Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for electrokinetic dewatering of suspensions such as, e.g., phosphatic clay. In one example, among others, a system for continuous dewatering includes a cake formation zone including a first anode and a first cathode each extending across a first portion of a separation chamber; a cake dewatering zone including a second anode and a second cathode; an inlet configured to supply a dilute feed suspension comprising solids suspended in water to the cake formation zone; and a conveying belt extending between the first anode and the first cathode and between the second anode and the second cathode. A first electric field between the first anode and the first cathode forms a cake on the conveying belt by consolidating the solids, and a second electric field between the second anode and the second cathode dewaters the cake on the conveying belt.

Abstract: An aberration in a fetal genome can be identified by analyzing a sample of fetal and maternal DNA. Classifications of whether an aberration (amplification or deletion) exists in a subchromosomal region are determined using count-based and size-based methods. The count classification and the size classification can be used in combination to determine whether only the fetus or only the mother, or both, have the aberration in the subchromosomal region, thereby avoiding false positives when the mother has the aberration and the fetus does not.

Abstract: An underwater propulsion apparatus 1 according to an embodiment includes a main body 2 having a conical tail portion, a channel 4 having an inlet 6 in the outer circumferential surface of the main body 2 and a nozzle 7 on the side downstream of the inlet 6 and in the tail portion, at least one pump 3 having an impeller 5 provided in the channel 4, a diffuser 8 attached to the main body 2 so as to surround the outer circumference of the nozzle 7, and a plurality of direction control wings 9 attached to the outer surface of the main body 2 and located in positions downstream of the nozzle 7 and close thereto, each of the plurality of direction control wings 9 having an upstream end pivotally supported by the main body 2.

Abstract: Platinum-containing compounds for the treatment of disease, such as, for example, cancer, are provided herein. Specifically, platinum Pt(IV) complexes with a substituted 2,2?-bipyridine ring structure are provided, as are methods for using the complexes. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lithium-sulfur battery separator. The lithium-sulfur battery separator comprises a separator substrate and a functional layer covered on the separator substrate. The functional layer comprises at least two carbon nanotube layers and at least two graphene oxide composite layers. Each of the at least two graphene oxide composite layers comprises a plurality of graphene oxide sheets and a plurality of manganese dioxide nanoparticles, and the plurality of manganese dioxide nanoparticles are adsorbed on the plurality of graphene oxide sheets and embedded in an interlayer formed by the carbon nanotube layer and the plurality of graphene oxide sheets. The present disclosure also relates to a lithium-sulfur battery comprising the lithium-sulfur battery separator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating mammals with HIV/AIDS comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an extract of Rubia cordifolia. The extract is preferably an alcohol extract, an aqueous extract, or mixtures thereof. The alcohol preferably comprises ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An improved data packet design that can be used in a variety of data communication standards used in smart meter systems is disclosed. In an embodiment a smart meter system that comprises of a local server, a coordinator and a plurality of smart meters in the many-to-one data communication system configuration. The smart meter uses a variety of types of radio frequency data packets. The data packets contain the commands, parameters, and data for system control and data transmission. The data packet designs are disclosed for a route discovery command, a get parameter command, a set parameter command, a get data command, a reset command, a relay command, a start command, and a calibration command that are used in the smart meter system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses scalarane sesterterpenoids represented by formula (I) and meroditerpenoid represented by formula (II), which are extracted from Carteriospongia sp. sponge: where R1 is —CH3 or —C2H5. The compounds of formula (I) can be used to be an anticancer, act as an inhibitor targeting to topoisomerase II and hsp90 and a pharmaceutical composition for anticancer.

Abstract: Methods and devices for monitoring the viability of a biofilm comprising Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria are provided by detecting pyocyanin. The invention relates to electrochemical methods and devices that offer a simple and inexpensive alternative for immediate identification of bacterial infection due to the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In some embodiments, an inexpensive, disposable electrochemical sensor can be used to rapidly screen for the presence of P. aeruginosa in clinical wound effluent samples.

Abstract: CMV vectors comprising a heterologous protein antigen, an active UL131 protein (or an ortholog thereof), and an active UL128 protein (or an ortholog thereof) but lacking an active UL130 protein (or an ortholog thereof) are provided. CMV vectors comprising a heterologous protein antigen, an active UL131 protein (or an ortholog thereof), and an active UL130 protein (or an ortholog thereof) but lacking an active UL128 protein are also provided. In addition, methods of using CMV vectors to generate an immune response characterized as having at least 10% of the CD8+ T cells directed against epitopes presented by MHC Class II are provided.

Abstract: Sub-100 micron multimodal nanoparticles have four main components: 1) a target element (peptides, lipids, antibodies, small molecules, etc.) that can selectively bind to cells, tissues, or organs of the body; 2) a diagnostic agent such as a fluorophore or NMR contrast agent that allows visualization of nanoparticles at the site of delivery and/or a therapeutic or prophylactic agent; 3) an outside “stealth” layer that allows the particles to evade recognition by immune system components and increase particle circulation half-life; and 4) a biodegradable polymeric material, forming an inner core which can carry therapeutics and release the payloads at a sustained rate after systemic, intraperitoneal, or mucosal administration. These particles possess excellent stability, high loading efficiency, multiple agent encapsulation, targeting and imaging. They are targeted to sites of, or associated with, inflammation caused by a disease, disorder; trauma, chemotherapy or radiation.

