Abstract: Embodiments of a pricing solution system for product line pricing under discrete mixed multinomial logit demand are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, devices, compositions and kits are provided for analysis of the microbiome or individual components thereof in an individual. The methods find use in a determination of infection, in analysis of the microbiome structure, in determining the immunocompetence of an individual, and the like. In some embodiments of the invention, the individual is treated with a therapeutic regimen, e.g. drugs, diet, radiation therapy, and the like.

Abstract: A method of fabricating titanium oxide having a hexagonal column shape is provided. The fabricating method includes preparing a first mixture solution containing oxalic acid and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), and adding a second mixture solution including titanium to the first mixture solution to fabricate titanium oxide having a hexagonal column shape.

Abstract: Methods of pre-densifying a metal wire containing superconductor materials are provided. Superconductor materials containing the pre-densified wires also are provided. The wires may be pre-densified by subjecting a metal wire that includes one or more filament cavities in which a superconductor precursor powder is disposed to a temperature and a first pressure for a time sufficient to densify the superconductor precursor powder to form a pre-densified metal wire, wherein the temperature is less than the melting point of the superconductor precursor powder, and the first pressure is sufficient, at the temperature, to compress at least a portion of the metal wire.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for targeted metabolomics profiling to provide absolute quantification of a broad array of metabolic intermediates of fatty acids, amino acids, and carbohydrate metabolism for HFpEF. In an aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for assessing risk of death or a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in a subject diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The method may include (a) determining in a sample from the subject the level of each metabolite in at least one factor, wherein the factor is selected from the group consisting of factor 1, factor 3, factor 4, factor 5, factor 10, factor 12, and factor 14; and (b) comparing the level of each metabolite in the sample to a standard, wherein the level of the metabolite in the subject relative to a standard is indicative of the risk of death or MACE in the subject.

Abstract: A plurality of sensors is configured to obtain data relating to operation of a plurality of ride vehicles, wherein the plurality of sensors include cameras configured to capture images. A control system is communicatively coupled to control features of each of the plurality of ride vehicles and configured to control operation based on the data. A workstation includes at least one interface panel to provide an animated representation of the ride vehicles, wherein animation effects of the animated representation are configured to mimic movement of the ride vehicles based on positioning information. One or more panel displays of views in a matrix is positioned beyond the workstation such that an operator can observe the one or more panel displays. A portion of the views corresponds to a camera feed and a graphic indicator.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a data collection routing protocol include the steps of perceiving a broadcast beacon message from an i-th sensor node located at an i-th sensor level by one or MOW sensor nodes at one or more other sensor levels of a divided WSN, wherein the i-th sensor level does not include a first sensor level of a sink sensor node; resetting the respective sensor level of the one or more sensor nodes to an (i+1)th sensor level; attempting to connect the i-th sensor node at the i-th sensor level to another sensor node located at an (i?1)th sensor level; and connecting the i-th sensor node to a parent sensor node at the i-th sensor level when certain conditions are met. These conditions are determined and analyzed locally at each sensor node.

Abstract: A wireless transceiver includes: a switching amplifier having first, second and power ports; and a current provider. The current provider provides a current to the power port, and further provides an impedance to the power port such that an impedance of the switching amplifier at the second port matches an impedance of an antenna coupled to the second port. The switching amplifier simultaneously amplifies a transmit signal input received at the first port to generate an output signal at the second port for receipt by the antenna, and mixes a receive signal received at the second port from the antenna with the transmit signal input to generate, at the power port, another output signal having a frequency lower than that of the receive signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region, include determining a prior probability density function that characterizes at least one physical property of the target region; generating a displacement of the sample in the target region to form a shear wave that propagates orthogonal to a direction of the displacement; transmitting tracking pulses in the target region; receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the target region at a plurality of lateral positions; estimating a propagation parameter of the shear wave in response to the echo signals and the prior probability density function using statistical inference; and determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on the estimated propagation parameter.

Abstract: The invention provides a coating which exhibits fast oleophobic-hydrophilic switching behaviour with, for example, equilibration of high oil contact angle (hexadecane=80°) and low water contact angle (<10°) values which occur within 10 s of droplet impact. These optically transparent surfaces display excellent anti-fogging and self-cleaning properties. The magnitude of oleophobic-hydrophilic switching can be further enhanced by the incorporation of surface roughness and in one embodiment the coating is applied to a surface in the form of a mesh in order to form an effective filter.

Abstract: Identification and evaluation of a set of first-in-class potent inhibitors targeting a new cancer target, Grb2-associated binder˜1 (GAB1), which integrates signals from different signaling pathways and is frequently over-expressed in cancer ceils. Intensive computational modeling is utilized to understand the structure of the GAB1 pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and screened five million compounds. Upon biological evaluation, several inhibitors were found that induced large conformational changes of the target structure exhibited strong selective binding to GAB1 PH domain. Particularly, these inhibitors demonstrated potent and tumor-specific cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells. This targeting GAB1 signaling may be used for cancer therapy, especially for triple negative breast cancer patients.

