Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for preventing, treating, and/or ameliorating one or more symptoms of inflammation in a mammal. In particular, viral vectors and medicaments containing them are disclosed, which are useful in the prophylaxis, therapy, or amelioration of symptoms of one or more inflammatory-mediated mammalian diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), arthritis, Bechet's disease, Best macular dystrophy, corneal inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, drusen formation, dry AMD, dry eye, geographic atrophy, glaucomaocular neovascularization, Lupus erythematosus, macular degeneration, Mallatia Leventinese and Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy, nephritis, ocular hypertension, ocular inflammation, recurrent uveitis, Sorsby fundus dystrophy, vasculitis, vitreoretinopathy, wet AMD, or related disorders.

Abstract: A tandem electrode for electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide is described. The electrode includes a first distinct catalyst layer and a second distinct catalyst layer. The first distinct catalyst layer is made of a C1 hydrocarbon or C2+ product selective catalyst and the second distinct catalyst layer is comprised of a CO selective catalyst. In one embodiment, the second distinct catalyst layer is concentrated at one end of the tandem electrode. In another embodiment, the tandem electrode also includes a microporous layer and a substrate layer.

Abstract: A power distribution system configured as a radial network includes buses having respective voltages, and distribution lines having respective currents. The radial network interconnects the buses with the distribution lines in a tree-like manner. A bus has a link to at least two distribution lines. The bus voltages and distribution line currents are determined by a processing circuitry configured to receive a Branch Matrix (BM), iteratively determine currents for the distribution lines and voltages for each of the buses until a difference is below a predetermined tolerance, and output final bus voltages and final distribution line currents. The circuitry iteratively determines the currents by determining a current matrix (CM) using the BM, and by determining the currents for the plurality of distribution lines in a zig zag manner over the matrix elements in the CM. The system finds a solution using fewer iterations than the backward forward sweep method.

Abstract: A method of generating protein-induced pluripotent stem cells by delivering bacterially expressed reprogramming proteins into nuclei of starting somatic cells using the QQ-protein transduction technique, repeating several cell reprogramming cycles for creating reprogrammed protein-induced pluripotent stem cells, moving the reprogrammed cells into a feeder-free medium for expansion, and expanding and passaging the reprogrammed cells in a whole dish for generating homogeneous piPS cells. Also provided are the piPCS cells formed using this method and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems of detecting bacteria in a sample using phage-functionalized sensors, methods of enriching a sample with phage-functionalized magnetic particles, phage-functionalized magnetic particles and methods of making phage-functionalized magnetic particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing sharded blockchain network obtains state information including an inter-node data transmission rate and computing resources of each node in the current epoch of a shard-based blockchain network in which N nodes are distributed to at least one shard, a consensus process record of each node in each shard and a ratio of malicious nodes, estimates at least one action each including block size, block interval and number of shards corresponding to the state information by using an artificial neural network in which a pattern estimation method has been previously learned, selects one action among the estimated at least one action and applies the one action to the shard-based blockchain network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to noninvasive microbiome analyses of Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients in which changes in the relative abundance of certain bacteria indicate a disease likelihood or pathogenic state. Additional aspects of the present invention relate to manipulating the microbiome to treat or prevent BE and related conditions. Embodiments also include monitoring for development of disease or monitoring treatment for prevention or elimination of disease states.

Abstract: A system for non-destructive testing of a bond condition of concrete beams reinforced by steel rods is described. The system includes a transducing transmitter, a transducing receiver, and an ultrasonic pulse generator configured to generate drive signals for the transducing transmitter and receive a plurality vibrational waves at the transducing receiver. The system further includes a computing device including a measurement circuit configured to record a transit time for each vibrational wave and divide a distance between the transducing transmitter and the transducing receiver by the transit time to determine a pulse velocity of each vibrational wave, a comparison circuit configured to identify a highest pulse velocity of the vibrational waves and compare each highest pulse velocity to a first reference pulse velocity, and a decision circuit including an artificial neural network configured to identify a compromised bond condition around a steel rod.

Abstract: A preparation method of SnO2@Sn coated reduced graphene oxide composite material. By compounding reduced graphene oxide and SnO2, SnO2 undergoes conversion and alloying reactions to form Sn nanoparticles, and the three components have a synergistic effect and good reversibility. Nano SnO2@Sn particles are uniformly distributed on the ultrathin RGO nanosheets. RGO can effectively alleviate volume expansion caused by SnO2 and prevent SnO2@Sn nanoparticles from agglomeration during cycle. The adhesion of SnO2@Sn on RGO can also effectively reduce the repacking of RGO nanosheets, so that the composite material maintains a large surface area during the charge-discharge process, providing sufficient space for the storage of potassium ions. Therefore, the prepared SnO2@Sn coated reduced graphene oxide composite material (SnO2 @Sn@RGO) has excellent electrochemical performance, exhibits excellent cycle performance, rate capability and long-term cycle stability, and has a very ideal first coulomb efficient.

