Abstract: There is provided a method, a system and a computer program product for supporting a decision making process. The system receives a decision model from a decision maker, the decision model used for determining a solution to a decision problem based on attributes and uncertainties of the decision problem. The decision problem includes information about a plurality of outcome vectors that represent all possible outcomes and the uncertainties associated with the decision problem. The system determines whether the received decision model can be solved without receiving any preference information from the decision maker. The system receives partially specified preference information from the decision maker if the received decision model cannot be solved without any preference information. The system solves the decision model with the partially specified preference information. The system recommends, based on the solution, one or more decisions to the decision maker.

Abstract: A method for evaluating performance of a sensor network. The method includes selecting, a sensor distribution pattern for a geographical region and determining a location for a base station. A plurality of sensor clusters are generated, each sensor cluster being formed by one of a first and second grouping mechanism. Further, the method allocates, for each sensor a time-slot within a time-frame to transmit a data packet from the sensor to the base station, and evaluates the performance of the first grouping mechanism and the second grouping mechanism for the selected sensor distribution pattern and base station location, by computing at least a ratio of delivered data packets to the base station to a total energy consumption, and a first delay and a second delay incurred by each data packet.

Abstract: A method of inducing local cell death in patient tissue is provided. The method includes generating first and second radiation, conveying the radiation to a focusing element, and focusing the radiation on a target with the focusing element. A system for inducing local cell death in patient tissue is also provided. The system includes a power source for generating narrowband and/or ultra-wideband radiation, and a focusing element for focusing the radiation on a target.

Abstract: Compositions of either the Rm86Texas protein from a Texas outbreak strain of the southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, or a nucleic acid construct incorporating a nucleic acid sequence encoding this Rm86Texas protein, are effective for eliciting a protective immune response in non-bovine animals. The Rm86Texas protein is immunogenic and can be administered as a protein vaccine, or in the alternative, the nucleic acid construct can be utilized as a DNA vaccine. Induction of the immune response significantly reduces or eliminates the infestation of treated, non-bovine animals with ticks. Moreover, as ticks are vectors of a variety of pathogens, the reduction in the incidence of tick infestation afforded by the vaccines may concurrently reduce the incidence of diseases caused by these pathogens in susceptible animals.

Abstract: Described herein is an approximate dynamic programming (ADP) vector controller for control of a permanent magnet (PM) motor. The ADP controller is developed using the full dynamic equation of a PM motor and implemented using an artificial neural network (ANN). A feedforward control strategy is integrated with the ANN-based ADP controller to enhance the stability and transient performance of the ADP controller in both linear and over modulation regions. Simulation and hardware experiments demonstrate that the proposed ANN-based ADP controller can track large reference changes with high efficiency and reliability for PM motor operation in linear and over modulation regions.

Abstract: Improved methods of making anhydrosugars by pyrolysis of a substrate sugar to remove at least one water molecule thereby producing a desired anhydrosugar and side products, the improvement being either 1) protecting one hydroxyl group of the substrate sugar before pyrolysis; or (2) pretreating the substrate sugar with a metal salt and optional acid before pyrolysis, wherein lower amounts of said side products are produced by said improved method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment of a detached retina, comprising an oil and an additive capable of increasing the extensional viscosity of the oil. The present invention also relates to a method and kit of parts for producing the composition.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of an AGPAT5 mRNA and protein in an animal. Also provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing lipids, insulin resistance and/or glucose in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate a cardiometabolic disease, disorder or condition, or a physiological marker thereof, in an individual in need.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for graphically indicating aspects of rotors (such as pivot points of rotors) associated with atrial or ventricular fibrillation. Embodiments can include receiving, using a processor, an electrogram for each of a plurality of spatial locations in a heart, each electrogram comprising time series data including a plurality of electrical potential readings over time. Embodiments can also include generating, from the time series data, one or more of multi-scale frequency (MSF), kurtosis, empirical mode decomposition (EMD), and multi-scale entropy (MSE) datasets, each dataset including a plurality of respective values or levels corresponding to the plurality of spatial locations in the heart.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds of the formula (I) wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, R4, X1, X2, Y1, and A1 are as defined herein. Such compounds may be used, for example, for the inhibition of enolase enzymes, including preferential inhibition of one isoenzyme of over one or more of the other isoenzymes. Methods of treatment using these compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices comprising acceptor and/or donor sensitizers to increase absorption and photoresponse of the photoactive layers of the devices. In particular, devices herein include at least one acceptor layer and at least one donor layer, wherein the acceptor layer may comprise a mixture of an acceptor material and at least one sensitizer, and the donor layer may comprise a mixture of a donor material and at least one sensitizer. Methods of fabricating the organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for parenteral or oral administration containing a radioactive compound which can be used diagnostically or therapeutically. The composition comprises a micro-emulsion constituted by a dispersion of vesicles or microsponges of a fatty acid based component in an aqueous or other pharmacologically acceptable carrier in which nitrous oxide is dissolved, the fatty acid based component comprising at least one long chain fatty acid based substance selected from the group consisting of free fatty acids and derivatives of free fatty acids, and the radioactive compound.

