Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying a vibration magnitude of a TBM main beam using a geological feature parameter and a tunneling feature parameter constructed based on tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunneling parameters. The method includes: collecting vibration signals of the main beam and tunneling parameters of a TBM through an in-situ tunneling test and preprocessing such data, researching a correlation law between the tunneling parameters and a vibration feature root mean square (RMS), providing two feature parameters of a field penetration index (FPI) and a cutterhead power index (TNI), establishing a multivariate regression prediction model for vibration of the TBM main beam based on the feature parameters, and verifying and analyzing the model under different surrounding rock conditions. An average relative error of prediction is 12% or within, and a quantitative relation between the vibration features of the main beam and the feature parameters of the TBM is given.

Abstract: An organogel including a base fluid, cetyl alcohol, and a gelling agent provided in an amount to cause the fluid to change from a liquid state to a gelled state at temperatures below at least 25° C. A nanofluid including an organogel and a nanoparticle component which permits the nanofluid to change from a liquid state to a gelled state at temperatures below at least 25° C., the gelled state helping to maintain the nanoparticle component suspended throughout the base fluid; and a method for preparing a gelled nanofluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an in-store automatic payment method and system applied to an unmanned store service, wherein the method and the system reduce the burden of excessively collecting videos from a number of fixed cameras installed in the related art by using an egocentric video, computer computation overhead, and installation expense and operating expense of a system for an unmanned store. The method includes: collecting, by a mobile terminal, an egocentric video; detecting, by at least one among multiple devices, a purchase target item from the egocentric video; calculating, by at least one among the multiple devices, a level of reliability for the purchase target item from the egocentric video; and registering, by at least one among the multiple devices, the purchase target item on a selected-item list of a user when the level of reliability is equal to or greater than a preset threshold.

Abstract: A magnetic nanofluid that includes magnetic transition metal ferrite nanoparticles, ferroelectric nanoparticles, and a carrier fluid, and a method of changing the temperature of an object (e.g., heating or cooling) using the magnetic nanofluid. The magnetic transition metal ferrite nanoparticles and ferroelectric nanoparticles can be present as a composite comprising both types of nanoparticles. The use of the magnetic nanofluid is associated with an increase in the Nusselt number in the presence of a magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combined therapy comprising the use of one or more omega-3 fatty acids and one or more B vitamins and for treating cognitive impairment, such cognitive impairment disorders include, especially but not exclusively, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present invention also provides a treatment for individuals suffering from cognitive impairment disorders that occur as a result of brain or cerebral atrophy, the invention includes inter alia methods of treating and/or reducing progression of brain atrophy and pharmaceutical compositions and nutritional supplements therefor.

Abstract: Methods are provided to manipulate phagocytosis of cells, including hematopoietic cells, e.g. circulating hematopoietic cells, bone marrow cells, acute leukemia cells, etc.; and solid tumor cells. In some embodiments of the invention the circulating cells are hematopoietic stem cells, or hematopoietic progenitor cells, particularly in a transplantation context, where protection from phagocytosis is desirable. In other embodiments the circulating cells are leukemia cells, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML), where increased phagocytosis is desirable.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of treating or preventing C. difficile infections. In some embodiments, the method includes administering an antitoxin to a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the antitoxin includes a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin). In an additional embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a composition including an antitoxin for treating or preventing C. difficile infections. In some embodiments, the anti-toxin includes a DARPin. In some embodiments, the anti-toxin is a monomeric or dimeric DARPin for the neutralization of Clostridium difficile toxin B (TcdB).

Abstract: An oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening system and associated methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the screening system provides an at least one oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening device configured for selectively capturing images of an oropharyngeal area of an at least one patient. The screening device provides an elongate, relatively compact housing, a distal end of the housing being selectively bendable. An imaging module is positioned within the housing, the imaging module providing a lens, an at least one light source, and an imaging sensor positioned in the distal end of the housing. A user application resides in memory on an at least one user device in selective communication with the at least one screening device. The user application is configured for receiving images captured by the at least one screening device and recording risk factors, automatically analyzing the captured images and potential health-risk factors to screen for OPML and oral and oropharyngeal risk.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating or preventing viral infections caused by flaviviruses, such as dengue virus, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus or Japanese encephalitis virus or infections caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The methods involve the administration of retinoic acid analogues to subjects who have, are suspected of having a flavivirus infection or infection with CHIKV, or to those who are at risk of becoming infected with a flavivirus or becoming infected with CHIKV.

Abstract: Methods and techniques are described for increasing data rate at a high error performance in wireless transmission. A plurality of groups of p bits, wherein p is an integer greater than 1, is obtained. A transmission signal is generated, which includes, for a group of p bits dividing the group of p bits into a first subgroup of p1 bits and a second subgroup of p2 bits, wherein p1 and p2 are integers greater than zero. Based on the p1 bits, a sequence of modulation schemes is selected from a plurality of predetermined sequences of modulation schemes. The predetermined sequences are mutually different, and each of the predetermined sequences has length R, wherein R is an integer greater than 1. The p2 bits onto R subcarriers are mapped respectively by means of the R modulation schemes of the selected sequence. Finally, the generated transmission signal is transmitted.

