probe, a composition for treating a virus, which comprises the probe, and a method of detecting a virus or treating a viral infection by using the same. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to simultaneously perform diagnosis by virus detection and treatment of virus-infected cells, and in particular, diagnosis and treatment may be simultaneously performed on various types of viruses by varying the type of molecular beacon, and thus may be usefully applied to virus diagnosis and treatment fields, which require rapid diagnosis and treatment, and the spread of viral infections may be effectively prevented. In addition, the probe of the present disclosure has excellent stability and excellent detection sensitivity, and thus enables the detection of even a very low amount of a target at the pmole level.

Abstract: A method, computer software product and system for solving cyclic scheduling problems. Specifically, the present disclosure significantly improves the method in a previous patent (H. K. Alfares, 2011, “Cyclic Combinatorial Method and System”, U.S. Pat. No. 8,046,316), by eliminating a time-consuming combinatorial procedure. A procedure is described which significantly decreases the number of iterations, and hence computational time and cost. The processes of the present disclosure have many applications in cyclic workforce scheduling, cyclic transportation system scheduling, cyclic scheduling of data packet transmitting as applied to networks having a plurality of nodes and cyclic production scheduling.

Abstract: A bidirectional blocking monolithic heterogeneous integrated Cascode-structure field effect transistor, which mainly solves a problem that the existing monolithic heterogeneous integrated Cascode-structure field effect transistor has no reverse blocking characteristic. The field effect transistor includes a substrate, a GaN buffer layer, an AlGaN barrier layer and a SiN isolation layer, wherein an isolation groove is etched in the middle of the SiN isolation layer, a Si active layer is printed on the SiN isolation layer on one side of the isolation groove so as to prepare a Si metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, and a GaN high-electron-mobility transistor is prepared on the other side of the isolation groove, and a drain electrode of the GaN high-electron-mobility transistor is in Schottky contact with the AlGaN barrier layer to form a bidirectional blocking monolithic heterogeneous integrated Cascode-structure field effect transistor.

Abstract: Systems and devices for temporarily disabling an assailant or other target using disabling flashes of light from a light-emitting device. A tactical lighting system also includes protective eyewear that is paired with the light-emitting device and configured to shutter in synchronization with the pattern of disabling light flashes to protect the wearer's eyes while disabling an assailant or other target.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical coupler comprising: a first optical prong; a second optical prong; an optical waveguide with which the first optical prong and the second optical prong merge; wherein: a distance from an axially outer tip edge of the first optical prong to an axially outer tip edge of the first optical prong is greater than a planar width of the optical waveguide; and the first optical prong and the second optical prong are each tapered from the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the cryopreservation of stem cells, such as stem-cell derived retinal pigment epithelial cells, that have been seeded onto and cultured on a substrate, such as a polymeric substrate. Such cryopreserved stem cells are useful for cell therapies, such as treatment of ocular damage or disease.

Abstract: Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of methods and compositions for improving exercise endurance, performance, or tolerance using an S1P inhibiting agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for determining whether a subject is afflicted with a motor neuron disease, the method comprising conducting an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and/or plasma, measuring the level of one or more sterol/oxysterol analytes, and comparing these to reference values. Further, the invention relates to methods of identifying agents suitable for the treatment of MND, and monitoring the progress of the disease.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a fusion protein or conjugated protein having excellent cell membrane permeability, containing a partial peptide derived from human, and suitable for intracellular delivery; an intracellular delivery carrier comprising such a fusion protein or conjugated protein; a partial peptide; a cell membrane permeation enhancer comprising the partial peptide; DNA; and a vector. The fusion protein or conjugated protein has a partial peptide comprising at least seven consecutive amino acid residues of an amino acid sequence encoded by a predetermined DNA, and a ligand directly or indirectly bound to the partial peptide and having the capability of binding to cell surfaces. The ligand is preferably an antibody. The intracellular delivery carrier comprises the fusion protein or conjugated protein. The cell membrane permeation enhancer comprises the partial peptide.

Abstract: An orientation tag provides orientation information and, by affixing the orientation tag to an object, orientation information of the object. The orientation tag displays different orientation information based on viewing the orientation tag at different angles. In particular, the orientation tag displays an angle and direction that the orientation tag is rotated about a horizontal axis relative to a viewer, and an angle and direction that the orientation tag is rotated about a vertical axis relative to the viewer. Viewing the orientation tag enables determining an angle and direction (e.g., depth information) that the orientation tag is rotated about a depth axis relative to the viewer. The orientation information and the depth information facilitate determining the orientation of the orientation tag in three dimensions. An output device outputs a user interactive experience based on the orientation information and the depth information provided by the orientation tag.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, assays, methods and compositions for identification of oxidase microbial redox-enzymes (MREs) specific to an analyte of interest from an environmental source. The technology relates to identification of analyte-responsive MREs that can quantify the concentration of a target analyte with high specificity and high sensitivity, for example, where the identified analyte-responsive redox-enzyme can be used to engineer an electrochemical biosensor.