Abstract: The following disclosure generally relates to methods of culturing podocytes in vitro. The cultures can be used for drug screening (such as medium or high throughput drug screening), and for studying molecular pathways involved in glomerular diseases. The disclosure also provides methods for analyzing the healthiness of podocytes in a cell culture. The disclosure also relates to diagnosis of kidney diseases.

Abstract: Mixed allergen compositions of one, two or more different allergens are provided. In some instances, the mixed allergen compositions include: a nut allergen; an animal allergen; and at least one of: a non-nut plant allergen; a biotic agent; and a vitamin. Also provided are methods of administering the mixed allergen compositions to a subject. The mixed allergen compositions find use in a variety of applications, including health maintenance, immune balance, gut balance, immune support, health improvement and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A method and system for video frame interpolation based on an optical flow method is disclosed. The process includes calculating bidirectional motion vectors between two adjacent frames in a frame sequence of input video by using the optical flow method, judging reliabilities of the bidirectional motion vectors between the two adjacent frames, and processing a jagged problem and a noise problem in the optical flow method; marking “shielding” and “exposure” regions in the two adjacent frames, and updating an unreliable motion vector; with regard to the two adjacent frames, according to marking information about the “shielding” and “exposure” regions and the bidirectional motion vector field, mapping front and back frames to an interpolated frame to obtain a forward interpolated frame and a backward interpolated frame; synthesizing the forward interpolated frame and the backward interpolated frame into the interpolated frame; repairing a hole point in the interpolated frame to obtain a final interpolated frame.

Abstract: Microcavity arrays and methods for quantitative biochemical and biophysical analysis of populations of biological variants. Examples include high-throughput analysis of cells and protein products use a range of fluorescent assays, including binding-affinity measurement and time-resolved enzyme assays. Laser-based extraction of microcavity contents.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for modulating expression of genes that function at the step of ER to Golgi trafficking. Compounds that modulate expression of these genes or activity of the encoded proteins can be used to inhibit alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity and used to treat or prevent synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease. Also disclosed are methods of identifying inhibitors of alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus performs multi-channel calibration acquisitions using a multi-channel receiver array and uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) to compute an estimated profile map that characterizes properties of the multi-channel receiver array. The profile map is composed of orthogonal vectors and transforms single-channel image space data to multi-channel image space data. The MRI apparatus performs a prospectively subsampled imaging acquisition and processes the resulting k-space data using the estimated profile map to reconstruct a final image. The CNN may be pretrained in an unsupervised manner using subsampled simulated multi-channel calibration acquisitions and using a regularization function included in a training loss function.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a patient having target cells that express FcyRIIb, the method comprising administering (i) an antibody molecule that specifically binds a surface antigen of the target cell, which antibody molecule has an Fc domain capable of binding FcyRIIb; in combination with (ii) an agent that prevents or reduces binding between the Fc domain of the antibody molecule and FcyRIIb; characterized in that the patient is selected on the basis that their target cells express an elevated level of FcyRIIb.

Abstract: There are provided, inter alia, methods for decreasing mucus elasticity or decreasing mucus viscosity in a subject in need thereof, the methods including administering to the subject an effective amount of a thiosaccharide mucolytic agent, and compounds and pharmaceutical compositions useful for the methods.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first battery configured to output power at a first voltage, a second battery configured to output power at a second voltage, and a direct current (DC)-DC converter configured to convert the first voltage of the first battery to the second voltage and supply power at the second voltage to the second battery. The DC-DC converter includes a transformer, at least one switch, at least one rectifying diode, and a snubber circuit. The transformer is configured to transform the first voltage to the second voltage. The at least one switch is configured to control a first current input to the transformer from the first battery. The at least one rectifying diode is configured to rectify an alternate current (AC) output from the transformer. The snubber circuit is configured to prevent overvoltage from being applied to the at least one rectifying diode.

