Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the targeting of transcriptional activators to specific loci in plants to activate transcription of the targeted loci. Specifically, the present disclosure provides methods and compositions for using guided (e.g. RNA-guided) transcriptional activators to activate transcription of specific loci in plants.

Abstract: An autoinjector is described that includes an outer body, a first trigger, an output needle, and a first compartment. The first compartment is positioned within the outer body and includes (i) a main body, (ii) a first biasing member coupled to the first trigger, and (iii) a protrusion positioned at a distal end of the main body. The autoinjector further includes a second compartment positioned in the outer body and in fluid communication with the first compartment and the output needle. The autoinjector also includes a second biasing member coupled to a second trigger. The first biasing member is configured to, upon application of force to the first trigger, automatically move an ampule in a distal direction relative to the main body to force the ampule against the protrusion, so as to break the ampule and allow a medicament to flow from the ampule to the second compartment.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an application liquid for forming a semiconductor film, the application liquid comprising: an inorganic semiconductor particle; and a compound having a relative permittivity of 2 or more or a compound having reducing power against the inorganic semiconductor particle; a method for producing a semiconductor film comprising a step of applying the application liquid; a semiconductor film and a semiconductor element comprising the semiconductor film; and a method for producing the semiconductor element.

Abstract: A systematic procedure for the synthesis of hybrid feedforward control architectures for pulse-width modulated (PWM) switching converters is provided. In this hybrid feedforward control architecture selected converter variables are sensed and utilized in a particular way based on the converter open-loop characteristics to determine the duty-cycle needed to achieve a control objective. Compared to standard feedback control techniques, advantages can include simpler controller implementation, more convenient sensing, and improved static and dynamic regulation. An example systematic procedure for developing hybrid feedforward controllers is illustrated by first considering a previously known example of hybrid feedforward control: hybrid feedforward control of a boost power factor correction (PFC) rectifier operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM).

Abstract: An in vivo motion tracking device tracking an in vivo motion that is a tracking target included in an ultrasonic image includes an image acquiring unit that is configured to acquire an ultrasonic image, an advance learning unit that is configured to perform advance learning using the ultrasonic image as learning data, and a tracking unit that is configured to track a position of the tracking target in an ultrasonic image including the tracking target after the advance learning performed by the advance learning unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variant AAV capsid polypeptides, wherein the variant capsid polypeptides exhibit an enhanced neutralization profile, increased transduction and/or tropism in human liver tissue or hepatocyte cells (i.e., human hepatocyte cells), or both, as compared non-variant parent capsid polypeptides.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to chlorine-resistant filtration membranes comprising n-alkyl substituted polyaniline derivatives for use in, for example, water purification, and methods for making and using same. 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: Provided is a fusion protein comprising an agonist for CD40 and an agonist for OX40. Compositions comprising the fusion protein and methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: An auditory signal processor includes a filter bank generating frequency components of a source audio signal; a spatial localization network operative in response to the frequency components to generate spike trains for respective spatially separated components of the source audio signal; a cortical network operative in response to the spike trains to generate a resultant spike train for selected spatially separated components of the source audio signal; and a stimulus reconstruction circuit that processes the resultant spike train to generate a reconstructed audio output signal for a target component of the source audio signal. The cortical network incorporates top-down attentional inhibitory modulation of respective spatial channels to produce the resultant spike train for the selected spatially separate components of the source audio signal, and the stimulus reconstruction circuit employs convolution of a reconstruction kernel with the resultant spike train to generate the reconstructed audio output.

Abstract: A method for growing carbon nanotubes is provided. A reactor including a reactor chamber and a substrate located in the reactor chamber is provide. The substrate is a hollow structure including a sidewall and a bottom. The hollow structure also defines an opening. The sidewall includes a carbon nanotube layer and catalyst particles dispersed in the carbon nanotube layer. A mixture of carbon source gas and carrier gas is introduced into the reactor chamber so that the mixture of carbon source gas and carrier gas flows into the hollow structure from the opening and out of the hollow structure through the sidewall. The hollow structure is heated.

