Abstract: A method for attaching at least one optical fiber to a chip includes the steps of: providing at least one nanowaveguide of a chip including at least one nanowaveguide end to be attached to at least one off-chip fiber respectively; forming at least one oxide taper over or adjacent to each of the at least one nanowaveguide end; cleaving at least one fiber end; aligning the chip so that an end face of each of the at least one oxide taper is mechanically aligned substantially adjacent to each corresponding cleaved fiber end; and fusing each of the at least one oxide taper with each of the at least one fiber end respectively to modally couple each of the nanowaveguides to each of the at least one fiber end via each of the oxide tapers. A device for attaching at least one optical fiber to a chip is also described.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions related to the targeting of, e.g., therapeutic agents and uses thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for inputting information into a computer includes a 3d sensor that senses 3d information and produces a 3d output. The apparatus includes a 2d sensor that senses 2d information and produces a 2d output. The apparatus includes a processing unit which receives the 2d and 3d output and produces a combined output that is a function of the 2d and 3d output. A method for inputting information into a computer. The method includes the steps of producing a 3d output with a 3d sensor that senses 3d information. There is the step of producing a 2d output with a 2d sensor that senses 2d information. There is the step of receiving the 2d and 3d output at a processing unit. There is the step of producing a combined output with the processing unit that is a function of the 2d and 3d output.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a modulator configured to oversample an input signal generated from an output signal of a transducer; and a filter configured to perform a decimation operation on an output from the modulator and a frequency characteristics correction operation according to a filter control signal on the output from the modulator, wherein the frequency characteristics correction operation is performed to complement a frequency characteristics of the output signal of the transducer such that overall frequency characteristics of the transducer and the filter be flat in a signal band.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for increasing the stability of an engineered protein by halogenating at least one amino acid residue of the protein to form a stabilizing hydrogen bond-enhanced halogen bond (HeX-B).

Abstract: A noninvasive mid-infrared in vivo glucose sensor for use in connection with the skin of a test subject is disclosed. The sensor includes a mid-infrared light source configured to deliver a light beam to the skin of the test subject, a collector element configured to collect backscattered light from the skin and direct it to the detector, and a detector element configured to measure the collected backscattered light from the skin. The mid-infrared light source may be a quantum cascade laser. The sensor may include optical fibers configured to deliver the light beam to the skin of the test subject. The collector element may be an integrating sphere or a bundle of two or more optical fibers. The sensor may also include a probe containing or connecting to optical fibers coupled to the mid-infrared light source and configured to be placed on the skin to take glucose level readings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antibody against C5, and a method for preventing and treating complement-related diseases using the antibody, wherein the antibody against C5 is effectively usable in preventing and treating complement-related diseases by inhibiting complement activation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel nucleoside derivative or a salt thereof, a polynucleotide synthesis reagent, a method for producing a polynucleotide, a polynucleotide, and a method for producing a binding nucleic acid molecule. The nucleoside derivative or a salt thereof of the present invention is represented by the following chemical formula (1). In the chemical formula (1), Su is an atomic group having a sugar skeleton at a nucleoside residue or an atomic group having a sugar phosphate skeleton at a nucleotide residue, and may or may not have a protecting group, L1 and L2 are each independently a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, X1 is an imino group (—NR1—), an ether group (—O—), or a thioether group (—S—), and R1 is a hydrogen atom or a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, a tensegrity robot includes a plurality of compressive members; and a plurality of interconnecting tensile members connected to the plurality of compressive members to form a spatially defined structure without the plurality of compressive members forming direct load-transmitting connections with each other. The plurality of interconnecting tensile members forms a lattice, and the lattice comprises an elastic material.

