Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for increasing the pH of a melanosome in a melanocyte, darkening skin or hair pigmentation, or treating a disease associated with decreased melanin comprising administering a soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitor and/or an exchange protein activated by cyclic AMP (EPAC) inhibitor to the melanocyte. The invention also provides compositions and methods for decreasing the pH of a melanosome in a melanocyte, lightening skin or hair pigmentation, or treating a disease associated with increased melanin comprising administering a sAC activator and/or an EPAC activator to the melanocyte.

Abstract: A multiport multilevel converter/inverter includes a connection point with a two-line connection. The multiport multilevel converter/inverter also includes a capacitor electrically coupled across the two-line connection of the connection point. The multiport multilevel converter/inverter also has a first flying capacitor multilevel path with a first external two connection port configured to connect outside of the multiport multilevel converter/inverter, and a first interface conveying DC power and that is electrically coupled to the connection point. The multiport multilevel converter/inverter also includes a second flying capacitor multilevel path with a second external two connection port configured to connect outside of the multiport multilevel converter/inverter, and a second interface conveying DC power and that is electrically coupled to the connection point.

Abstract: A method of correcting singletons in a selected AAV sequence in order to increasing the packaging yield, transduction efficiency, and/or gene transfer efficiency of the selected AAV is provided. This method involves altering one or more singletons in the parental AAV capsid to conform the singleton to the amino acid in the corresponding position(s) of the aligned functional AAV capsid sequences.

Abstract: The present inventors have identified specific oncogenic pathways preferentially activated in BRAF-mutated-melanoma cells and a pathway pattern that predicts resistance of BRAF-mutated melanoma to BRAF/MEK inhibitors, providing novel clinical implications for melanoma therapy. In one embodiment, a method comprises (a) testing a sample oiBRAF-mutated melanoma cells isolated from a patient and measuring the expression levels of genes expressed in the following oncogenic pathways: TNFa, EGFR, IFNa, hypoxia, IFNy, STAT3 and Myc; (b) calculating a 7-pathway activation pattern based on the measured expression levels of step (a); and (c) identifying the patient's resistance level to BRAF/MEK inhibitor treatment based on comparison of the calculated 7-pathway activation pattern to a reference.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a stretchable substrate structure according to an embodiment includes a carrier substrate receiving portion configured to receive a carrier substrate therein, a stretchable substrate receiving portion configured to receive a stretchable substrate in a direction facing the carrier substrate, and a diaphragm configured to be deformed by air pressure provided on one surface, wherein the diaphragm comes in contact with an entire surface of the stretchable substrate in a plane direction when deformed, such that the stretchable substrate is combined to the carrier substrate by deforming according to the deformed shape of the diaphragm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-powered seawater pumping apparatus for reducing seawater intrusion in a land in which an aquifer with a seawater-fresh water boundary surface is formed. The seawater pumping apparatus includes a pumping pipe having two open end portions, a first end portion of the open end portions being positioned below a sea level and a second end portion being positioned below the seawater-fresh water boundary surface in the land, and a well disposed to surround a lateral surface of a land-buried portion of the pumping pipe, which is buried in the land, so as to space away the land-buried portion of the pumping pipe from the land. The pumping pipe is filled with seawater, and the well comprises a screen having a plurality of through holes formed along a circumference of the well at a lower end portion of the well.

Abstract: A device for measuring surface temperature of a turbine blade based on a rotatable prism includes a probe, a prism rotating apparatus and an optical focusing apparatus. The prism rotating apparatus and the optical focusing apparatus are located inside the probe. The probe includes a probe outer casing, a probe inner casing, a water-cooled casing pipe, a sapphire window piece, a quartz prism, a light pipe, a collimating lens, a focusing lens and an infrared array detector. The prism rotating apparatus includes a rotary motor, a worm, a gear and a prism rotary table, the rotary motor rotates to drive the prism rotary table to rotate. The optical focusing apparatus includes a telescopic motor, a coupler, a lead screw and a drive rod, the telescopic motor rotates to drive the lead screw, so as to further drive the drive rod to move along the slot.

Abstract: A training method for a robust neural network based on feature matching is provided in this disclosure, which includes following steps. Step A, a first stage model is initialized. The first stage model includes a backbone network, a feature matching module and a fullple loss function. Step B, the first stage model is trained by using original training data to obtain a second stage model. Step C, the second stage model is attacked so as to generate PGD adversarial samples of the original training data, and the second stage model is trained again with the generated adversarial samples and the original training data. Step D, training parameters are adjusted and the second stage model is trained again, and parameters for which the model has highest accuracy on an original test set are saved.

