Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for photoacoustic imaging for guiding medical procedures. A transducer is placed near the site of the procedure. The optical fiber, coupled to an electromagnetic source, such as a laser, is attached to a medical device. During the procedure, the device and optical fiber are inserted into the procedure site where the optical fiber illuminates the procedure site, which has a thickness of approximately 2 mm. Photoacoustic images are acquired to visualize the procedure site as the procedure is proceeding in order to provide real-time guidance. This system is applicable to multiple surgical and interventional procedures, such as transsphenoidal surgery.

Abstract: Provided are a control method for a wireless power transfer apparatus considering interference in wireless powered communication networks, and a wireless power transfer apparatus. The control method of the wireless power transfer apparatus includes: performing, by at least one wireless power transfer apparatus, a distributed coordination function (DCF) based contention process with at least one wireless communication terminal; and transmitting, by the wireless power transfer apparatus which won in the DCF based contention process, an energy frame to the at least one wireless communication terminal.

Abstract: An atrial appendage closure device is provided that includes an insertion rod having a first end and a second end. An occluding member having an outer surface and an inner surface is connected to the first end of the insertion rod. The occluding member is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position such that, in the deployed position, the occluding member is configured to provide a seal between a left atrial appendage and a left atrium of a heart. An anchoring member is further connected to the insertion rod and is configured to slide along the insertion rod to secure the device to a wall of a left atrial appendage. Methods for occluding a left atrial appendage that make use of the closure devices are also provided.

Abstract: Polymeric systems useful for theranostic applications are disclosed. The polymeric systems comprise a fluorescent or fluorogenic moiety and a therapeutically active agent, each attached to the same or different polymeric moiety. The polymeric systems are designed such that a fluorescent signal is generated in response to a chemical event, preferably upon contacting an analyte (e.g., an enzyme) that is over-expressed in a diseased tissue or organ. Probes useful for inclusion in such polymeric systems, processes of preparing such probes and the polymeric systems, and uses thereof in diagnostic and/or theranostic applications are also disclosed.

Abstract: The embodiment described herein are related nanoemulsions comprising botulinum toxins. In one embodiment, the nanoemulsions are prepared by high pressure microfluidization and comprise a particle size distribution exclusively between 10 and 300 nm. The nanoemulsions contemplated by the present invention are useful for the cosmetic and medical treatment of muscular contracture states. For example, botulinum toxin may relax facial muscles such that skin wrinkles become smoother and less noticeable. Further, the present invention contemplates a cosmetic formulation that may be self-administered, for example, in the privacy of one's home and without medical supervision.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to new compositions of matter that comprise phosphorescent reporters. In some embodiments, the phosphorescent reporters of the present disclosure comprise strontium aluminate. In some embodiments, the strontium aluminate is doped with europium and dysprosium (SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+). Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the aforementioned phosphorescent reporters. In some embodiments, the method includes size reduction of inorganic phosphorescent powders through a combination of wet milling and settling. In additional embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of detecting the phosphorescent reporters in various settings, such as diagnostic settings.

Abstract: An enzyme protein that allows production of an optically active ?-hydroxyamino acid, specifically a monooxygenase having two kinds of hetero (different) subunits. Also, systems and methods using the monooxygenases.

Abstract: An apparatus measures the transverse profile of vectorial optical field beams, including both the phase and the polarization spatial profile. The apparatus contains a polarization separation module, a weak perturbation module, and a detection module. Characterizing the transverse profile of vector fields provides an optical metrology tool for both fundamental studies of vectorial optical fields and a wide spectrum of applications, including microscopy, surveillance, imaging, communication, material processing, and laser trapping.

Abstract: Protein biomarkers may be used to rapidly and accurately diagnose stroke. Biomarkers may be utilized in a rapid and inexpensive test that could be used at the bedside or ambulatory setting to definitively indicate the presence or absence of stroke and its severity. Such a test would quickly stratify patients in need of immediate stroke treatment from those who are not having a stroke. The test may aid emergency personnel in the decision for the most appropriate treatment plan and treatment location, thereby minimizing morbidity and mortality of stroke patients.

Abstract: For wireless communication method, a to-be-transmitting signal is divided into (n+1) packets using a key pre-agreed to by a transmitter and a receiver, where n is a positive integer. The to-be-transmitted signal comprising a regular signal and a tag signal, said tag signal forming an authentication signal. When the difference between received amplitude values of the regular signal and tag signal fail to meet a first pre-determined requirement, a first power parameter adjustment factor is determined for the n packets preceding an (n+1)th packet and a second power parameter adjustment factor is determined for the (n+1)th packet, as well as an energy-limited condition of the to-be-transmitted signal power. The transmitted power of the respective (n+1) packets is then adjusted according to the corresponding power parameter adjustment factor before the to-be-transmitted signal is transmitted.

Abstract: A rotation monitoring system may be attached to a limb and can identify ranges of motion that are associated with injuries or poor performance. In some embodiments, the device is designed to monitor flexion and orientation of joints and limbs, developed specifically around identifying stress concentrating behavior on the ACL. Tests performed show that the designed device can read flexion and orientation of the knee, is durable enough to be used in real-world conditions, and does not impede on the subject's movements.

