Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for optimizing a control process. The method and system comprise using a sensor to generate a feedback signal that represents a measured performance index for an extremum seeking control (ESC) method and sending the feedback signal to an ESC conditioning circuit that applies a logarithmic transformation to the feedback signal to obtain a modified feedback signal. An ESC controller applies the modified feedback signal to the ESC method to generate an output value that is used to control an actuator to maximize the performance of a machine or process.

Abstract: Nanocages are formed by etching nanocubes. The nanocubes are added to an aqueous system having an amphiphilic lipid dissolved in an organic solvent (e.g. a hydrophobic alcohol) to form reverse micelles. As the water evaporates the micelles shrink as etching of the flat surface of the nanocubes occurs. In this fashion hollow nanocages are produced. In one embodiment, the nanocage is covalently attached to a polymer shell (e.g. a dextran shell).

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for detection of cancerous cells from an organ tissue. The system includes a plurality of cells obtained from the organ tissue, a light source for directing light through the plurality of cells and an image sensor for detecting and measuring optical transmission characteristics of the plurality of cells. The proposed method includes modeling the measured optical transmission characteristics using a statistical algorithm and calculating a figure of merit (FOM) for each of the plurality of cells for enhancing identification accuracy of cancerous cells, wherein the FOM is calculated from pole coefficients and locations corresponding to the plurality of cells.

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter relates to an artificial RNA nanostructure molecule and method to treat brain tumor in a subject. More particularly, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to a RNA nanostructure containing a multiple branched RNA nanoparticle, a brain tumor targeting module, and an effective amount of a therapeutic agent. Further, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to a method of using the RNA nanostructure composition to treat brain tumor in a subject having or at risk of having brain tumor.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-functional true triaxial shear test device and method for hard rocks, the device comprises a hydraulic system, a left-end combination tangential loading oil cylinder, a right-end combination tangential loading oil cylinder, a front-end combination lateral loading oil cylinder, a rear-end combination lateral loading oil cylinder, an upper normal loading oil cylinder, a lower normal loading oil cylinder, an annular framework, a lateral auxiliary push-and-pull framework, an annular framework support platform, a horizontal support platform and a test chamber. The stiffness of the device is improved, and besides, a total section stress covering loading manner of the rock samples in a shear process is guaranteed. Through improving a temperature reduction manner of front ends of the oil cylinders, the situation that high temperature does not enable the temperature of hydraulic oil in the oil cylinders to rise to affect normal motion of the actuator can be guaranteed.

Abstract: An all-optical optical parametric oscillator includes a laser module, a temperature control module, a plurality of filters and a beam splitter arranged in sequence. A bulk material or waveguide material is arranged in the temperature control module. Both ends of the bulk material are provided with a first OPO cavity mirror M1? and a second OPO cavity mirror M2?. Each of the first OPO cavity mirror M1? and the second OPO cavity mirror M2? is coated with a high-reflectivity film with respect to an OPO signal light and an OPO idler light, and coated with a high-transmittance film with respect to an OPO pump light, a poling fundamental frequency light and a poling frequency doubled light. The temperature of the material is changed by changing the temperature of the temperature control module to realize temperature tuning of wavelength ?s of the OPO signal light and wavelength ?i of the OPO idler light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a takt system and method for the collaboration of production processes with uncertain time, which relates to the technical field of task collaboration. The present invention measures the collaboration efficiency of the production processes with indices such as estimated wasted time, and calculates the estimated wasted time by the expectation of the weighted sum of wasted time. For the collaboration of the production processes with uncertain time, the propagation of uncertainty factors and occurrence of wasted time in the collaborative production process are limited in a manner of takt. In different scenarios focusing on the collaboration efficiency and completion probability of the production processes, two takt control models are established, and takt solutions for the collaboration of production processes with uncertain time are obtained by solving the models.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing cryptographic authentication within a voice channel are disclosed. The methods and apparatuses can provide cryptographic authentication solely within a voice channel or can use a combination of a voice channel and another data channel. A method for providing cryptographic authentication within a voice channel can operate between telephonic systems and be suitable for operating over G.711/PCMu, AMR and SPEEX™ codecs, and suitable for operating over mobile, PSTN, and VOIP networks. The method can include providing a modem that is codec agnostic and suitable for executing a TLS-based authentication protocol. The method can include using frequency-shift modulation within a frequency range of 300-3400 Hz.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterodimeric polypeptide that includes HCV E1 and E2 polypeptides; b) a T-cell epitope polypeptide comprising a T-cell epitope present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response, in an individual, to an HCV polypeptide. The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a polypeptide that comprises one or more T-cell epitopes present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing organized skeletal muscle tissue from precursor muscle cells by cyclically stretching and relaxing said muscle cells on a support in vitro for a time sufficient to produce said organized skeletal muscle tissue, including reseeding said organized skeletal muscle tissue by contacting additional precursor muscle cells to said organized skeletal muscle tissue on said solid support, and then repeating said step of cyclically stretching and relaxing said muscle cells in said support in vitro for time sufficient to enhance the density (i.e., increased number of nuclei and/or number of multinucleated cells) of said organized skeletal muscle tissue on said support.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques described herein can include antenna configurations and related fabrication. For example, a Z-axis meandering antenna configuration can be fabricated, such as by forming a dielectric substrate extending in two dimensions and defining an undulating region extending out of a plane defined by the two dimensions; and forming at least one conductive region following a contour of the dielectric substrate including at least a portion of the undulating region. The at least one conductive region can follow the contour of the dielectric substrate, such as including a first conductive region on a first layer, and a second conductive region on another layer separate from the first conductive region of the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A device is described that can include a probe, a mobile device, and at least one processor. The probe can examine a corresponding anatomical part of a body. The mobile device can have a camera to take an image of the anatomical part of the body. The mobile device can execute a patient-application to process the image. The at least one processor can be configured to transmit the processed image to a server via a communication network. Related apparatuses, systems, methods, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A planar antenna includes a radiator and a ground plane, where the radiator is formed on the ground plane. The radiator includes a printed microstrip line. The radiator includes a human face-shaped radiator pattern printed on a side of the substrate. The human face-shaped radiator pattern has an elliptical head portion, two eye portions with printed eyeball portions, two ear portions, and a mouth portion. The printed microstrip line connects to the human face-shaped radiator pattern. The ground plane includes first, second, and third circular defect areas printed on back side of the substrate. The first and second circular defect areas have the same diameter, while the third circular defect area has a diameter smaller than the first and second circular defect areas. The third circular defect area is closer to an end surface of the ground plane than the first and second circular defect areas.

