Abstract: The present inventive concepts relate to an inspection apparatus that snapshots an interference image pattern having a high spatial carrier frequency produced from a one-piece off-axis polarimetric interferometer and that precisely and promptly measures a Stokes vector including spatial polarimetric information. The inspection apparatus dynamically measure in real-time a two-dimensional polarization information without employing a two-dimensional scanner.

Abstract: A multi-purpose imaging and display system includes a display; a detector coupled to the display and having a field of view; and a filter communicating with the detector. The field of view is imaged by the detector through the filter, the filter configured to be sensitive to a first frequency spectrum, so the detector displays only objects within the field of view on the detector that emit one or more frequencies within the first frequency spectrum. The detector and filter can work together in different operational states or modes for acquiring image data of a target object under investigation. A computing device can be included to process acquired image data, and communication interfaces can be employed to achieve networking of multiple systems. A peripheral interface allows a plurality of peripheral devices to be selectively added to tailor the data acquisition and display capabilities of the imaging and display system.

Abstract: An ingestible sensor according to an embodiment includes a sensor, a detector, and a transmitter and to be mixed with food and discharged without being digested or absorbed also when entering the inside of a body. The sensor is configured to detect a predetermined substance disposed inside the body. The detector is configured to detect whether or not the sensor has entered the inside of the body. The transmitter is configured to transmit information of the predetermined substance detected by the sensor to a communication device disposed outside the body based on a detection of an entrance of the sensor into the inside of the body that is made by the detector.

Abstract: A method of casting an aluminum alloy is provided. The method includes casting a master aluminum alloy having a trisilanol phenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (TSP) modifier into an ingot and adding the master aluminum alloy ingot into a molten base aluminum alloy to form a modified aluminum alloy. The modified aluminum alloy is heated for a period of time and then cast into a cast component. A variation of the method includes mixing a powdered aluminum alloy with a powdered TSP and pressing the mixture of powdered TSP and powdered aluminum alloy into a compacted preform prior to casting the master aluminum alloy. The compacted preform is melted during the step of casting the master aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Provided are methods, systems and devices for thermodynamically evaluating electrochemical systems and components thereof, including electrochemical cells such as batteries. The present systems and methods are capable of monitoring selected electrochemical cell conditions, such as temperature, open circuit voltage and/or composition, and carrying out measurements of a number of cell parameters, including open circuit voltage, time and temperature, with accuracies large enough to allow for precise determination of thermodynamic state functions and materials properties relating to the composition, phase, states of charge, health and safety and electrochemical properties of electrodes and electrolytes in an electrochemical cell. Thermodynamic measurement systems of the present invention are highly versatile and provide information for predicting a wide range of performance attributes for virtually any electrochemical system having an electrode pair.

Abstract: An image recovery apparatus and method are provided, where the image recovery apparatus calculates a reference color image based on a linear correlation between a color channel image and a luminance channel image, and corrects the luminance channel image based on residual information that indicates a difference between the reference color image and the color channel image, to recover an image.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire is provided that includes curing the tire (10) in a curing press (12) and applying microwave energy at a given frequency band into the tire. The interaction between the microwave energy and the tire is monitored to obtain a complex reflection coefficient. A root-mean-squared error is calculated using the measured complex reflection coefficient and a reference reflection coefficient. The reference reflection coefficient is from a fully cured tire made from the same material as the tire. Continuous monitoring of the interaction takes place to obtain the complex reflection coefficient along with continuous calculation of the root-mean-squared error at different times during the curing of the tire in the curing press. The calculated root-mean-squared errors are used to determine whether to stop the curing of the tire in the curing press.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mediated diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pancreatitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, mucus formation, comprising administering an effective amount of a 2-amino-N?-benzylidene-acetohydrazide compound or derivative thereof to a subject in need thereof. In certain embodiments, the 2-amino-N?-benzylidene-acetohydrazide compound is ((E)-N?-(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(m-tolylamino)acetohydrazide; or (E)-N?-(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(p-tolylamino)acetohydrazide.

Abstract: A LED-based integral imaging display system as well as its control method and device, including: a parameter matching step: matching the parameters of the lenslet array and LED in the display part of said LED-based integral imaging display system to obtain the display parameters. The display parameters include the basic parameters of the display part, and the corresponding optical imaging models, which match with the basic parameters, in different stereoscopic display modes. A video source acquisition step: according to the display parameters, acquiring the integral imaging video sources required by LED-based integral imaging naked-eye stereoscopic display, which is used for the to-be-displayed 3D image.

Abstract: Described herein are biomimetic Janus particles useful as artificial antigen presenting cells capable of activating T cells in vitro. “Bull's eye” ligand patterns mimicking either the native or reverse organization of the T cell immunological synapse are provided on the surface of nano- or micro-sized particles. Methods for activating T cells in vitro using biomimetic Janus particles described herein are also provided. T cells activated by the biomimetic Janus particles can be used in adoptive immunotherapies for treating cancer, tolerance induction in autoimmune disease, autologous immune enhancement therapy, and viral infection immunotherapy. Also described herein are methods for producing a biomimetic Janus particle.

