Abstract: A DC-DC conversion scheme is described that includes a buck converter including a first switch connected in series with a first inductor, the first switch and first inductor providing a switched connected between an input and an output, a second switch being connected across output, and a DC boost arrangement connected between the first switch and the first inductor, the DC boost arrangement including second and third magnetically linked inductors, the second inductor being connected in series between the first switch and the first inductor, and the third inductor being electrically connected to a point intermediate the first and second inductors, the windings of the second and third inductors being such that a change in current flowing through the second inductor induces a boost current in the third inductor supplementing the current flowing through the second inductor.

Abstract: An insulin analogue comprises an insulin A-chain polypeptide and an insulin B-chain polypeptide. The A-chain polypeptide contains a Glu substitution at a position corresponding to position A8, and an Ala, Glu, Gln, His, Tyr, Phe or Trp substitution at a position A13, relative to wild type insulin. The B-chain polypeptide contains a cyclohexanylalanine substitution at position B24, relative to wild type insulin. The analogue may be an analogue of a mammalian insulin, such as human insulin. A nucleic acid encoding such an insulin analogue is also provided. A method of lowering the blood sugar of a patient comprises administering a physiologically effective amount of the insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof to a patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an exponential model based uncooled infrared focal plane array readout circuit, including: a first microbolometer unit and a second microbolometer unit, for obtaining a detection signal and a reference signal; a conversion unit, connected with the first and second microbolometer units, and configured for converting the detection signal and reference signal to obtain a linear detection signal and linear reference signal; a subtraction unit, connected with the conversion unit, and configured for calculating a difference between the detection signal and the reference ratio signal to obtain a difference signal; and an integration unit, connected to the subtraction unit, and configured for integrating the difference signal to obtain an electrical signal for characterizing the infrared light signal of the to-be-detected object.

Abstract: An implantable, body-driven shunt pump includes a pump body defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid chamber therebetween; an inlet valve arranged in the fluid inlet, the inlet valve being a one-way valve arranged such that it is operable to allow fluid flow into the fluid chamber and to prevent fluid flow out of the fluid chamber; and an outlet valve arranged in the fluid outlet, the outlet valve being a one-way valve arranged such that it is operable to allow fluid flow out of the fluid chamber and to prevent fluid flow into the fluid chamber. The pump body includes an expandable and contractible component in a portion of the pump body that defines the fluid chamber such that the fluid chamber changes volume in response to a change in pressure of fluid in the fluid chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include compositions that include magnesium and gadolinium or magnesium and one or more metals.

Abstract: An anti-agglomeration device for a nanofluid includes a support module, a motion module, a photoacoustic conversion module and a control module. The support module includes a frame and screws and is configured to support the photoacoustic conversion module and the motion module. The photoacoustic conversion module includes a nanosecond laser, a first clamp, a lens, a silica optical fiber, a second clamp, gold nanoparticles and a container and is configured to realize photoacoustic conversion to generate ultrasonic waves. The motion module includes a servo motor, a dovetailed rail, a guide screw, a fixed plate, a slider and a deep groove ball bearing. The motion module is configured to support the photoacoustic conversion module and realize the combined motions of the photoacoustic conversion module. The control module includes a support plate and a CCD camera and is configured to control the motion module in real time.

Abstract: Devices and methods to measure and visualize the cardiac and respiratory signal of a human or animal subject during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam are described. This includes a video camera compatible with the MRI scanner, a means of transferring the video data away from the MRI scanner, a light source that illuminates the subject, and an algorithm that analyses the video stream and uses small image intensity changes and motion information to extract cardiac signal and respiratory signals of the subject. These methods make it practical to use optical tracking to monitor and correct for cardiac and respiratory motion during MRI, as well as provide basic patient monitoring with no physical contact to the subject.

Abstract: An adaptive cognitive prosthetic that learns to replace neural function that was lost due to a brain injury or disease is described herein. In some embodiments, an adaptive cognitive prosthetic comprises a processing unit for converting input data from an input assembly into a cognitive variable and selecting a stimulation pattern for conveying the cognitive variable. The processing unit employs an adaptive algorithm to assemble the stimulation pattern by combination of subset stimulation patterns, the combination of subset stimulation patterns learned by the adaptive algorithm through error analysis.

Abstract: A resonant DC-DC converter for generating high voltage MHz bi-polar DC pulses includes a left multi-level resonant rectifier bank [100] connected to a positive electrode [104] and coupled via capacitive isolation to a left RF amplifier terminal [128]; a right multi-level resonant rectifier bank [102] connected to a negative electrode [106] and coupled via capacitive isolation to a right RF amplifier terminal [130]. Each multi-level resonant rectifier bank comprises multiple resonant rectifier stages [112-122], where each stage comprises two capacitors for capacitively isolating the stage, an output capacitor, a MOSFET switch connected to an adjacent MOSFET switch of an adjacent stage, and a gating resonant circuit connected to the MOSFET switch, whereby MOSFET switches in the banks can be passively controlled by RF signals from a left RF amplifier and a right RF amplifier.