Abstract: A method for proton resonance frequency shift (PRF) and T1-based temperature mapping using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring, using the MRI system, a set of magnetic resonance (MR) data from a region of interest of a subject by performing a variable-flip-angle multi-echo gradient-echo 3D stack-of-radial pulse sequence. The pulse sequence is configured to acquire radial k-space data in a plurality of segments, each segment acquired with each of a plurality of flip angles. The method further includes generating at least one T1 map based on the set of MR data, generating at least one PRF temperature map based on the set of MR data, generating at least one T1-based temperature map based on the set of MR data and displaying the PRF temperature map and the T1-based temperature map. In another embodiment, the MR data may be used to generate a plurality of quantitative parameter maps for each of the plurality of MR parameters such as T1, proton-density fat fraction (PDFF), and R2*.

Abstract: Operations of radiometers may be improved by calculating calibration uncertainties for the radiometer. Initially, operational characteristics for the radiometer, and/or historical calibration parameters for a plurality of previously performed calibration processes using the radiometer may be obtained. Additionally, a calibration uncertainty for the radiometer based on the obtained operational characteristics for the radiometer and the obtained historical calibration parameters may be calculated, and desired, calibration parameters for the radiometer may be identified. The identified desired, calibration parameters may be based on the calculated, calibration uncertainty.

Abstract: A skylight for a building includes a solar panel arranged within the skylight, the solar panel comprising one or more photovoltaic cells to collect direct radiation from rays of sunlight for conversion to electrical power, and an optical element to receive the direct radiation and refract it to the solar panel, and to receive the direct radiation and diffuse radiation scattered from the rays of sunlight and refract the direct radiation and the diffuse radiation through the skylight, bypassing the solar panel, to provide daylighting in the building.

Abstract: Provided herewith is a device having one sachet or more than one nested sachet with the largest sachet made of, e.g., a non-dissolvable, porous, wettable and non-toxic material. The sachets are filled with a desired combination of medications and excipients to provide sustained dosing, blood levels and effects of the said combination of medications. The sachets can be arranged in such a configuration to be suitable for placement in the oral/buccal cavity with comfort and to deliver, e.g., continuous or on-demand release of the desired medications for both transmucosal and gastrointestinal absorption. Also provided are containers for such devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides antibody-drug conjugates comprising (i) antibodies that specifically bind to Mer Tyrosine Kinase (MERTK) (e.g., human MERTK, or both human and mouse MERTK), and (ii) cytotoxic agents conjugated directly to the antibodies or conjugated to the antibodies via linkers, and compositions comprising such antibody-drug conjugates, wherein the antibodies contained in the antibody-drug conjugates agonize MERTK signaling of endothelial cells. The present disclosure also provides methods for treating cancer, by administering an antibody-drug conjugate that comprises (i) an antibody that specifically binds to MERTK and agonizes MERTK signaling of endothelial cells, and (ii) a cytotoxic agent conjugated directly to the antibody or conjugated to the antibody via a linker.

Abstract: Described herein are flash nanoprecipitation methods capable of encapsulating hydrophobic molecules, hydrophilic molecules, bioactive protein therapeutics, or other target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanocarriers.

Abstract: Described herein is a cell culture device and methods of use in three-dimensional cell co-cultures and for use in studying paracrine signaling in vitro.

Abstract: A device and a spectrometer for quantitatively detecting carbon 14 isotope by a dual-wavelength method. Two mid-infrared lasers with different wavelengths are locked in an optical cavity of a sample chamber, to ensure the two lasers are collinear. The cavity length of the optical cavity is adjusted by a cavity length adjusting unit, to tune the mode frequency of the optical cavity, and then tune the frequencies of the two mid-infrared lasers, so that the frequencies of the two mid-infrared lasers match with different energy levels of the target isotope molecule simultaneously. After the frequencies of the mid-infrared lasers match with the energy levels of the target isotope molecule simultaneously, the target isotope molecule is excited by two mid-infrared lasers simultaneously, and the optical cavity output signal of the second mid-infrared laser passing through the optical cavity is detected.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the treatment of malignancy are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing colorful thermal insulation films is provided. A substrate is connected with a metal adhesion layer and then the metal adhesion layer is connected with a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layer. A porosity of the AAO layer is changed by pore-widening. Thereby the thermal insulation film produced shows the color by the structure color of the AAO layer. Thus no dyes and organic compounds are required to be added during manufacturing process and environmental pollution caused by these substances can be avoided. The pore-widening changes the porosity of the AAO layer and further provides convenient color adjustment so that the colorful thermal insulation film with different colors can be produced easily. Besides providing attractive appearance, the colorful thermal insulation film filters out light with specific wavelengths.