Abstract: A video encoding and decoding method and apparatus are provided. The video encoding method includes: obtaining a first statistical characteristic of previous K frames of images of a video sequence; determining a first background frame; determining, according to the first statistical characteristic, a QP used for encoding the first background frame; encoding the first background frame according to the QP, to obtain a first background long-term reference frame; and encoding the (K+1)th frame of image of the video sequence to the (K+L)th frame of image of the video sequence according to the first background long-term reference frame. When encoding is performed on the (K+1)th frame of image of the video sequence to the (K+L)th frame of image of the video sequence, the used QP for encoding the background long-term reference frame is determined according to the first statistical characteristic related to video content of the previous K frames of images.

Abstract: A metal ion detection equipment and a metal ion detection method are provided. The metal ion detection equipment includes a porous silicon resonant cavity structure, an electrochemical device and a spectrum detecting device. A sample solution permeates into the porous silicon resonant cavity structure. A to-be-detected metal ion of the sample solution in the porous silicon resonant cavity structure is reduced into a to-be-detected metal by the electrochemical device. The spectrum detecting device detects a spectral variation of a reflective light from the porous silicon resonant cavity structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a copper alloy according to the present invention comprises (a) weighing a copper powder and one of a Cu—Zr master alloy and a ZrH2 powder such that an alloy composition of Cu-xZr (x is the atomic % of Zr, and 0.5?x?8.6 is satisfied) is obtained and pulverizing and mixing the copper powder and the one of the Cu—Zr master alloy and the ZrH2 powder in an inert atmosphere until an average particle diameter D50 falls within the range of from 1 ?m to 500 ?m to thereby obtain a powder mixture; and (b) subjecting the powder mixture to spark plasma sintering by holding the powder mixture at a prescribed temperature lower than eutectic temperature while the powder mixture is pressurized at a pressure within a prescribed range.

Abstract: Nonlinear ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclose. In one aspect, a nonlinear ultrasound imaging system includes a first transducer configured to transmit a first ultrasound signal along a scan line, a second transducer configured to sweep a second ultrasound signal along the scan line such that the first and second ultrasound signals intersect at a plurality of voxels, and a third transducer configured to receive echoes associated with interactions of the first and second ultrasound signals at the plurality of voxels. The nonlinear ultrasound imaging system further includes a processor configured to generate an ultrasound image based on the echoes.

Abstract: This document describes systems and methods for controlling an exoskeleton. The system receives a measurement of a first torque applied to a rotational joint coupling a first component to a second component, the first torque being applied by a motor via a cable. The system determines, based on the measurement of the first torque, a first portion of a second torque to apply to the rotational joint. The system determines, based on the measurement of the first torque, a second portion of the second torque to apply to the rotational joint. The system determines a value of the second torque to apply to the rotational joint based on the first portion and the second portion. The system controls the motor for applying the second torque to the rotational joint via the cable.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating hyperlipidemia and/or hypercholesterolemia comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an MTP inhibitor to inhibit hyperlipidemia and/or hypercholesterolemia in said subject, wherein said administration comprises an escalating series of doses of the MTP inhibitor. In some embodiments the method comprises administering at least three step-wise, increasing dosages of the MTP inhibitor to the subject. In some embodiments, the method further comprises the administration of one or more other lipid modifying compounds.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) shields used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus may experience gradient field induced eddy currents and RF field induced eddy currents. These eddy currents can cause the RF shield to heat up at an undesirable rate. RF shields are designed to have a desired degree of RF shielding and a desired heating attribute. Design goals for RF shields include gradient field transparency and RF field opacity, both of which can be influenced by eddy currents. Example methods identify a gradient field that will induce eddy currents and identify an RF field that will induce eddy currents. If a region on the RF shield is identified where the desired heating attribute will not be achieved, then a pattern of axial cuts and azimuthal cuts can be made in the RF shield to reduce gradient eddy current heating in the RF shield while maintaining desired RF shielding.

Abstract: Methods and kits for determining, predicting, or diagnosing pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and for determining the efficacy of PAH therapy using biomarkers are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an antibacterial compound of formula I: or a salt thereof, as well as an antibacterial compound of formula II: or a salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, X, Y and n have any of the values defined in the specification.

Abstract: A method for transmitting downlink data in a multicast scheme by a base station in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first request signal requesting first data from a first user equipment (UE), receiving a second request signal requesting second data from a second UE, generating a transmission message by applying an exclusive OR (XOR) operation to the first data and the second data, and transmitting the transmission message to the first UE and the second UE in the multicast scheme.