Abstract: Methods of forming sintered compounds and compounds formed using the methods are disclosed. Exemplary methods include reactive flash sintering to form sintered compounds from two or more starting compounds. Various sintered compounds may be suitable for use as solid electrolytes in solid-state electrochemical cells and batteries.

Abstract: A frequency converter (1) for generating an output signal (5a) from an input signal (5), the output signal (5a) having different frequency than the input signal (5), the frequency converter (1) including: an input (7) for receiving an input signal (5); a transmission line (3) formed of a non-linear medium (3a), the medium (3a) arranged such that when the input signal (5) propagates along the line (3), one or more harmonics (5a,5b) of the input signal (5) are generated; a plurality of dispersion control elements (13), the dispersion control elements (13) arranged to control the dispersion relationship of the medium (3a), to phase match the input signal (5) and the one or more harmonics (5a,5b), such that energy is transferred from the input signal (5) to the one or more harmonics (5a,5b); and an output (9) for providing the one or more harmonics (5a, 5b) as an output signal.

Abstract: A system may include a support structure for providing a vegetated canopy including a soil container support and a plurality of ribs disposed along the support structure, where the plurality of ribs are structurally configured to support a vegetated canopy disposed thereon. The system may also include a modular canopy structurally configured to attach to the support structure, the modular canopy including a soil container structurally configured to engage with the soil container support, a plurality of substantially rigid external members structurally configured to engage with a rib of the support structure, and a connecting member disposed along a length of the substantially rigid external members and attaching at a substantially rigid external member to another substantially rigid external member. The plurality of substantially rigid external members and the connecting members may form a trellis structurally configured to support vegetation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving accuracy of visual field testing in head-mounted displays. The method includes retrieving a visual field testing pattern for a head-mounted display, the visual field testing pattern including icons displayed at respective locations in a visual field of the head-mounted display. The visual field testing pattern is generated on the head-mounted display. Data is retrieved from a tilt sensor, located at the head-mounted display, for detecting degrees of head tilt of a user wearing the head-mounted display and the degree of head tilt is determined. A comparison is made between the degree of head tilt of the user to a first threshold degree. In response to the degree of head tilt of the user meeting or exceeding the first threshold degree, a recommendation to the user is generated for display on the head-mounted display.

Abstract: Described herein are trehalose analogues. Also described herein are methods of making the trehalose analogues and uses of the analogues. For example, the disclosed trehalose analogues may be useful in the detection of bacteria.

Abstract: A method of processing an input image comprises receiving the input image, storing the image in a memory, and accessing, by an image processor, a computer readable medium storing a trained deep learning network. A first part of the deep learning network has convolutional layers providing low-level features extracted from the input image, and convolutional layers providing a residual image. A second part of the deep learning network has convolutional layers for receiving the low-level features and extracting high-level features based on the low-level features. The method feeds the input image to the trained deep learning network, and applies a transformation to the residual image based on the extracted high-level features.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with N-(5-chloro-4-((4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl)-2-methylphenyl)benzamide compounds that are capable of inhibiting SPAK kinase function, methods of treating hypoxic brain injuries due to, for example, ischemic stroke. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: An inorganic solid electrolyte glass phase composite is provided comprising a substance of the general formula La2/3-xLi3xTiO3 wherein x ranges from about 0.04 to about 0.17, and a glass material. The glass material is one or more compounds selected from Li2O, Li2S, Li2SO4, Li3PO4, P2O5, P2O3, Al2O3, SiO2, CaO, MgO, BaO, TiO2, GeO2, SiS2, Sb2O3, SnS, TaS2, P2S5, B2S3, and a combination of two or more thereof. A lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte composite is disclosed comprising a lithium-ion conductive substance of the general formula La2/3-xLi3xTiO3—Z wherein x ranges form about 0.04 to 0.17, and wherein “Z” is the glass material identified above. A battery is disclosed having at least one cathode and anode and an inorganic solid electrolyte glass phase composite as described above disposed on or between at least one of the cathode and the anode.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system for non-invasive, real-time tumor tracking includes an UWB transmitter arranged to transmit radar pulses to penetrate a region of interest of a patient; an UWB receiver arranged to receive radar return pulses after being reflected by tumor tissue in the region of interest of the patient; and an UWB signal processor constructed to communicate with the UWB receiver, wherein the UWB transmitter and the UWB receiver are constructed to be arranged sufficiently far away from the patient so as to avoid interfering with radiation treatment of the tumor.

Abstract: Provided is a resonance converter for a wireless charger, which includes a full bridge inverter connected to an input power source that supplies an input voltage and having first to fourth switches, a resonance tank having a plurality of resonators composed of capacitors and coils connected in series and configured to receive the input voltage from the full bridge inverter and perform voltage conversion in an inductive power transfer manner among the plurality of resonators, and a rectification bridge configured to rectify an output voltage sent from the resonance tank and transfer the rectified output voltage to a battery.

Abstract: Metal complexes that exhibit multiple radiative decay mechanisms, together with methods for the preparation and use thereof.