Abstract: Provided herein are, for example, systems and methods of diagnosing and treating depression, in which a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is administered to a subject in need thereof and measuring a TMS evoked response in the subject, are provided. The systems and methods allow tailoring or optimizing of a treatment protocol for maximal individual benefit, thereby providing an individualized and optimized treatment protocol for psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Abstract: A method of identifying and quantifying calcified regions of a tissue including obtaining an image of a cross-section of the tissue, wherein the image distinguishes between calcified regions and non-calcified regions of the cross-section of the tissue. Also disclosed are methods of detecting a change in size of a calcified region of a tissue over time including identifying and quantifying a first size of the calcified region of the tissue at a first time, identifying and quantifying a second size of the corresponding calcified region of the tissue at a second time, and detecting a change in size between the first and second size of the calcified region of the tissue in the image of a cross-section of the tissue. Some aspects relate to computer software program configured to construct a panoramic image from partial images, quantify RGB values for each pixel in the panoramic image, and calculate the total pixels of calcified and uncalcified regions and a calcification ratio.

Abstract: Small molecule disruptors of Beclin-1/Bcl-2 protein-protein interactions induce autophagy and hence are useful for treating a variety of indications where stimulation of autophagy is therapeutically useful, including cancer, infection immunity, neurodegeneration, longevity.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for a text classification using multi-task learning executed by a server, the method includes: a step of generating text classification learning data by executing a pre-processing process on raw data collected through a network; a step of learning a category classification in a first classification system preset through a first text classification model using the text classification learning data as an input; a step of learning a category classification in a second classification system preset through a second text classification model using the text classification learning data as an input; and a step of classifying the category in the second classification system by inputting text data received from a user terminal into the second text classification model.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for testing biological samples containing genomic nucleic acids obtained from an organism having a genome, such as a human genome. It is often desirable to analyze a DNA sample or more than one, different DNA samples, to determine whether the sample comes from one individual or two individuals. The present method requires very low amounts of DNA and can use partial sequences of DNA fragments. Partial sequences are analyzed for the presence of polymorphisms (e.g. SNP's) that can be mapped to a reference SNP map. The distance between similar SNPS, which are genetically linked, can be used to statistically determine a likelihood of identity of individuality in a sample.

Abstract: An image reconstruction method includes capturing a reference image of the specimen and capturing a set of original images based on the reference image. The method includes generating a set of analyzed images based on the set of original images by determining an intensity distribution for each pixel of each original image of the set of original images and combining the intensity distribution at each pixel location across the set of original images into an intermediate image. The method includes, identifying an object in the intermediate image. In response to identifying the object in the intermediate image, determining an intensity value of the object in each original image of the set of original images and generating an improved image of the object based on the determined intensity value of the object. The method includes generating a final image including the improved image of the object and displaying the final image.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fluorescence imaging using radiofrequency multiplexed excitation. One apparatus splits an excitation laser beam into two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The light in the first beam is frequency shifted by an acousto-optic deflector, which is driven by a phase-engineered radiofrequency comb designed to minimize peak-to-average power ratio. This RF comb generates multiple deflected optical beams possessing a range of output angles and frequency shifts. The second beam is shifted in frequency using an acousto-optic frequency shifter. After combining at a second beam splitter, the two beams are focused to a line on the sample using a conventional laser scanning microscope lens system. The acousto-optic deflectors frequency-encode the simultaneous excitation of an entire row of pixels, which enables detection and de-multiplexing of fluorescence images using a single photomultiplier tube and digital phase-coherent signal recovery techniques.