Abstract: The present invention relates in certain aspects to the discovery of novel 2-naphthimidamide compounds that are capable of binding Type II Transmembrane Serine Proteases (TTSPs). In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can be used to treat or prevent Influenza A viral infection in a mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition of hyaluronic acid comprising repeating units of a disaccharide comprising glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, wherein a portion of the N-acetyl groups of the N-acetylglucosamine have been independently replaced with a group of the formula —N—C(O)—(C2-C4)-alkyl for treating hyperuicemia and gouty arthritis. Studies show that this composition is promising as an anti-gout therapeutic agent, which combines both anti-inflammatory actions as well as anti uracemic effects.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding video data includes a decoder configured to decode, from a bitstream, a syntax element indicating an intra-prediction type of a current block of the video data, and an intra-predictor configured to generate a prediction block for the current block by selectively performing matrix based intra-prediction (MIP) or regular intra-prediction based on the intra-prediction type of the current block indicated by the syntax element.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to adenosine receptor antagonists that inhibit migration and growth of cancer cells.

Abstract: Problem to be Solved A traverse that is percutaneously provided and a surgical instrument for percutaneously providing the transverse are provided. Solution A rod 10 is placed in each of two rod openings 113, 123 and a transverse bar 130 is inserted in two bar holes 111, 121. Set screws 140, 150 are screwed in screw holes 114, 124. The set screws 140, 150 press the transverse bar 130, thereby restraining the transverse bar 130 in the longitudinal direction. Since portions of the bar holes 111, 121 adjoin the rod openings 113, 123, the pressed transverse bar 130 contacts the rods 10 and pushes the rods 10 against the rod openings 113, 123. A protrusion 127 engages with the rods 10 to restrain hooks 110, 120 in the longitudinal direction and circumferential direction of the rods 10.

Abstract: Synthesis, fabrication, and application of nanocomposite polymers in different form (as membrane/filter coatings, as beads, or as porous sponges) for the removal of microorganisms, heavy metals, organic, and inorganic chemicals from different contaminated water sources.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an electromechanical map are disclosed herein. The methods includes obtaining ultrasound data comprising a series of consecutive image frames and radio frequency (RF) signals corresponding to the location in the heart; measuring displacements and strains based on the ultrasound data to determine an electromechanical activation in the location; converting the ultrasound data into a series of isochrone maps; and combining the series of isochrone maps to generate the electromechanical map. The electromechanical map illustrates the electromechanical activation and internal wall structures of the heart.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Chinese knot-like porous fiber core ultra-high birefringence THz optical fiber. The optical fiber comprises a substrate, claddings and fiber cores, wherein the claddings and the fiber cores are arranged in the substrate, and the fiber cores are embedded in the centers of the claddings; and the fiber core comprises a first fiber core region, a second fiber core region and a third fiber core region, the center of the first fiber core region 4 serves as the origin of coordinates, and the first fiber core region 4 is composed of six regular hexagon units with overlapped boundaries in the x-axis direction. In the present disclosure, the fiber core comprises a first fiber core region, a second fiber core region and a third fiber core region, and the three regions jointly form a fiber core region of a Chinese knot-like porous fiber core.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided, comprising: a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. The electromagnetic activation causes a change in a gap between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, the change in the gap resulting in rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

Abstract: A millimeter-wave resonator is produced by drilling a plurality of holes into a piece of metal. Each hole forms an evanescent tube having a lowest cutoff frequency. The holes spatially intersect to form a seamless three-dimensional cavity whose fundamental cavity mode has a resonant frequency that is less than the cutoff frequencies of all the evanescent tubes. Below cutoff, the fundamental cavity mode does not couple to the waveguide modes, and therefore has a high internal Q. Millimeter waves can be coupled into any of the tubes to excite an evanescent mode that couples to the fundamental cavity mode. The tubes also provide spatial and optical access for transporting atoms into the cavity, where they can be trapped while spatially overlapping the fundamental cavity mode. The piece of metal may be superconducting, allowing the resonator to be used in a cryogenic environment for quantum computing and information processing.

Abstract: A electronic method, includes receiving, by a graphene structure, a microwave signal. The microwave signal has a driving voltage level. The electronic method includes generating, by the graphene structure, optical photons based on the microvolts. The electronic method includes outputting, by the graphene structure, the optical photons.

Abstract: Bio-photonic devices or target cells and cell cultures including bio-photonic devices and target cells are provided. Methods of preparing cell cultures including bio-photonic devices and target cells are also provided. Methods of analyzing the electrophysiology of target cells using the cell cultures are provided. Systems for analyzing the electrophysiology of target cells are also provided.