Abstract: The present disclosure relates optical imaging devices and methods useful in biological and medical imaging applications. In one embodiment, an optical imaging device includes a flexible lightguide having a first end and a second end, the output of the source of pulsed infrared radiation being optically coupled to the first end of the flexible lightguide; a lens assembly attached to and optically coupled to the second end of the flexible lightguide, the lens assembly comprising a variable-focus lens element, the a variable-focus lens element having a tunable focal length; and a photodetector coupled to the flexible lightguide to detect radiation propagating from the second end toward the first end of the flexible lightguide. The optical imaging devices and methods can be used in both confocal and multi-photon techniques.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus is disclosed, where the image processing method includes receiving an image including frames captured over a time period in an illumination environment including alternating current (AC) light, estimating a specular chromaticity and a diffuse chromaticity of the image based on the frames, determining a weight of each of the specular chromaticity and the diffuse chromaticity based on a frame of the frames, and correcting the image based on the specular chromaticity, the diffuse chromaticity, the weight of the specular chromaticity, and the weight of the diffuse chromaticity.

Abstract: Provided are a method for operating a storage driver in a container environment and a storage driver apparatus and a method for operating a storage driver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: requesting downloading of an image for running a container; downloading a plurality of sub images associated with the requested image; allocating each of the plurality of downloaded sub images to an independent logical volume in a multi-layer based file system; and running a container using each of the plurality of allocated sub images.

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for treating fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) in a subject. In some aspects, the disclosure provides isolated nucleic acids, and vectors such as rAAV vectors, configured to express transgenes that inhibit (e.g., decrease) expression of mutated AVCR1 gene in muscle cells or connective tissues.

Abstract: Compositions and methods disclosed concern an isogenic population of in vitro human embryonic stem cells comprising a disease form of the Huntingtin gene (HTT) at the endogenous HTT gene locus in the genome of the cell; wherein the disease form of the HTT gene comprises a polyQ repeat of at least 40 glutamines at the N-terminus of the Huntingtin protein (HTT). The cell lines of the disclosure comprise genetically-defined alterations made in the endogenous HTT gene that recapitulate Huntington's Disease in humans. Furthermore, the cell lines have isogenic controls that share a similar genetic background. Differentiating cell lines committed to a neuronal fate and fully differentiated cell lines are also provided and they also display phenotypic abnormalities associated with the length of the polyQ repeat of the HTT gene. These cell lines are used as screening tools in drug discovery and development to identify substances that fully or partially revert these phenotype abnormalities.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer storage medium and a terminal for implementing autonomous driving decision-making are disclosed. Image information is processed by the probabilistic object detection to obtain a probabilistic object detection result set containing multiple probabilistic object detection result. An uncertainty in the object detection process is estimated by the probabilistic object detection results contained in the set of the probabilistic object detection result. An environmental state information set is generated from the probabilistic object detection results in the probabilistic object detection result set and the perceptual information, then an optional action set considering the uncertainty is generated using a preset decision-making method, and an action for vehicle driving control is determined according to the optional action set and the environmental state information set.

Abstract: Pyrochlore-based solid mixed oxide materials suitable for use in catalysing a hydrocarbon reforming reaction are disclosed, as well as methods of preparing the materials, and their uses in hydrocarbon reforming processes. The materials contain a catalytic quantity of inexpensive nickel and exhibit catalytic properties in dry reforming reactions that are comparable—if not better—than those observed using expensive noble metal-containing catalysts. Moreover, the Pyrochlore-based solid mixed oxide materials can be used in low temperature dry reforming reactions, where other catalysts would become deactivated due to coking. Accordingly, the catalytic materials represent a sizeable development in the industrial-scale reforming of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of preparing tetrahexahedra nanoparticles and methods of using the tetrahexahedra nanoparticles as an oxidative catalyst.

Abstract: An agent is described that includes a plant virus particle or VLP conjugate to TRAIL. Associating TRAIL with the plant virus particle or VLP serves to both target cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. The agent can therefore be used for a method of treating cancer in a subject.

Abstract: This invention relates to transduction of cargo molecules into living cells, such as protein transduction, in particular a delivery molecule for transduction of a cargo into a cell comprising: a cargo-binding molecule and/or a cargo; a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding element, which is capable of binding to GAG on the surface of the cell; and a protein transduction domain. Methods of transduction, methods of producing or modifying cargo for transduction, delivery molecules for transduction and methods of treatment using transduction, or using transduced cells are also provided.

Abstract: A method to achieve full densification and grain size control for sintering metal materials, wherein raw material powder is deagglomerated to obtain deagglomerated powder with dispersion. The deagglomerated powder is granulated by spray granulation. The granulated particles are processed by high-pressure die pressing and cold isostatic pressing. The powder compact is sintered by two-step pressureless sintering. The first step is to heat up the powder compact to a higher temperature and hold for a short time to obtain 75-85% theoretical density; the second step is to cool down powder compact to a lower temperature and hold for a long time. The two-step sintering can decrease the sintering temperature, so that the powder compact can be densified at a lower temperature. Thus, the obtained refractory metal product is densified, with ultrafine grains, uniform grain size distribution, and outstanding mechanical properties.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking gasoline prehydrogenation method is provided. Thiol etherification and double bond isomerization reactions are carried out on catalytic cracking gasoline through a prehydrogenation reactor. The reaction conditions are as follows: the reaction temperature is between 80° C. and 160° C., the reaction pressure is between 1 MPa and 5 MPa, the liquid-volume hourly space velocity is from 1 to 10 h?1, and the hydrogen-oil volume ratio is (3-8):1; a prehydrogenation catalyst comprises a carrier and active ingredients, the carrier contains an aluminium oxide composite carrier with a macroporous structure and one or more of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-35, mordenite, amorphous form aluminum silicon, SAPO-11, MCM-22, a Y molecular sieve and a beta molecular sieve, the surface of the carrier is loaded with one or more of the active ingredients cobalt, molybdenum, nickel and tungsten; based on oxides, the content of the active ingredients is between 0.1% and 15.5%.