Abstract: The measuring cup includes numerous embodiments configured for a user to precisely determine the cup contents without need to lift the cup to one's eye level or to lower the eye level to the level of the cup contents. The various embodiments include folding cups; cups having transparent passages in the wall; cups having adjustably positionable bottoms; cups having level indicator rods in the cup interior extending upward from the cup bottom; cups having one or more filaments extending across the cup interior; cups having rigid level indicators spanning the cup interior; cups having adjustably positionable level indicator tabs therein; cups having buoyant level indicator tabs adjustably positionable in the cup interior; and cups having removable clip-on scales extending down along the interior of the cup wall, the scales having a plurality of attachment points for the removable attachment of a level indicator tab at a desired attachment point.

Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for adjusting a size of a slide ring aperture for a musical instrument. Embodiments include a trumpet slide ring spacer adapted to be mounted on an instrument and retained within a valve slide ring.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides antibacterial prodrugs and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an economical standalone system that replaces conventional monomer purification methods needed to perform chemical reactions that require reactants with a high degree of purity. Chemical reactions, such as anionic polymerization, can produce highly monodisperse homopolymers and block copolymers, however to do so they require very high purity reactants along with a moisture and oxygen free atmosphere. The system and method uses traditional column purification methods, but incorporates them into an economical, standalone, compact, and hazard free system. This method is different in view of safety, cost of cleaning procedure, time commitment, space availability, design and operational ease; helping researchers save time by cutting down the operating commitment by 90% and most importantly making it safer.

Abstract: Universal linear components are provided. In general, a P input and Q output wave combiner is connected to a Q input and R output wave mode synthesizer via Q amplitude and/or phase modulators. The wave combiner and wave mode synthesizer are both linear, reciprocal and lossless. The wave combiner and wave mode synthesizer can be implemented using waveguide technology. This device can provide any desired linear transformation of spatial modes between its inputs and its outputs. This capability can be generalized to any linear transformation by using representation converters to convert other quantities to spatial mode patterns. The wave combiner and wave mode synthesizer are also useful separately, and can enable applications including self-adjusting mode coupling, optimal multi-mode communication, and add-drop capability in a multi-mode system. Control of the wave combiner and wave mode synthesizer can be implemented with single-variable optimizations.

Abstract: Provided herein is a soft tissue mimetic formed from a block copolymer hydrogel and methods of making such. The hydrogel comprises a glass formed from a dry blend of polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS) in a molar ratio from between 95:5 and 1:99 SO/SOS and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/SO-SOS by weight. The soft tissue mimetic has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for classifying a region of interest of a subject, including receiving imaging data comprising at least one image element, the imaging data comprising the region of interest of the subject; providing a plurality of atlases, each of the plurality of atlases having a candidate region that corresponds to the region of interest of the imaging data, each of the plurality of atlases having at least one image element with associated location and property information; co-registering the plurality of atlases to the imaging data, using at least one processor; assigning a probability to generate a labeling parameter for the region of interest, the probability being associated with each atlas; and classifying the region of interest of the subject based on the assigning.

Abstract: The present invention describes a global metabolomic profile of patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and sepsis. The metabolomic profile of endogenous small molecules blood was determined using mass-spectrometry. The global metabolomic profile in plasma demonstrated broad differences between CAP and sepsis patients when comparing those who do and do not survive at 90 days. Increases in specific metabolite biomarkers displayed on a heat map provide early diagnosis of these medical conditions to allow for early intervention and aggressive treatment.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for scheduling contention-based data transmission in a network system including an access point (AP) and a plurality of terminals. The method includes determining a contention window (CW) size based on the number of terminals connected to the access point, and transmitting information about the contention window size to any one of the plurality of terminals. The apparatus includes a processor and an RF unit. Here, the processor is configured to determine a contention window (CW) size based on the number of terminals connected to the access point, and transmit information on the contention window size to any one of the plurality of terminals through the RF unit.