Abstract: A foot abduction brace is disclosed herein. The foot abduction brace can include a crossbar having a planar bottom end. The foot abduction brace can also include a first end disposed on one side of the crossbar. The foot abduction brace can further include a first locking hub removably coupled to the first end in a first position of a plurality of positions, where the first locking hub is disposed in the first keyhole and includes a first coupling feature disposed at a top end of the first locking hub. The foot abduction brace can also include a first footplate having a first complementary coupling feature that removably couples to the first coupling feature of the first locking hub. The foot abduction brace can further include a first foot restraint mechanically coupled to the first footplate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes Augmented Reality (AR) methods and systems allowing one or more user to observe a virtual image (e.g., computer generated image) overlaid on a physical scene (e.g., actual real life surroundings). Embodiments herein allow components of the AR methods and systems to be decoupled from each other, such that a user is able to view a virtual image overlaid on a physical scene while simply wearing thin, lightweight holographic spectacles.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for determining a maintenance policy of a complex forming device. The method and system include: establishing a performance judgement standard; obtaining actual operation data; and determining a performance stage of the complex forming device, and determining the maintenance policy of the complex forming device. The establishing a performance judgement standard includes allocating data located at different performance stages to corresponding working condition units; setting data located at a normal performance stage to normal reference data, and calculating, by using a shortest path algorithm, distances between operation data of different working condition units in different functional modules and the normal reference data, to obtain performance statuses of the different functional modules.

Abstract: A method for automatically mapping a store layout includes identifying a path for traversing a retail area and capturing images of the retail area at various points along the path. The images may be analyzed to identify visual characteristics which may be compared to a template of retail products in a template library. When an object depicted in the image matches with a retail product in the template library, the object may correspond to the retail product. Additionally, a retail department for the object may also be identified. The retail department may be compared to the retail product corresponding to the object, and when the retail product is not associated with the retail department, another retail product which is associated with the retail department may be identified as corresponding to the object. A map of the store layout may be generated based on the identified retail products.

Abstract: A method of determining matching between at least a first sample comprising a sequence of tokens A and a second sample comprising a sequence of tokens B may include, for monotonically decreasing values of n, performing operations including recording a subset SA of n-grams of A in a hash table LA, such that a value of each n-gram determines an index in LA and a location of each respective n-gram in A is recorded as the value in LA, recording a subset SB of n-grams of B in a hash table LB, such that a value of each n-gram determines an index in LB and a location of each respective n-gram in B is recorded as the value in LB, for each location L that is occupied in both LA and LB, examining a region in A centered on LA(L) and a region in B centered on LB(L), and reporting a largest matching region aligning LA(L) with LB(L) that does not include already-matched tokens in A or B and marking the largest matching region as matched.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for the manufacture of fibers from solution-phase peptide-based polymers by electrospinning, and compositions produced thereby. In particular embodiments, various embodiments provide electrospinning supramolecular fibers from low concentration peptide amphiphile filaments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for making a lithium-sulfur battery separator. The method comprises providing a separator substrate, and forming a functional layer on at least one surface of the separator substrate. A method for forming the functional layer comprises applying a first carbon nanotube layer on the at least one surface; dispersing a plurality of graphene oxide sheets and a plurality of manganese dioxide nanoparticles in a solvent to form a mixture; and depositing the mixture on a surface of the first carbon nanotube layer to form a first graphene oxide composite layer; applying a second carbon nanotube layer on a surface of the first graphene oxide composite layer; and forming a second graphene oxide composite layer on a surface of the second carbon nanotube layer.

Abstract: The system effectively manipulates the operation of a charged particle flow device by approximating the total force on each ion during a trajectory calculation. The system applies the method in massively parallel general-purpose computing with GPU (GPGPU) to test its performance in simulations with thousands to over a million ions. The method calculates the forces on an ion using ions within an active region near the ion of interest. To decrease computation time, the method approximates the forces by calculating the ion-ion interactions within a first zone and the ion-ion cloud interactions within a second zone. The system adjusts settings of the charged particle flow device to affect the flow and positioning of the charged particles. Such setting may include adjusting the positioning of the charged plates, adjusting the voltage of the plates, and adjusting the pressure within the charged particle flow device.

Abstract: Both purinergic signaling through nucleotides such as ATP and noradrenergic signaling through molecules such as norepinephrine regulate vascular tone and blood pressure. Pannexin1 (Panx1), which forms large-pore, ATP-releasing channels, is present in vascular smooth muscle cells in peripheral blood vessels and participates in noradrenergic responses. Using pharmacological approaches and mice conditionally lacking Panx1 in smooth muscle cells, we found that Panx1 contributed to vasoconstriction mediated by the ?1 adrenoreceptor (?1AR), whereas vasoconstriction in response to serotonin or endothelin-1 was independent of Panx1. Analysis of the Panx1-deficient mice showed that Panx1 contributed to blood pressure regulation especially during the night cycle when sympathetic nervous activity is highest. Using mimetic peptides and site-directed mutagenesis, we identified a specific amino acid sequence in the Panx1 intracellular loop that is essential for activation by ?1AR signaling.