Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a substrate comprising a transparent material; and an array of transparent active devices disposed on the substrate, wherein each transparent active device comprises a sensing element associated with the transparent active device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to optomechanically couple light to a crystal structure, thereby producing stable, coherent bulk acoustic modes within the structure. In some embodiments, a resonator may comprise a plano-convex crystal structure to which pump light may be applied. The pump light may transfer energy to acoustic phonon modes of the crystal structure so as to create acoustic phonon modes with a coherence length greater than a length of the crystal structure. High frequency and high quality factor resonators may thereby be produced and operated.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits for the characterisation and analysis of proteins. Methods are provided for determining, on a protein, a binding site for a binding partner, the methods comprising: contacting a protein with a plurality of monomers, and polymerising the monomers to create a protein:polymer complex; digesting the protein in the complex to produce a peptide:polymer complex; isolating the peptide:polymer complex; and sequencing the peptide, wherein the peptide corresponds to a binding site for a binding partner.

Abstract: A microscale gas breakdown device includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface define a gap distance. The device includes a perturbation on the first surface or the second surface. The perturbation is defined by a height value and a radius value. The device includes a current source or a voltage source configured to apply a current or a voltage across the first surface and the second surface. In response to the current or the voltage being applied, a resulting discharge travels along a first discharge path in response to being exposed to a high pressure and a second discharge path in response to being exposed to a low pressure.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention utilize principal component analysis (PCA) to detect cough sounds in an audio stream. Comparison of all or portions of the audio stream with a cough model may be conducted. The cough model may include a number of basis vectors may be based on initial portions of known coughs. The initial portions may be non-user specific, and accordingly the cough model may be used to detect coughs across individuals. Moreover, examples of the present invention may reconstruct the cough sounds from stored features such that the cough sounds are reconstructed but the reconstruction techniques used may be insufficient to reconstruct speech sounds that may also have been recorded, which may increase user privacy.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a computer-implemented method of transforming a low-resolution MR image to a high-resolution MR image using a deep CNN-based MRI SR network and a computer-implemented method of transforming an MR image to a pseudo-CT (sCT) image using a deep CNN-based sCT network. The present disclosure further describes a MR image-guided radiation treatment system that includes a computing device to implement the MRI SR and CT networks and to produce a radiation plan based in the resulting high resolution MR images and sCT images.

Abstract: Input unit to which a voltage is applied, current output unit that outputs a high level current or a low level current in response to the voltage applied to input unit, and stochastic circuit unit that, in response to the voltage applied to input unit, changes a probability that the high level current or the low level current is output from current output unit, in accordance with a sigmoid function used in a mathematical model of a neural activity are included.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved pharmaceutical management system and methods implemented by the system for sorting and identifying a medicine via its label and/or package. The method comprises steps of: (1) receiving a plurality of raw images of a package of a medication; (b) juxtaposing two of the plurality of raw images to produce a combined image, in which the two raw images are different from each other; (c) processing the combined image to produce a reference image; and (d) establishing the medication library with the aid of the reference image. The system comprises an image capturing device, an image processor, and a machine learning processor. The image processor is programmed with instructions to execute the method for producing a combined image.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods, referred to herein as surface ablation lathe tomography (SALT), may be capable of providing whole organ tomography to provide 3D imaging. The system may provide a UV source that excites a sample, and a camera may capture imaging of fluorescent emission cause by the excitation. The tissue sample may be treated or stained with an imaging agent, such as fluorescent markers with fluorescently-tagged antibodies. The sample may also be infused with and/or embedded in paraffin wax. The tissue sample embedded in paraffin may be placed on a rotating mechanism that rotates, while the UV source excites a desired region and the camera captures imaging of a thin surface layer or shell of the sample. The system may also provide an ablation mechanism, such as a microtome blade or lathe, to ablate surface of the sample during rotation to allow imaging of subsequent layers of the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of comparative proteomics, in particular to a detection and quantitation method for proteomics of post-translational modifications. With this method, the protein samples to be studied and internal standards are labeled with isobaric tandem mass tags, and tandem mass spectrometry analysis is carried out for the labeled peptide mixture, wherein the internal standard is a peptide mixture rich in post-translational modifications to be detected. Through this method, the signal of peptides containing the post-translational modifications to be detected can be amplified under the situation that mass spectrometer sensitivity is unchanged, and enrichment of the post-translational modification peptides is not needed. The probability of detecting the peptides containing the post-translational modifications to be detected by mass spectrometer and being selected for subsequent MS/MS analysis is increased.