Abstract: A multi-standard transmitter architecture with digitally upconverted intermediate frequency (IF) outphased signals is disclosed. The transmitter architecture includes a Gallium Nitride (GaN) power amplifier (PA) circuit having a Current Mode Class-D (CMCD) configuration. The GaN PA circuit includes a lower switching device electrically coupled to an input to receive an input RF signal and an upper switching device to switchably electrically couple the first switching device to a power supply to drive an antenna circuit based on the input RF signal. Thus, a reconfigurable transmitter architecture is disclosed that utilizes a high-speed Gallium Nitride (GaN) driver to achieve a peak drain efficiency of at least 85% while delivering output power of 10 W at 1 GHz frequency, for example.

Abstract: The pH sensing biofilms include anthocyanin and a cellulose nanostructure or a cellulose nanocomposite. The cellulose nanostructure can include cellulose nanofibrils. The cellulose nanocomposite can include a composite of cellulose nanofibrils and pectin or a composite of cellulose nanofibrils and alginate. The presence of the anthocyanin in the biofilm allows the biofilm to change color in response to pH changes, thereby allowing the biofilm to be used as an active visual indicator of decay.

Abstract: A structural device includes a first deformable member configured to absorb at least a portion of a load resulting from relative displacement between structural members of a building. The first deformable member exhibits elastic deformation when subjected to tensile and/or compressive forces within a first range of forces, and exhibits plastic deformation when subjected to tensile and/or compressive forces within a second range of forces. A second deformable member is affixed to a portion of the first deformable member, and is configured to absorb at least another portion of the load resulting from the relative displacement between the structural members of the building. The second deformable member exhibits elastic deformation when subjected to tensile and/or compressive forces within a third range of forces, and exhibits plastic deformation when subjected to tensile and/or compressive forces within a fourth range of forces. Methods relate to forming structural devices.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, methods, and kits for proliferating muscle cells by exposing the muscle cells to a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) compound or compound that activates PGE2 signaling. Also provided are methods for regenerating muscle in a subject suffering from muscular atrophy, dystrophy, and/or injury by administering a PGE2 compound alone or in combination with isolated muscle cells. The PGE2 compound in combination with the isolated muscle cells can be administered prophylactically to prevent a muscle disease or condition.

Abstract: The compositions and methods described herein are topically applied to the skin with negligible or no skin irritation and can direct or prevent transport through the skin. The compositions contain neat ionic liquids, optionally in combination with a drug to be delivered. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions increase transdermal transport of the drug to be delivered. In some embodiments, the compositions disrupt bacterial biofilms. This is particularly beneficial in the treatment of antibiotic resistant skin infections. In other embodiments, the compositions direct delivery within the skin. In still other embodiments, the compositions prevent transfer of substances through the stratum corneum. The disclosed compositions and methods can be tuned and modified such that they can be used to treat or prevent a variety of different diseases and disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating fatty liver, steatohepatitis, or liver cirrhosis as well as insulin resistance and aging by administration of a DLK1-Fc fusion protein constructed by conjugation of an extracellular domain of DLK1 or a fragment thereof with a human antibody Fc region. Also provided are health functional foods containing a DLK1-Fc fusion protein constructed by conjugation of an extracellular domain of DLK1 (delta-like 1 homolog) or a fragment thereof with a human antibody Fc region as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for diagnosing a patient with emphysema, COPD of lung injury caused by tobacco use by detecting the levels of EMAP II in a sample. Disclosed herein are the hypervariable regions for a rat monoclonal antibody that binds to a form of EMAP II. This disclosure also includes a polypeptide sequence included in EMAP II that is the target for the binding of the antibody to its target protein. This epitope serves as the basis for a humanized antibody that can be used to treat patients that suffer from pathologies that exhibit elevated levels of EMAP II expression.

Abstract: A voice interaction apparatus incudes voice recognition means for recognizing a voice of a user, response-sentence generation means for generating a response sentence to the voice of the user based on the recognized voice, filler generation means for generating a filler word to be inserted in a conversation, output means for outputting the generated response sentence and the generated filler word, and classification means for classifying the generated response sentence into one of predetermined speech patterns indicating predefined speech types. When the output means outputs, after the user utters a voice subsequent to the first response sentence, the filler word and outputs a second response sentence, the classification means classifies the first response sentence into one of the speech patterns, and the filler generation means generates the filler word based on the speech pattern into which the first response sentence has been classified.

Abstract: The robotic gripping assist (“RGA”) provides a user with additional grip strength by supporting and forcefully pushing a user's fingers and hand to a gripping position. A motor, controller, and power source are supported on a user's forearm and act as a source for the forced movement. A bending member is worn on the back of a user's hand. The motor draws in or lets out wires that cause the bending member to bend or straighten. By bending the bending member, through rotating the motor in a first direction, the attached fingers of the user are forced into a gripping position. The fingers are moved to a non-gripping position by rotating the motor in the opposite direction.