Abstract: It has been discovered that the desert endophytic bacterium SA187 SA187 can provide resistance or tolerance to abiotic stress conditions to seeds or plants. Compositions containing SA187 can be used to enhance plant development and yield under environmental stress conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified avian eggs which can be used to produce increased levels of virus. The present invention also relates to methods of producing viruses in avian eggs of the invention, as well as the use of the viruses obtained to prepare vaccine compositions.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating companion animals are provided. An adeno-associated viral vector is provided which includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding erythropoietin (EPO). In desired embodiments, the subject is a cat or dog.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for purifying 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose by using microorganisms and provides an effect of improving the production yield of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose by using microorganisms during purification after enzymatic hydrolysis of agarose or agar.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a framework for user authentication based on finger motion signal and hand geometry matching are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a durable super-hydrophobic manganese dioxide coating and a preparation method thereof, belonging to the field of metallic material surface treatment. In the method, by using manganese sulfate as a raw material, based on the property of interface reaction, a manganese dioxide coating is synthesized on the metallic material surface by simple and convenient solution impregnation, and then processed by hydrophobization with stearic acid to obtain a super-hydrophobic manganese dioxide coating. This coating has excellent chemical stability to organic solvents such as n-hexane, isooctane, dodecane, tetradecane, and acids, alkali and salt solutions at different pH values, and exhibits great resistance against dynamic water shear and good durability, with broad application prospect.

Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a computer-aided cell segmentation method for determining cellular Nuclear-to-Cytoplasmic ratio, which comprises acts of obtaining a cytological image using non-invasive in vivo biopsy technique; performing a nuclei segmentation process to identify a position and a contour of each of identified nuclei in the cytological image; performing a cytoplasmic process with an improved active contour model to obtain a cytoplasmic region for each identified nucleus based; and determine a cellular Nuclear-to-Cytoplasmic ratio based on the obtained nucleus and cytoplasmic regions.

Abstract: A gas cleaning system includes an inlet receiving a gas, an outlet spaced apart from the inlet, a gas channel defined between the inlet and the outlet to direct the gas from the inlet to the outlet, a photoionizer disposed to emit radiation towards a portion of the gas channel, and a first electrode module. The first electrode module includes a first discharge electrode assembly that generates a corona discharge within the gas channel and a first collection electrode assembly that collects ionized particles from the gas in the gas channel.

Abstract: A chimeric antigen receptor is disclosed that includes: (a) an extracellular high affinity streptavidin;(b) a hinge domain from CD8; (c) a CD28 transmembrane domain; (d) an intracellular 4-1BB and/or CD28 signaling domain; and (e) an intracellular CD3 zeta signaling domain, wherein (a)-(e) are in N-terminal to C-terminal order. Nucleic acids encoding this chimeric antigen receptor, and T and natural killer (NK) cells transformed with this chimeric antigen receptor are also disclosed. The use of this chimeric antigen receptor for the treatment of tumors is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices comprising two electrodes in superposed relation; a mixed photoactive layer located between the two electrodes, wherein the mixed photoactive layer comprises at least one donor material having a HOMO energy and at least one acceptor material having a LUMO energy, wherein the at least one donor material and the at least one acceptor material form a mixed donor-acceptor heterojunction; a photoactive layer adjacent to and interfacing with the mixed photoactive layer, wherein the photoactive layer comprises a material having a LUMO energy within 0.3 eV of the LUMO energy of the at least one acceptor material or a HOMO energy within 0.3 eV of the HOMO energy of the at least one donor material; and a buffer layer adjacent to and interfacing with the mixed photoactive layer.