Abstract: The low reflective display device a low reflective unit including a plurality of optical lens structures arranged in a position-corresponding manner to the plurality of sub-pixels thereon respectively; a light-reflective layer covering the side-wall face of each optical lens structure; and a light-absorbing member arranged to fill spaces between neighboring optical lens structures, wherein the bottom face of each of the plurality of optical lens structures completely covers the top face of the corresponding sub-pixel among the plurality of sub-pixels, wherein the bottom face of each of the plurality of optical lens structures receives all of light-beams generated from the corresponding sub-pixel, and wherein the bottom face of each of the plurality of optical lens structures has an area that is greater than or equal to a top face area of the corresponding sub-pixel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cable tie including a tie band which is formed in a shape of a strap to bind cables, and is provided with a plurality of serrated grooves continuously formed on a one surface thereof in a longitudinal direction, and a tie holder which is connected to one end of the tie band and includes a tie band passage, through which the other end of the tie band passes, and a serrated locking protrusion formed on an inner surface of the tie band passage and interference-latched to the serrated grooves. The tie band is provided with a cut guide groove formed on one or both widthwise edges thereof, so that a free end of the tie band remaining when the tie band binds the cables together is cut off by a rotating force generated when the free end is twisted, without using a cutting tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring turbulence in a high temperature fluid flow, comprising: applying different levels of cooling at different times to a region of a substrate in the high temperature fluid flow; and/or applying different levels of cooling at the same time to different regions of a substrate in the high temperature fluid flow and/or to regions on different substrates in the high temperature fluid flow, wherein the method further comprises: measuring fluctuations in the temperature of the region or regions of the substrate or substrates at each of the different levels of cooling; and using the measured fluctuations to determining an amount of turbulence in the high temperature fluid flow and/or the size of temperature fluctuations in the high temperature fluid flow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and method for segmentation and identification of structured features in images. According to an aspect, a method may include representing an image as a graph of nodes connected together by edges. For example, the image may be an ocular image showing layered structures or other features of the retina. The method may also include adding, to the graph, nodes adjacent to nodes along first and second sides of the graph. The added nodes may have edge weights less than the nodes along the first and second sides of the graph. Further, the method may include assigning start and end points to any of the added nodes along the first and second sides, respectively. The method may also include graph cutting between the start and end points for identifying a feature in the image.

Abstract: Derivatives of 6-shogaol are described herein. Also described herein are methods of preparing the derivatives, as well as methods of using the derivatives to activate Nrf2 and to treat diseases associated with inflammation and/or oxidative stress.

Abstract: Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions are contemplated that inhibit N-acyl-ethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA) to so increase the concentration of the substrate of NAAA, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). NAAA inhibition is contemplated to be effective to alleviate conditions associated with a reduced concentration of PEA. Among other uses, various NAAA inhibitors are especially contemplated as therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions containing Escherichia coli 0157:H7 flagella including fusion proteins and methods using the immunogenic compositions are disclosed. Inducing an immune response in an animal to Escherichia coli O157:H7 flagella will result in prevention of colonization by Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the animal or a reduction in the amount of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infecting the animal. The immune composition will prevent or reduce the attachment of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 to cells within the animal.

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.