Abstract: A whittling proxy system can receive a target web page that includes a plurality of Javascript functions and a plurality of objects needed to load the target web page. The system can determine a target Javascript function of the plurality of Javascript functions to be tested for a whittling capability. The system can generate a full version and a partial version of the target web page. The full version includes all of the plurality of Javascript functions. The partial version includes the plurality of Javascript functions excluding the target Javascript function. The system can conduct a test to determine a first page signature associated with the full version and a second page signature associated with the partial version. The system can determine if the first page signature matches the second page signature, and if so, can determine that the target Javascript function can be whittled.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating symptoms of conditions such as but not limited to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The methods may feature direct intraarticular injection of a recombinant self-complementary adeno-associated virus (sc-rAAV) with a vector adapted to express a modified IL-1Ra peptide. The methods of the present invention may express a therapeutically effective amount of the modified IL-1Ra peptide so as to ameliorating symptoms associated with the condition being treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently H, halogen, CF3 or C1-C4 alkyl, wherein two or more of R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 are other than H; R6 is H, OH, or halogen; and B is a substituted or unsubstituted heterobicycle, wherein when R1 is CF3, R2 is H, R3 is F, R4 is H, and R5 is H, or R1 is H, R2 is CF3, R3 is H, R4 is CF3, and R5 is H, or R1 is Cl, R2 is H, R3 is H, R4 is F, and R5 is H, or R1 is CF3, R2 is H, R3 is F, R4 is H, and R5 is H, or R1 is CF3, R2 is F, R3 is H, R4 is H, and R5 is H, or R1 is Cl, R2 is F, R3 is H, R4 is H, and R5 is H, then B is other than or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a cyber-physical system for providing cloud prediction for photovoltaic array control are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method of preparing hydrophobic porous silica includes adding an alcohol to a solvent in which a porous silica particle including a hydrophilic group is dispersed and stirring the same to form a mixture, drying the mixture including the porous silica particle in a vacuum, and condensation reacting the hydrophilic group of the porous silica particle with the alcohol on the surface of the porous silica particle to modify the surface of the porous silica particle to be hydrophobic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-stage fracturing sliding sleeve, with a fracturing ring, a ball seat bearing, a first sliding ring and a limiting ring arranged from top to bottom along a fracturing pipe. All of the fracturing ring, the ball seat bearing and the first sliding ring are in sliding connection with the fracturing pipe, and the fracturing ring forms plugging by sealing fracturing holes in the fracturing pipe in a natural state; the ball seat bearing and the fracturing pipe are connected through first shear pins; a first spring is arranged between the first sliding ring and the limiting ring; the limiting ring limits the axial position of the first sliding ring; multi-blade ball seats are arranged in the ball seat bearing. With a two-stage shear structure, the structure is simplified, and multi-stage fracturing construction can be realized without reducing the inner diameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing melanoma with S-equol. The S-equol may be administered alone or in combination with one or more cytotoxic or immunotherapeutic compound or molecule.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the pressure of an injection site, utilizing a fluid operating in the laminar regime flowing through a calibrated tube, and measuring a pressure at one end of the calibrated tube with a pressure sensor, as well as a fluid velocity with a flow sensor, such as an elastic filament velocimeter, that comprises a nano-scale sensing element. Additional elements may be utilized, including the use of data acquisition units, processors, user interfaces, pumps, syringes, and control loops.

Abstract: Methods for decreasing rod gene expression in a retina, methods for decreasing the protein products expressed by rod genes in a retina, methods for treating a disease or condition treatable by decreasing rod gene expression or their protein products in a retina, and methods for treating a retinal disease in a subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are imidazolium polymers having steric hindrance at the 4-position of the imidazole moieties in the polymeric chain. The sterically-protected, N-methylated imidazolium polymers exhibit hydroxide stability in concentrated caustic solutions at elevated temperatures, such as at 100° C. and higher.

Abstract: Provided are a novel compound having CDK8 and/or CDK19 inhibitory activity, and a production method for Tregs. The treatment of T cells with a CDK8 and/or CDK19 inhibitor induces Foxp3 in the T cells. Foxp3+ T cells can be induced by treating Foxp3? T cells with the CDK8 and/or CDK19 inhibitor in vitro. Thus, Tregs can be induced.