Abstract: A method for administering citrulline to a patient during surgery without filtration of the hemolysis.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods to assemble genomes of eukaryotic or prokaryotic organisms. The disclosure further provides methods for haplotype phasing and meta-genomics assemblies.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices including two-dimensional (2D) materials and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer including layers of a 2D material, and an intercalation material between the layers of the 2D material. The semiconductor device may further include a first conductive layer on a first surface of the semiconductor layer and a second conductive layer on a second surface of the semiconductor layer that is opposite the first surface. A portion of the 2D material may have a first crystalline structure, and another portion of the 2D material may have a second crystalline structure that is different from the first crystalline structure. The 2D material may include a metal chalcogenide-based material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carrier for use in single molecule detection. The carrier includes a flexible substrate and a metal layer on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a base and a bulge pattern located on a surface of the base. The bulge pattern includes a number of strip-shaped bulges intersecting with each other to form a net and define a number of recesses. The metal layer is located on the bulge pattern. The carrier for use in single molecule detection has a relative higher SERS and can enhance the Raman scattering.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a device for characterizing a thin film, including a conducting or insulating substrate, an active layer on the conducting or insulating substrate to be characterized, and a plurality of stripline electrodes on the active layer. The plurality of stripline electrodes include a pitch width of a same order as the thickness of the active layer and strip width smaller than the thickness of the active layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and non-transitory computer readable medium method are described for identifying the phase fractions and flow-rate of a petroleum carrying pipeline with three-phase wavy-stratified flow. A set of semi-cylindrical electrodes are mounted on the internal surface of a pipe to monitor the total capacitance and resistance of the three-phase contents. The phase fractions are determined by relating the resistance and capacitance to the phase-angles associated with the interfaces between water, oil and gas phases of the mixture. To calculate the flow rate, measured capacitances from two sets of electrodes with known separation distance are cross-correlated to determine time delay. Communications circuitry transmits the measurements to a remote control center for monitoring. Calculated and measured results demonstrate close agreement. The percentage error exhibited by the proposed inclined capacitive plate technique is calculated and compared with published values.

Abstract: A three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D GMOT) configured to trap a cold-atom cloud is disclosed. The 3D GMOT includes a single input light beam having its direction along a first axis, an area along a second and third axis that are both normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile extending across its area. The 3D GMOT may also include a circular, diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis and having closely adjacent grooves arranged concentrically around a gap formed in its center. The circular, diffraction-grating surface is configured to diffract first-order light beams that intersect within an intersection region that lies directly above the gap and suppresses reflections and diffractions of all other orders. The 3D GMOT may further include a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero within the intersection region.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device may include a substrate, a photoactive layer disposed on the substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode respectively connected to corresponding edges of the photoactive layer. The photoactive layer may include a first oxide semiconductor layer on the substrate, and a plurality of quantum dot layers and a plurality of second oxide semiconductor layers that are alternately formed on the first oxide semiconductor layer.

Abstract: This document describes a data processing system for processing a speech signal for voice-based profiling. The data processing system segments the speech signal into a plurality of segments, with each segment representing a portion of the speech signal. For each segment, the data processing system generates a feature vector comprising data indicative of one or more features of the portion of the speech signal represented by that segment and determines whether the feature vector comprises data indicative of one or more features with a threshold amount of confidence. For each of a subset of the generated feature vectors, the system processes data in that feature vector to generate a prediction of a value of a profile parameter and transmits an output responsive to machine executable code that generates a visual representation of the prediction of the value of the profile parameter.

Abstract: Various light emitting diode device embodiments that include emissive material elements, e.g., core-shell quantum dots, that are either (i) provided in nanoscale holes provided in an insulating layer positioned between an electron supply/transport layer and a hole supply/transport layer, or (ii) provided on a suspension layer positioned above and covering a nanoscale hole in such an insulating layer. Also, various methods of making such light emitting diode devices, including lithographic and non-lithographic methods.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving channel-related information. A method for allowing a terminal to transmit channel-related information according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: receiving a first signal including data and a reference signal; estimating a modulation order corresponding to a channel state from the first signal; and transmitting channel-related information including a first modulation order indicator (MOI), which indicates the estimated modulation order, to a base station. Accordingly, signals can be efficiently transmitted and received.