Abstract: A network resource isolation method for container networks and a system thereof, including a computation system for network resource isolation, or a system using network resource isolation, or a network resource isolation system for container networks, and methods of implementation thereof. The system provides container overlay networks with a resource isolation scheme that also reduces the use threshold for isolation of network resources and optimizes the utilization rate of network resources.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mediated diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pancreatitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, mucus formation, comprising administering an effective amount of a 2-amino-N?-benzylidene-acetohydrazide compound or derivative thereof to a subject in need thereof. In certain embodiments, the 2-amino-N?-benzylidene-acetohydrazide compound is ((E)-N?-(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(m-tolylamino)acetohydrazide; or (E)-N?-(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a signal delay circuit configured to output a plurality of multi-phase output signals by delaying a plurality of multi-phase input signals according to a plurality of delay codes, respectively; and a calibration circuit including an error detection circuit configured to provide phase difference information between signals selected among the plurality of the multi-phase output signals according to a variable delay code and a filter configured to provide the plurality of delay codes and the variable delay code, wherein the filter performs update operation to update the plurality of delay codes or the variable delay code.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for enabling early collision detection and handling in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-based radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems. A tag receives an instruction from a reader to reflect either a single encoded bit or multiple encoded bits. The tag then reflects either the single encoded bit or the multiple encoded bits to the reader. The reader decodes the received encoded bit(s) from the tag, where the decoded bit(s) are placed in a vector or matrix by the reader. The vector/matrix is then transmitted to the tag, which determines if the reflected bit(s) agree with the corresponding bit(s) in the vector/matrix thereby indicating whether the reflected bit(s) were read successfully by the reader. The tag will then enter a no reflection mode in response to a disagreement between the reflected bit(s) with the corresponding bit(s) in the vector/matrix thereby preventing collisions from occurring.

Abstract: Active dichoptic perceptual-learning tasks or dichoptic game play have been shown to significantly improve visual acuity of amblyopic children and adults. However, these dichoptic perceptual learning tasks are intensive and repetitive such that non-compliance is high. In contrast, the invention provides dichoptic perceptual learning in a manner that the user maintains its use and compliance is increased. Further, compliance becomes automatic if the user performs tasks in a normal manner and “forgets” that they are actually undergoing treatment as it is integrated with minimal disruption to their life and activities. Accordingly, a methodology exploiting complementary dichoptic simulation is presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a titanosilicate separation membrane which can also be used for separating a mixed gas containing a molecule having a relatively small size, has high durability in a high temperature environment, and has a high permeation rate and a high selectivity for a mixed gas containing water vapor. A titanosilicate separation membrane has a CHA-type titanosilicate crystal structure formed on a porous support, wherein aluminum is not substantially contained in the backbone of the titanosilicate crystal structure, and the titanosilicate crystal structure is constituted by silicon, oxygen, and titanium.

Abstract: An FPGA virtualization platform including a network controller configured to provide an interface to an external network; a static logic section coupled to the network controller; and one or more reconfigurable regions each having a virtualized field programmable gate array vFPGA) that includes a wrapper and a user design.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising heating a strontium-containing compound using radiation in a first reactor; decomposing the strontium-containing compound into an oxide and carbon dioxide as a result of heat generated by the exposure to the radiation; reacting the oxide and the carbon dioxide in a second reactor; where the oxide and carbon dioxide react to produce heat; heating a working fluid using the heat produced in the second reactor; and driving a turbine with the heated working fluid to generate energy. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising strontium carbonate; and strontium zirconate; where the mass ratio of strontium carbonate to strontium zirconate 2:8 to 8:2.

Abstract: Ultrasound adaptive imaging methods and/or systems provide for modification of waveform generation to drive a plurality of transducer elements. The modification may be based on at least one of contrast ratio or signal to noise ratio as determined with respect to control points in a region of interest. Further, image reconstruction may be performed upon separating, from pulse echo data received, at least a portion thereof received at each ultrasound transducer element from the region of interest in response to the delivered ultrasound energy corresponding to a single frequency of one or more image frequencies within a transducer apparatus bandwidth. The image reconstructed from the separated pulse-echo data corresponding to the single frequency of the one or more image frequencies may be used alone or combined with like image data (e.g., to provide an image representative of one or more properties in the region of interest).

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to solving a full trajectory optimization problem in real-time for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) such that future driving conditions and energy usage may be fully considered in determining optimal engine energy usage and battery energy usage in real-time during a trip. An electronic control unit of the HEV may be configured to: receive route information for a route to be driven by the HEV; and after receiving the route information, iterating the operations of: measuring a current state of charge (SOC) of the battery; using at least the measured SOC and an initial co-state value stored in a memory, performing a process to iteratively update the co-state value to obtain an updated co-state value; using at least the updated co-state value, computing an updated control value; and applying the updated control value to control a usage of the battery and the internal combustion engine.