Abstract: A vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding human aldehyde dehydrogenase, as well as a composition comprising the vector and method of using the vector to treat aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, or to prevent or treat a disease characterized by aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening protein-protein interaction inhibitors using a nanopore, a method for analyzing protein structures, a method for analyzing protein-protein interactions, and a kit therefor.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating adaptive fast forward of egocentric videos are provided here. The method may include the following steps: obtaining a video footage containing a sequence of image frames captured by a non-stationary capturing device; estimating a moving direction of the non-stationary capturing device for a plurality of frames in the sequence of image frames; and generating a shortened video footage having fewer frames than said video footage, by sampling the sequence of image frames, wherein the sampling is carried out by selecting specific image frames and that minimize an overall cost associated with a deviation from a specific direction related to the moving direction, calculated for each of said plurality of image frames.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for deploying a network slice in a mobile communication system are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of mapping an underlying infrastructure network into an underlying network layer in a complex multilayer network model, and mapping a network slice into a network layer on the underlying network layer; and deploying the network slice based on the complex multilayer network model. In the process of deploying a network slice in a mobile communication system, the invention can accurately and flexibly manage the network resources and enhance the utilization of network resources, thereby avoiding the resource competition and ensuring the network communication quality.

Abstract: Aspects disclosed in the detailed description include memory compression in a deep neural network (DNN). To support a DNN application, a fully connected weight matrix associated with a hidden layer(s) of the DNN is divided into a plurality of weight blocks to generate a weight block matrix with a first number of rows and a second number of columns. A selected number of weight blocks are randomly designated as active weight blocks in each of the first number of rows and updated exclusively during DNN training. The weight block matrix is compressed to generate a sparsified weight block matrix including exclusively active weight blocks. The second number of columns is compressed to reduce memory footprint and computation power, while the first number of rows is retained to maintain accuracy of the DNN, thus providing the DNN in an efficient hardware implementation without sacrificing accuracy of the DNN application.

Abstract: A method includes a processing module of a computing system generating a virtual lecture environment utilizing a group of object representations, where some of the object representations are associated with corresponding three dimensional physical objects. The method continues with the processing module receiving educator lecture inputs during a lecture recording timeframe. The method continues with the processing module generating a learner assessment plan for assessing comprehension of a virtual lecture based on the educator lecture inputs. The method continues with the processing module linking the educator lecture inputs of the lecture recording timeframe with the virtual lecture environment to produce the virtual lecture. The method continues with the processing module receiving learner interaction information during a lecture playing timeframe of the virtual lecture.

Abstract: A dental instrument with an interchangeable frustum roller with a fixed apical tip for unobstructed viewing a working surface on a tooth and for rapidly, precisely and homogenously distributing a restorative material on the surface of a tooth while avoiding adherence of an applied restorative material to the dental instrument.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols to improve MRI value are described herein. An example method includes selecting an imaging sequence, selecting at least one objective function from a plurality of objective functions, simulating a relationship between controllable acquisition variables and the objective functions, trade-offing the influence of the controllable acquisition variables for MRI value in whole k-space acquisition to determine optimal acquisition condition, acquiring at least one MR image using the optimal acquisition condition, receiving or estimating outcomes related to the at least one MR image, and evaluating an MR image value for the MR image based on the outcomes.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of an antigen, e.g., a solid tumor antigen or antigen expressed on a tumor associated with TAMs and/or MDSCs, by administering a recombinant T cell comprising a CAR binding to said antigen, as described herein, in combination with an inhibitor of a pro-M2 macrophage molecule, e.g., described herein. The invention also provides kits and compositions described herein.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a computational framework with related methods and systems to enhance the analysis of genomic information. More specifically, the disclosure provides for a graph-based reference genome framework, referred to as a GNOmics Graph Model (GGM), which represents genomic sequence information in edges with nodes representing transitions between edges. The disclosed GGM framework can represent all known polymorphisms simultaneously, including, SNPs, indels, and various rearrangements, in a data-efficient manner. The edges can contain weights to reflect the likelihood of a path within the GGM incorporating any particular edge. The disclosure also provides for systems and methods for using the GGM as a reference model for the rapid assembly of short sequence reads and analysis of DNA sequence variation with enhanced computational efficiency.