Abstract: A split air cabin ventilation system for construction of tunnel inclined shafts, including a first air cabin and a second air cabin which are both in a hollow closed structure with an air inlet end and an air outlet end respectively at both sides. The two air outlet ends are arranged away from each other. An end of the split air cabin is provided with an air inlet, and the other end is provided with an air outlet. The air inlet is connected to an air source, and the air outlet is connected to the air inlet ends of the first and second air cabins, respectively. The air inlet end of the first air cabin is connected to another air source.

Abstract: Structures for response shaping in frequency and time domain, include an optical response shaper and/or a modulator device with multiple injection. The device comprises a resonator having an enclosed geometric structure, for example a ring or racetrack structure, at least two injecting optical waveguides approaching the resonator to define at least two coupling regions between the resonator and the injecting waveguides, and may define at least two Free Spectral Range states. One or both of the coupling regions has a coupling coefficient selected for a predetermined frequency or time response, and the coupling coefficient or other device parameters may be variable, in some case in real time to render the response programmably variable.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a perovskite solar cell, includes disposing an electron transport layer on a transparent conductive substrate, disposing an additive-doped perovskite light absorption layer on the electron transport layer, disposing a hole transport layer on the additive-doped perovskite light absorption layer, and disposing an electrode on the hole transport layer. The disposing of the additive-doped perovskite light absorption layer includes adding an additive having hydrophobicity to a perovskite precursor solution, and applying the additive-added perovskite precursor solution onto the electron transport layer to form the additive-doped perovskite light absorption layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of inhibiting the interaction of menin with MLL1, MLL2 and MLL-fusion oncoproteins with compositions of Formula (II-A). The methods are useful for the treatment of leukemia, solid cancers, diabetes and other diseases dependent on activity of MLL1, MLL2, MLL fusion proteins, and/or menin. Compositions of Formula (II-A) for use in these methods are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides chips, systems and methods for sequencing a nucleic acid sample. Tagged nucleotides are provided into a reaction chamber comprising a nanopore in a membrane. An individual tagged nucleotide of the tagged nucleotides can contain a tag coupled to a nucleotide, which tag is detectable with the aid of the nanopore. Next, an individual tagged nucleotide of the tagged nucleotides can be incorporated into a growing strand complementary to a single stranded nucleic acid molecule derived from the nucleic acid sample. With the aid of the nanopore, a tag associated with the individual tagged nucleotide can be detected upon incorporation of the individual tagged nucleotide. The tag can be detected with the aid of the nanopore when the tag is released from the nucleotide.

Abstract: A method of making steel by deeply dephosphorization in a hot metal tank and decarburization using semi-steel with nearly zero phosphorus load in a converter includes the following steps: putting an efficient dephosphorization agent into the hot metal tank in advance, and conducting dephosphorization during blast furnace tapping and transportation of blast furnace hot metal by the hot metal tank to obtain semi-steel with [P] less than 0.04 wt. % and [C] greater than or equal to 3.5 wt. %; and removing dephosphorization slag, and pouring the semi-steel into the converter for decarburization to obtain molten steel. The efficient dephosphorization agent includes iron oxide scale, lime, and composite calcium ferrite. According to the method, a phosphorus content of the blast furnace hot metal is reduced to be less than or equal to 0.04 wt. % through the efficient dephosphorization agent.

Abstract: A blood pump includes a housing having an inlet. A rotor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate substantially about the axis to pump blood from the inlet to the outlet. A stator is disposed within the housing and configured to drive rotation of the rotor about the axis. A bearing mechanism for supporting the rotor inside the housing includes a magnetic bearing configured to magnetically support the rotor inside the housing in a radial direction from the axis. The bearing mechanism includes a sliding bearing configured to physically support the rotor inside the housing in an axial direction along the axis of the housing and allow rotation of the rotor substantially about the axis, the sliding bearing comprising at least one point of contact where the rotor is configured to physically contact a trunnion affixed to the housing.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing a chimeric non-human animal expressing a human ETV2 gene comprising: a) generating an ETV2 null non-human animal cell, wherein both copies of the non-human ETV2 gene carry a mutation that prevents production of functional ETV2 protein in said non-human animal; b) creating an ETV2 null non-human blastocyst by somatic cell nuclear transfer comprising fusing a nucleus from said ETV2 null non-human animal cell of a) into an enucleated non-human oocyte and activating said oocyte to divide so as to form an ETV2 null non-human blastocyst; c) introducing human stem cells into the ETV2 null non-human blastocyst of b); and d) implanting said blastocyst from c) into a pseudopregnant surrogate non-human animal to generate a chimeric non-human animal expressing human ETV2.