Abstract: Aeromonas hydrophila is a reemerging pathogen of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); recent outbreaks from 2009 to 2014 have caused the loss of more than 12 million pounds of market size catfish in Alabama and Mississippi. Genome sequencing revealed a clonal group of A. hydrophila isolates with unique genetic and phenotypic features that is highly pathogenic in channel catfish. Comparison of the genome sequence of a representative catfish isolate (ML09-119) from this virulent clonal group with lower virulence A. hydrophila isolates revealed four fimbrial proteins unique to strain ML09-119. In this work, we expressed and purified four A. hydrophila fimbrial proteins (FimA, Fim, MrfG, and FimOM) and assessed their ability to protect and stimulate protective immunity in channel catfish fingerlings against A. hydrophila ML09-119 infection for vaccine development. Our results showed catfish immunized with FimA, Fim, FimMrfG, and FimOM exhibited 59.83%, 95.41%, 85.72%, and 75.

Abstract: A binaural audio reproduction system is provided. The binaural audio reproduction system includes a speaker array and a filter matrix. The speaker array includes multiple speakers respectively disposed at multiple predetermined positions. The filter matrix outputs multiple driving signals to control the speakers, so as to produce a predetermined sound response to each of multiple control points within a control space. The driving signals of the filter matrix are determined according to a condition in reaching a match level between the sound response and a target sound response to be obtained at the control points from a virtual speaker array.

Abstract: The invention relates to new strawberry cultivars (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) which have distinct disease/pathogen resistance, yield, appearance, size, and firmness, and which display desirable plant and fruit qualities.

Abstract: A system for training visual acuity includes an audio player and a controller. The audio player includes a database which stores plural pieces of music, and a headphone with which a user listens to the pieces of music so as to stimulate a visual cortex of the user, where each of the pieces of music contains two audio frequency components that have a frequency difference therebetween ranging from 1 to 45 Hz. The controller is electrically connected to the audio player, and is configured to control the audio player to play the pieces of music.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for detecting or determining the severity of myasthenia gravis in a subject. The invention also provides compositions and methods for preventing or treating myasthenia gravis in a subject. In some embodiments, the compositions are peptides that bind to monoclonal antibodies that bind to the main immunogenic region of an acetylcholine receptor, and in some instances block pathogenic antibody combining sites. In other embodiments, the peptides further comprise an antibody heavy chain fragment. Kits for detecting or determining the severity of and preventing or treating myasthenia gravis are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to methods for combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of a cancer. The methods also relate to generating a drug-resistant cytotoxic immune cell line and uses thereof in conjunction with cytotoxic drugs.

Abstract: The invention discloses a multi-stage suspension magnetizing roasting-magnetic separation system and method for refractory iron ore, which belongs to the field of mineral processing technology. This system comprises multistage suspension preheater, multistage suspension oxidizer, multistage suspension redactor, on-line grade analyzer, ore-like splitter, magnetic separator, dust remover, roots blower and other components and connection modes. The refractory iron ore treated by the present method can be produced to homogeneous magnetite or maghemite accurately, and through magnetic separation, on-line grade analyzer detection and ore-like splitter, the concentrate powder which reach the set grade can be obtained, and the unqualified ore powder enters the next stage of oxidation-reduction-magnetic separation-split treatment.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel agents and methods for diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. Also disclosed are related arrays, kits, and screening methods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are expression vectors which display a passenger polypeptide on the outer surface of a biological entity. As disclosed herein the displayed passenger polypeptide is capable of interacting or binding with a given ligand. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the expression vectors. N/C terminal fusion expression vectors and methods of making and using are also disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in a patient with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) comprising administering NAC to a patient after a sample from the patient has been genotyped and determined to be any one of: a) homozygous or heterozygous for a thymine at the single nucleotide polymorphism rs3750920; b) homozygous or heterozygous for guanine at the single nucleotide polymorphism rs5743894; or c) homozygous or heterozygous for thymine at the single nucleotide polymorphism rs35705950.