Abstract: Virtual redundancy for active-standby cloud applications is disclosed herein. A virtual machine (“VM”) placement scheduling system is disclosed herein. The system can compute, for each standby VM of a plurality of available standby VMs, a minimum required placement overlap delta to meet an entitlement assurance rate (“EAR”) threshold. The system can compute a minimum number of available VM slots for activating each standby VM to meet the EAR threshold. For each standby VM of a given application, the system can filter out any server of a plurality of servers that does not meet criteria. If a given server meets the criteria, the system can add the given server to a candidate list; sort, in descending order, the candidate list by the minimum required placement overlap delta and the number of available virtual machine slots; and select, from the candidate list of servers, a candidate server from atop the candidate list.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband CTS flat-plate array antenna includes a radiating layer, a mode switching layer and a feed network layer sequentially arrayed from top to bottom. The mode switching layer comprises a first metal plate and a mode switching cavity formed in the first metal plate and including two mode switching units which are arranged left and right and each includes eight H-plane Y-type single-ridge waveguide power dividers arrayed in 4 rows and 2 columns. The H-plane Y-type single-ridge waveguide power divider in the mth row and 1st column is bilaterally symmetrical with the H-plane Y-type single-ridge waveguide power divider in the mth row and 2nd column. The two H-plane Y-type single-ridge waveguide power dividers in the each row are connected through an E-plane T-type single-ridge waveguide power divider. A center distance between every two adjacent H-plane Y-type single-ridge waveguide power dividers in each column is not over one wavelength.

Abstract: A machine learning method and a machine learning device are provided. The machine learning method includes: receiving an input signal and performing normalization on the input signal; transmitting the normalized input signal to a convolutional layer; and adding a sparse coding layer after the convolutional layer, wherein the sparse coding layer uses dictionary atoms to reconstruct signals on a projection of the normalized input signal passing through the convolutional layer, and the sparse coding layer receives a mini-batch input to refresh the dictionary atoms.

Abstract: A light-harvesting material comprises a perovskite absorber doped with a metal chalcogenide. The light-harvesting material may be used in a photovoltaic device, comprising (1) a first conductive layer, (2) an optional blocking layer, on the first conductive layer, (3) a semiconductor layer, on the first conductive layer, (4) a light-harvesting material, on the semiconductor layer, (5) a hole transport material, on the light-harvesting material, and (6) a second conductive layer, on the hole transport material.

Abstract: The disclosed devices utilize nonlinearly coupled modes of vibration to provide robust inertial sensors, such as gyroscopes. This actuation mechanism introduces a wider bandwidth in the sense-mode frequency response curve, and consequently enhances robustness to parameter fluctuations due to operating conditions and fabrication imperfections. The vibratory modes of the device are designed to have distinct frequencies where the drive-mode natural frequency is twice the modal frequency of the sense mode. The nonlinear modal interaction due to internal resonance can also be magnified through nonlinearity feedback. The sense mode response can be enhanced in shape, quality factor, and bandwidth by feeding back nonlinear quadratic, cubic, etc. terms.

Abstract: A metal organic framework includes metal-containing secondary building units and perfluorinated linkers (e.g., pefluorinated arene linkers, perfluorinated heteroarene linkers, etc.). The metal may be copper, zinc, hafnium, zirconium, aluminum, gallium, or indium. A method for removing contaminants from wastewater may utilize the metal organic framework. The contaminants may include arenes.

Abstract: A dynamic multi-objective task allocation system within robotic networks that assigns tasks in real-time as they are detected, the system including a sensing device that detects a trigger event, the trigger event being associated with a task to be performed, and transmits a broadcast signal to a designated robotic network, the robotic network including one or more robots, the broadcast signal including information associated with the task to be performed, the trigger event, the task to be performed, and a location where the task is to be performed; and a distribution robot that receives broadcast signal from the sensing device, assigns itself a self-score associated with performing the task, transmits, to one or more receiving robots within the robotic network, a request for submission of an assessment score of each one of the one or more robots, and determines which robot is assigned to perform the task.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or treating a muscle disorder, which includes a chrysanthemum extract or 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid as an active ingredient, and specifically, it may be used to reduce mRNA expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1, which are main biomarkers involved in muscle protein degradation and increase mRNA expression of the mTOR protein, which is a main biomarker involved in muscle protein formation, and myogenin and MyoD, which are biomarkers related to muscle differentiation, thereby reducing muscle loss, and thus the chrysanthemum extract or 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid can be used in prevention and treatment of a muscle disorder, or improvement in muscle function. In addition, the chrysanthemum extract or 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid increases the activity of SIRT1 and PGC-1?, which are the main biomarkers involved in exercise performance, thereby excellently enhancing exercise performance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition comprising at least one cellulose material (such as a cellulose nanomaterial) and an optional inorganic salt component. Some embodiments of the composition can further comprise additional components, with some embodiments further comprising a non-starch polysaccharide (e.g., methyl cellulose carboxymethyl cellulose or other cellulose derivative, chitosan, or the like), a surfactant, a plasticizer, an antimicrobial component, or any combination thereof. The disclosed compositions are useful for forming edible coatings/films on plants, plant parts, and other objects. The disclosed compositions and coatings/films made using the compositions are effective at protecting fresh and processed produce and other substances and products, from various different types of food processing damage (and the deleterious effects associated therewith).