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: An adjustable clamp used for a marine deck welding test includes a supporting device, a guiding and positioning device and a clamping device; the guiding and positioning device comprises a plurality of guiding shafts, a plurality of guiding plates and a plurality of positioning rods, the guiding shafts located at the two sides of a working platform are detachably connected with supporting blocks, the guiding shafts penetrate through the guiding plates, the guiding plates can slide horizontally along the guiding shafts, at least one column of through-holes are formed in each guiding plate in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, the through-holes located at the central part are guiding plate bolt holes, the through-holes located at the two sides are guiding plate positioning holes, the positioning rods are placed in the guiding plate positioning holes, and the upper ends of the positioning rods are higher than the guiding plates; the clamping device comprises a plurality of pressing plates loca

Abstract: The retractor is a generally U-shaped device for protecting the cheek and tongue from instruments used during dental and prosthodontic procedures. The retractor has a planar base defined by two spaced arms, a pair of upright shields extending from the arms, and a posterior connector connecting the shields. The base is contoured to grip the tooth adjacent to the tooth to be treated, and thereby, secure the retractor within the patient's mouth.

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: The invention relates to methods for directing differentiation of stem cells comprising graphene. In additional embodiments, the invention relates to methods for repairing and improving bone tissue functions comprising accelerating differentiation in stem cell growth by exposing stem cells to graphene and transplanting the graphene with the exposed stem cells in the tissue at the site of repair.

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: Reactant materials for use in the synthesis of compounds comprising a non-metal and hydrogen, and methods of making and using the same are provided. The reactant materials generally comprise first and second non-metals, metals, a cation, and a transition metal, and can be formed and used in reactions occurring at relatively low-pressure conditions using heat energy that can be supplied via solar radiation. In particular, the reactant materials can be used in the synthesis of ammonia and various hydrocarbon compounds using air, water, and sunlight.

Abstract: A magnetic trap droplet controller is provided that includes a solid substrate, a controller operated by an appropriately programmed computer, a two-dimensional distribution of magnetized domains disposed on a surface of the solid substrate, a fluid chamber disposed above the two-dimensional distribution of magnetized domains, and an active magnet, where the active magnet is disposed to provide a dynamic magnetic field in-plane with the solid substrate, where the dynamic magnetic field controls north and south poles of the two-dimensional distribution of magnetized domains according to the controller, where a fluid under test that is disposed in a carrier fluid that is disposed in the fluid chamber propagates according to the controlled north and south poles of the two-dimensional distribution of the magnetized domains.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward optics and imaging. As may be implemented with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes one or more phase masks that operate with an objective lens and a microlens array to alter a phase characteristic of light travelling in a path from a specimen, through the objective lens and microlens array and to a photosensor array. Using this approach, the specimen can be imaged with spatial resolution characteristics provided via the altered phase characteristic, which can facilitate construction of an image with enhanced resolution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an indirect ophthalmoscopic system for imaging of the ocular fundus including a headband configured to hold a digital imaging device and a plus eyepiece lens in front of an eye of the examiner, with the plus eyepiece lens positioned in between the digital imaging device and the examiner's eye, such that the examiner is focused upon the display of the digital imaging device. The aperture of the digital imaging device receives light reflected from the ocular fundus of the patient's eye, emanating from the patient's pupil. The examiner examines the patient and composes the image of the ocular fundus directly in the display screen. In this way, what the examiner sees is captured by the digital imaging device. Stereoscopic imagery is obtained by optical means that create side-by-side virtual images of the aperture of the digital imaging device within the pupil of the eye.

Abstract: A system for computational localization of fibrillation sources is provided. In some implementations, the system performs operations comprising generating a representation of electrical activation of a patient's heart and comparing, based on correlation, the generated representation against one or more stored representations of hearts to identify at least one matched representation of a heart. The operations can further comprise generating, based on the at least one matched representation, a computational model for the patient's heart, wherein the computational model includes an illustration of one or more fibrillation sources in the patient's heart. Additionally, the operations can comprise displaying, via a user interface, at least a portion of the computational model. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that certain fermentation products of the marine actinomycete strains CNB392 and CNB476 are effective inhibitors of hyperproliferative mammalian cells. The CNB392 and CNB476 strains lie within the family Micromonosporaceae, and the generic epithet Salinospora has been proposed for this obligate marine group. The reaction products produced by this strain are classified as salinosporamides, and are particularly advantageous in treating neoplastic disorders due to their low molecular weight, low IC50 values, high pharmaceutical potency, and selectivity for cancer cells over fungi.

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: Membranes are provided for filtering a gas, in some cases air. Membranes using a highly porous cellulose nano fibrous barrier layer with a highly porous (surface-charged) substrate can exhibit high flux, high retention, and low pressure drop in air filtration of toxic aromatic gases, fumes, bacteria, viruses, dusts, and particulate matters.

Abstract: The present inaveation relates to prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccines thatpoatairj Newcastle disease Virus (NDV) virus-like particles (VLPs) comprising one or more Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) antigens, in one embodiment, the invention provides a recombinant virus-like particle (V'UP) comprising, i is operable combination, a) Newcastle disease virus? iNDVj matrix (M) protein, and b) one or more Epstein-Barr Virus (BBV) antigens. The im'eniion's prophylactic and/or therapeutic vacclrses are useful for preventing asc/or treatmg, infection with EBY aixi/or disease associated Epstein-Barr Virus, such as cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolated and purified Staphylococcus aureus bi-component leukocidin, referred to herein as LukAB, and its components LukA and LukB, antibodies specific to LukA, antibodies specific to LukB, therapeutic compositions containing LukA and/or LukB, or anti-LukA and/or anti-LukB antibodies, uses of the compositions to treat acute inflammatory conditions or S. aureus infection, methods for identifying inhibitors of LukAB-mediated cytotoxicity of human phagocytes, and methods for using LukAB as a marker to predict severity of S. aureus infection.

Abstract: Provided are a communication system, an abnormality detection device and an abnormality detection method that detects abnormality concerning communication such as information forged by utilizing a difference in timings of sampling between multiple communication devices. For the system configuration where ECUs transmit and receive information through a common communication line, abnormality detection related to communication is performed by a monitoring device connected to the communication line. Each ECU receives information by sampling once at a predetermined timing during a transmission period of one-bit information. The ECUs may also be allowed to perform sampling at different timings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase-locked loop having a high bandwidth using the rising edge and falling edge of a signal. The disclosed phase-locked loop controls the frequency of a voltage control oscillator by comparing both a phase difference between rising edge of a reference signal and rising edge of a feedback signal and a phase difference between falling edge of the reference signal and falling edge of the feedback signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a concentrically baffled reactor includes an outer housing that defines an interior space, an inlet through which material can be delivered into the interior space, an outlet through which material can be removed from the interior space, and multiple concentric baffles within the interior space that define multiple concentric reactor zones through which the material can sequentially flow to the outlet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, reinforced soil is assessed using a non-contact method including positioning a reference electrode in close proximity to a surface of the soil without contacting the electrode to the soil surface, vibrating the electrode with a vibration generator, and measuring an electrical potential difference between the electrode and the soil surface, the potential difference being indicative of the condition of a portion of a reinforcement member positioned below the soil surface at the location of the electrode.