Abstract: A hydroponic plant production apparatus comprising: a hollow grow tube with a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, and a matrix media insert composed of two halves, where the media is insertable into the grow tube, allowing plants to be inserted and grown between the two halves of the matrix media insert in the grow tube. Methods for use of a hollow grow tube with a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, and a matrix media insert composed of two halves, where the media is insertable into the grow tube, allowing plants to be inserted and grown between the two halves of the matrix media insert in the grow tube.

Abstract: A system includes intracranial electrodes embedded into a cranium, a deep brain stimulation system embedded into the cranium, a brain implantable device embedded into the cranium, and a pulse generator, the deep brain stimulation system and the brain implantable device linked to the intracranial electrodes and to the pulse generator.

Abstract: Provided herein are in situ methods for fabricating a mixed-matrix membrane or a mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane for increasing formation of zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles inside the mixed-matrix membrane. Generally, in the method a polyimide polymer coated onto at least one support is hydrolzed with a base and the poly(amic acid)-salt film formed thereby undergoes ion exchange with a metal ion, treatment of the formed poly(amic acid)-metal salt film with an organic linker to produce metal-organic framework nanoparticles in situ, and imidization of the treated poly(amic acid)-metal salt film produces a polyimide/metal-organic framework mixed-matrix membrane or a mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane module. Also provided is the mixed-matrix membrane and the polymer mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane module fabricated by the methods and methods for separating a binary gas mixture via the fabricated mixed-matrix membrane.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel plant growth inhibiting agent and a plant growth inhibiting method using the same. The plant growth inhibiting agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by the following formula (I?) and/or a salt thereof. In the formula (I?), R1a represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C14 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C3 to C13 heteroaryl group, or the like; R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C14 arylene group, or the like; R3a represents OH, a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6 alkoxy group, or the like; X represents an oxygen atom; Y represents a substituent; q represents any integer of 0 to 3; n represents 0 or 1; and m represents 0 or 1.

Abstract: Provided are a method of diagnosing the onset of acute rejection, the method including the step of correlating expression levels of one or more miRNAs selected from the group consisting of 8 kinds of miRNAs including miR-4488, miR-4532, miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-373-3p, miR-31-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-210-3p, and a combination thereof with the onset of acute rejection in kidney transplant patients, a composition for diagnosing acute rejection, the composition including an agent capable of measuring the expression level of each of the miRNAs, a kit for diagnosing acute rejection, the kit including the composition, and a method of treating acute rejection, the method including the step of treating acute rejection, when the onset of acute rejection is identified by the above diagnostic method.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant parvovirus vector comprising a synthetic enhancer comprising plurality of enhancer sequences operably linked to a promoter, and methods of using the vector, are provided.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique whereby multiple projection targets are efficiently identified from multiple neurons in multiple brain areas with the use of multis-point light stimulation. An acquisition unit 52 acquires spike signals generated from multiple neurons existing in the vicinity of two or more recording sites. A stimulation control unit 51 selects one projection target candidate from two or more candidates in accordance with a definite system on the basis of the spike signals and then determines irradiation timing of light stimulation. Upon the light stimulation, a management unit 53 acquires the spike signals in all of the recording sites within a definite period of time before or after the light stimulation, while dividing the spike signals into anti responses and collision responses. An anti response management unit 81 acquires and manages information relating to the anti responses.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for laser modification of a sample to form a modified region at a target location within the sample. The method comprises positioning a sample in a laser system for modification by a laser; measuring tilt of a surface of the sample through which the laser focusses; using at least the measured tilt to determine a correction to be applied to an active optical element of the laser system; applying the correction to the active optical element to modify wavefront properties of the laser to counteract an effect of coma on laser focus; and laser modifying the sample at the target location using the laser with the corrected wavefront properties to produce the modified region.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to methods of making a structure including nanotubes, a structure including nanotubes, methods of delivering a fluid to a cell, methods of removing a fluid to a cell, methods of accessing intracellular space, and the like.

Abstract: A method for training vibrotactile speech perception in the absence of auditory speech includes selecting a first word, generating a first control signal configured to cause at least one vibrotactile transducer to vibrate against a person's body with a first vibration pattern based on the first word, sampling a second word spoken by the person, generating a second control signal configured to cause at least one vibrotactile transducer to vibrate against the person's body with a second vibration pattern based on the sampled second word, and presenting a comparison between the first word and the second word to the person. An array of vibrotactile transducers can be in contact with the person's body.

Abstract: The foundation system includes a below ground rigid raft foundation to bear a load for an above ground structure, and granular cushions and piles formed below the raft foundation. The granular cushions are configured for uniform load distribution of the raft foundation and the piles are configured to bear a load of the above ground structure and the raft foundation. The foundation system further includes stone columns encapsulated with a non-woven geofabric and configured to stabilize the raft foundation. The raft foundation is disposed adjacent and above the stone columns, the granular cushions are present between neighboring stone columns, and the granular cushions are present between the stone columns and the piles. The stone columns have a cementing agent for stabilization.