Abstract: A method of predicting nitrogen dioxide emission from an engine may include an initial nitrogen dioxide formation prediction operation of predicting an amount of nitrogen dioxide which is originally formed in the engine using a nitrogen dioxide formation model by an electronic control unit (ECU) while engine combustion is underway, a nitrogen dioxide reduction prediction operation of determining an amount of nitrogen dioxide which is reduced to nitrogen monoxide using a reverse reaction of the nitrogen dioxide formation model by the ECU based on the amount of formed nitrogen dioxide in the initial nitrogen dioxide formation prediction operation, and a final nitrogen dioxide emission determination operation of determining an amount of nitrogen dioxide which is ultimately generated by the engine by the ECU based on a difference between the amount of formed nitrogen dioxide and the amount of reduced nitrogen dioxide.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a non-invasive detection method for screening for a well-developed blastocyst. A DNA methylation profile of a few of trophoblastic cells in a blastocyst is detected, and the average methylation level and the methylation pattern of embryos identified as having a good morphology in Gardner morphological blastocyst grading process are used as the standard for screening for well-developed blastocysts. The nearer the methylation level of the trophoblastic cells of the blastocyst to be tested approaches the methylation level or state of the good embryo, the better the embryo development is and the higher the suitability for being implanted into a maternal subject is. Furthermore, results of methylation sequencing may be analyzed to determine whether a chromosome is abnormal, so as to directly exclude chromosome-abnormal embryos.

Abstract: An integrated system that comprises a solar power subsystem, an absorption refrigeration subsystem to provide a cooling effect, a desalination subsystem to produce freshwater, an expander to generate shaft work and electricity, and also a reverse osmosis desalination subsystem to further produce freshwater, wherein the absorption refrigeration subsystem, the desalination subsystem, the expander, and the reverse osmosis desalination subsystem are powered by a solar energy that is supplied by the solar power subsystem.

Abstract: A method comprises the following steps: a) Providing a body having an internal surface which defines an internal pathway within the body, the body having an inlet and an outlet both communicating with the internal pathway; b) Introducing a liquid solution into the internal pathway so as to fill at least a portion of the internal pathway with the liquid solution, the liquid solution comprising a solute capable of undergoing thermal decomposition; c) Heating the liquid solution while the liquid solution fills said at least a portion of the internal pathway to a sufficient temperature so that the solute undergoes thermal decomposition to form a decomposition product within said at least a portion of the internal pathway. The heating step forms a coating comprising the decomposition product on at least a part of the internal surface that borders the internal pathway.

Abstract: A dental instrument with an elongated tip housing a ball within a socket. The exposed surface of the ball may be pressed against a restorative material on a tooth surface in order to evenly distribute the restorative material without incorporating air bubbles. A dental instrument may have a second elongated tip housing a ball on an opposing end. The elongated tip housing the ball may be removably attached or may be rotatable.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for the purification of water with a photoreactor. A continuous flow water purification photoreactor having a water inlet, a plurality of illumination sources disposed about a central axis facing and having n-fold rotational symmetry about the central axis, a reaction tube, and a water outlet. The reaction tube including a set of bundled rods having m×n-fold symmetry wherein the bundled rods include a photocatalyst support material at least partially coated with a photocatalyst film.

Abstract: A meta-solid-state battery includes a first layer disposed on a first current collector, a second layer disposed on a second current collector, and third layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The first layer and the second layer are the cathode and anode electrodes. The third layer includes a first meta-solid-state electrolyte material. Each of the cathode and anode electrodes contain: an active material in an amount ranging from approximately 70% to 99.98% by weight, a carbon additive in an amount ranging from approximately 0.010% to 20% by weight, and a second meta-solid-state electrolyte material in an amount ranging from approximately 0.010% to 10% by weight. The first and second meta-solid-state electrolyte material include a gel polymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for assessing the risk of a human subject for developing colorectal cancer. These methods may be combined with the subjects clinical risk to improve risk analysis. Such methods may be used to assist decision making about appropriate colorectal cancer screening regimens.

Abstract: A physical unclonable function (PUF) array includes a plurality of PUF transistor cells each of which includes at least one inverter. An input and an output of the at least one inverter are shorted to a first reference node. There is adjustment circuitry for adjusting a reference voltage of the first reference node, and measurement circuitry for measuring a trip point of the at least one inverter. If the trip point is close to the reference voltage then bits of the at least one inverter are defined as unstable.

Abstract: A heavy-atom derivative of CHCA, a primary matrix molecule for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), is synthesized and purified. This new matrix molecule ?-cyano-4-hydroxy-3-iodocinnamic acid (CHICA) is characterized by 1H NMR and mass spectrometry. CHICA is shown to increase MALDI-MS yield for the test analytes human angiotensin II and sex pheromone inhibitor as compared to both CHCA and an alternative heavy-atom CHCA derivative matrix. An optimal CHICA matrix concentration is determined to be 4 mg/mL. Analyte ion yield is shown to be comparable for CHICA and CHCA for analyte concentrations below 0.001 mg/mL. For analyte concentrations above this threshold, use of CHICA resulted in higher analyte yield and significantly lower relative standard deviation.