Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to a network-assisted Raft consensus protocol, referred to herein as “NetRaft.” According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a system can include a plurality of servers operating in a server cluster, and a plurality of P4 switches corresponding to the plurality of servers. Each server of the plurality of servers can include a back-end that executes a complete Raft algorithm to perform leader election, log replication, and log commitment of a Raft consensus algorithm. Each P4 switch of the plurality of P4 switches can include a front-end that executes a partial Raft algorithm to perform the log replication and the log commitment of the Raft consensus algorithm. The back-end can maintain a complete state for responding to requests that cannot be fulfilled by the front-end. The requests can include read requests and/or write requests.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a burner and boiler/furnace for pressurized oxy-combustion boilers and furnaces. The disclosure includes a design of a burner and boiler for a staged, pressurized oxy-combustion (SPOC) technology process and designs that affect wall heat flux. The disclosure further includes the introduction of wall rings to increase, for example, advection.

Abstract: A system comprising a solenoid electromagnet for generating a magnetic field and a driver circuit coupled to the solenoid electromagnet for modulating the magnetic field generated by the solenoid electromagnet. The magnetic field generated by the solenoid electromagnet of the present invention exhibits improved control over the direction and projection of the generated magnetic field. The generated magnetic field has the ability to detach permanent magnets from metal plates, cause motion of permanent magnets and soft magnetic materials as well as create separation between two magnetically bound permanent magnets.

Abstract: A scoring method includes steps of: storing a word list in a database of a computer; storing word vector combinations in the database; extracting a keyword from a submitted answer, and looking up, in the word list, a word vector that corresponds to a word which conforms with the keyword; and obtaining, from the database, one of the word vector combinations, and calculating, for each of benchmark nouns of the one of the word vector combinations thus obtained, a semantic distance between the keyword and the benchmark noun based on word vectors respectively corresponding to the keyword and the benchmark noun, and calculating an originality score based on the semantic distances of the respective benchmark nouns thus calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exosome-based nanoparticle composite and a method for preparing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an exosome-based nanoparticle composite that uses exosomes isolated from cells and a biocompatible polymer to achieve improved in vivo stability and redispersibility, and a method for preparing the nanoparticle composite. The nanoparticle composite of the present invention exhibits a stable and continuous drug release pattern irrespective of the solubility of the drug and has excellent tumor targeting due to its good in vivo stability and improved redispersibility in aqueous solution.

Abstract: A compound comprising a first ligand selected from Formula I, and Formula II, is disclosed. In these structures, Y1 to Y12 and Z3 and Z4 are independently CR or N; where each R, R?, R?, RF, and RG is hydrogen or a substituent, where at least one dashed arc represents Rs joined into a 5-membered or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; where the first ligand is complexed to a metal M; where ring G is a fused ring structure comprising five or more fused heterocyclic or carbocyclic rings, of which at least one ring is of Formula III where the fused heterocyclic or carbocyclic rings of Ring G are 5- or 6-membered; where Y is selected from BR?, NR?, PR?, O, S, Se, C?O, S?O, SO2, CR?R?, SiR?R?, and GeR?R?. Organic light emitting devices and consumer products containing the compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery charging and discharging apparatus includes power converters connected in series and configured to convert respective output voltages of batteries corresponding to the power converters. Each of the power converters may include direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converters connected in parallel. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to control magnitudes of respective output voltages of the power converters based on respective states of the batteries.

Abstract: D2C7-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL (D2C7-IT) is a recombinant Pseudomonas exotoxin A-based immunotoxin (IT), targeting both wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRwt) and mutant EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) proteins overexpressed in glioblastomas. A good laboratory practice (GLP) manufacturing process was developed to produce sufficient material for a Phase I/II clinical trial. D2C7-IT was expressed under the control of the T7 promoter in Escherichia coli BLR (? DE3). D2C7-IT was produced by a 10 L batch fermentation process and was then purified from inclusion bodies using anion exchange, size exclusion, and an endotoxin removal process that achieved a yield of over 300 mg of purified protein.

Abstract: A modular array includes modular array includes one or more array modules. Each array module includes one or more transducer arrays, where each of the one or more transducer arrays includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements; a conducting interposer arranged and configured to provide acoustic absorbing backing for the one or more transducer arrays; and one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). The conducting interposer and the one or more ASICs are in electrical contact with each other at a first direct electrical interface. Additionally, the conducting interposer and the one or more transducer arrays are in electrical contact with each other at a second direct electrical interface.

Abstract: It is disclosed herein that a FAK inhibitor induces conversion of acinar cells into beta cells. Methods are provided for increasing beta cell proliferation by administering an effective amount of a FAK inhibitor to a subject in need thereof. Methods are also provided for treating a subject with diabetes or at risk of developing diabetes, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a FAK inhibitor.

Abstract: A damping system for damping rotary movements of a tailing arm. The system includes a chassis, a main shaft, and a rotary damping mechanism. The rotary damping mechanism includes a first externally-threaded gear attached fixedly to the main shaft, a guide rail attached fixedly to the chassis, a linear shock absorber, an internally-threaded gear associated with the first externally-threaded gear, and a first actuator configured to decouple the first externally-threaded gear from the linear shock absorber and couple the first externally-threaded gear with the linear shock absorber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical coupler comprising: a first optical prong; a second optical prong; an optical waveguide with which the first optical prong and the second optical prong merge; wherein: a distance from an axially outer tip edge of the first optical prong to an axially outer tip edge of the first optical prong is greater than a planar width of the optical waveguide; and the first optical prong and the second optical prong are each tapered from the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Functionally altered biological mechanisms arising from disease-associated polymorphisms remain difficult to characterize when those variants are intergenic, or, fall between genes. The present invention uses computational modelling of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) drawn from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or other databases to identify SNP pairs, including SNP pairs where at least one SNP is outside a protein-coding region of a gene, having convergent biological mechanisms. Additional databases, including genomic databases, biological regulatory databases, and databases related to molecular function, are used to further identify and validate the similarity of the biological mechanisms of the SNP pairs. Prioritized SNP pairs having increased similarity of biological mechanisms are then used to identify disease mechanisms, candidate therapeutic drugs, and candidate therapeutic targets among downstream effectors of intergenic SNPs.

Abstract: Recombinant enzymes BesA, BesB, BesC, BesD and/or BesE are used generate non-canonical amino acids comprising a useful functional group, such as an alkynlyl, alkenyl or halogen.

Abstract: A device for generating hydrogen gas, treated water, and metal-containing nanoparticles. The device includes a vessel containing an electrolyte solution having a preferably iron anode and a preferably copper cathode. A renewable energy source is connected to the anode and the cathode. A valve for disbursing the hydrogen is connected to the hydrogen chamber.

Abstract: Despite its power in identifying highly potent ligands for select protein targets, conventional medicinal chemistry is limited by its low throughput and lack of proteomic selectivity information. We seek to develop a chemoproteomic approach for discovering covalent ligands for protein targets in an unbiased, high-throughput manner. Tripartite probe compounds composed of a heterocyclic core, an electrophilic ‘warhead’ and an alkyne tag have been designed and synthesized for covalently labeling and identifying targets in cells. We have developed a novel condensation reaction to prepare 2-chloromethylquinoline (2-CMQ), a novel electrophilic heterocycle. These chloromethylquinolines potently and covalently bind to a number of cellular protein targets including Prostaglandin E Synthase 2 (PTGES2), a critical regulator of cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune surveillance.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric thin film and a piezoelectric sensor manufactured using the piezoelectric thin film. A piezoelectric sensor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a substrate; a lower electrode formed on the substrate; a two-dimensional perovskite nanosheet seed layer formed on the lower electrode; a ceramic piezoelectric thin film formed on the two-dimensional perovskite nanosheet seed layer; and an upper electrode formed on the ceramic piezoelectric thin film, wherein each of the two-dimensional perovskite nanosheet seed layer and the ceramic piezoelectric thin film has a crystal structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an eddy current inspection device for nondestructive testing. The device includes: a bobbin-shaped coil configured to be inserted into a specimen, which is an object of nondestructive testing, and to apply induction current to an inner diameter of the specimen; a reference coil configured to be inserted into a nondestructive specimen, which is a reference of the specimen, and to apply induction current to an inner diameter of the nondestructive specimen; a cylindrical manual sensor array configured to disposed in the bobbin-shaped coil and to include lines and rows; and a control module configured to select one or more frequencies of multiple frequencies, apply AC power to the bobbin-shaped coil and the reference coil, generate a square wave signal with a varying phase difference, and perform first multiplication by an applied signal and the square wave signal. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect a flaw.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and kit for detecting porphobilinogen fluorometrically comprising: obtaining a sample suspected of having a porphobilinogen; catalyzing a reaction in the sample with a porphobilinogen deaminase to form a porphyrin; exposing the porphyrin to a light source having a 399 nm wavelength; detecting fluorometrically the amount of porphyrin in the sample; and correlating the amount of porphyrin in the sample to an amount of porphobilinogen in the sample, wherein the ratio of porphobilinogen to porphyrin is 4:1.

Abstract: Described herein are FasL-engineered biomaterials, as well as methods of making and using such FasL-engineered biomaterials, such as for immunomodulation, such as for inducing immunosuppression and specific immune tolerance, such as for preventing or reducing the risks of rejection of cellular or tissue grafts and/or the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as Type I diabetes. In specific embodiments, the FasL-engineered biomaterials are biotinylated microgels bound to SA-FasL.