Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the pose of a textureless object are disclosed. A method to estimate a pose of a textureless object includes obtaining, by a processing device, a single image of the textureless object. The pose of the textureless object can be inferred from the single image. The method further includes generating, by the processing device, a three dimensional model of the textureless object from a plurality of viewpoints and a plurality of scales obtained from image data of the textureless object, matching, by the processing device, the single image with a discretized render of the three dimensional model via a multi-level illumination invariant tree structure to obtain an alignment of the single image with the discretized render, and estimating, by the processing device, the pose of the textureless object based on the alignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides Octahydrocyclopentapyrrole compounds having the structure: (structurally represented) wherein psi is absent or present, and when present is a bond; R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently H, halogen, CF, or C1-C4 alkyl; R6 is absent or present, and when present is H, OH, or halogen; A is absent or present, and when present is C(O) or C(O)NH; B is substituted or unsubstituted monocycle, bicycle, heteromonocycle, heterobicycle, benzyl, CO2H or (C1-C4 alkyl)-CO2H, wherein when B is CO2H, then A is present and is C(O); and when psi is present, then R6 is absent and when psi is absent, then R6 is present, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for treatment of diseases characterized by excessive lipofuscin accumulation in the retina.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of producing modified polypeptides and modified polypeptide-ribosome or polypeptide-mRNA complexes, and methods of screening polynucleotide and polypeptide libraries. The present disclosure also provides polypeptide libraries useful in screening for single molecule phenotypes. Also provided are kits useful for producing polypeptides capable of being modified using methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for diagnosing or predicting acute cellular and/or humoral rejection in a subject. In one example, a method of assessing organ rejection includes contacting a first sample comprising antigen presenting cells (APCs) obtained from a subject in need of or having received an organ transplant with a donor antigen from a donor under conditions sufficient to induce uptake of the donor antigen; contacting a second sample comprising APCs obtained from the subject in need of or having received an organ transplant with a third-party antigen under conditions sufficient to induce uptake of the third-party antigen; and determining an antigen presenting index by determining a ratio of uptake of the donor antigen in the first sample to uptake of the third-party antigen in the second sample, wherein the ratio of greater than one indicates organ rejection and the APCs are monocytes or monocyte-derived cells.

Abstract: A dual modality imaging apparatus, comprising a magnetic resonance imaging (=MRI) system and a fluorescence molecular tomography (=FMT) system, for investigating a sample (42) located at a sample position (10), wherein the MRI system comprises a magnet (9) with a room temperature bore (8), with the sample position (10) located within the bore (8), and wherein the FMT system comprises means for directing a light beam (12, 17; 30) towards the sample position (10), and a position-sensitive detector (37) for collecting fluorescence light from the sample (42), is characterized in that the position-sensitive detector (37) is located within the bore (8), wherein at least part of the sample (42) is imaged onto the position-sensitive detector (37), and that the means for directing the light beam (12, 17; 30) comprise a focusing device for focusing the light beam (12, 17; 30) into a focal spot (41) on the sample (42), and a scanning device for scanning the focal spot (41) on the sample (42).

Abstract: A method for production of a biodiesel is described herein. The method for production of a biodiesel comprises (a) separating solids from a waste oil composition to provide a clarified oil composition; (b) acidifying the clarified oil composition to produce an acidified oil composition including free fatty acids derived from the waste oil; (c) converting at least a portion of the free fatty acids in the acidified oil composition to glycerides to provide a glyceride composition; and (d) reacting at least a portion of the glycerides in the glyceride composition with methanol to form fatty acid methyl ester to provide a biodiesel composition.

Abstract: Example photoconductive devices and example methods for using photoconductive devices are described. An example method may include providing a photoconductive device having a metal-semiconductor-metal structure. The method may also include controlling, based on a first input state, illumination of the photoconductive device by a first optical beam during a time period, and controlling, based on a second input state, illumination of the photoconductive device by a second optical beam during the time period. Further, the method may include detecting an amount of current produced by the photoconductive device during the time period, and based on the detected amount of current, providing an output indicative of the first input state and the second input state. The example devices can be used individually as discrete components or in integrated circuits for memory or logic applications.

Abstract: Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include articles and methods of making articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data storage and retrieval system. The system includes a at least one client device; and at least one server. The server includes at least one memory, a processor and a log store. The client data is divided into different blocks and stored in the server. Different logs are generated for each block and stored in the log store. The storage in the server are audited for ensuring their integrity. The present invention also relates to a method used to store and retrieve data form the above system. The present invention also relates to a method used to initialize empty buffers in a storage of a system.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating disease and disorders associated with pathological calcification or pathological ossification by modulating the level or activity of NPP1 or a mutant thereof, or a mutant NPP4 modified to exhibit ATP hydrolase activity similar to the hydrolase activity of NPP1.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and apparatus for use in screening and/or selecting a library of nucleic acid molecules and/or nucleic acid tagged or encoded molecules for binding to or interaction with a target molecule or substance (e.g., for use in new compound or drug discovery) are described. In some embodiments the device comprises: (a) a spatially addressable array, said array comprising a plurality of separate and discrete locations thereon; (b) a plurality of different oligomers operably connected to said spatially addressable array at different ones of said separate and discrete locations; (c) a tag sequence which is complementary to, and is hybridized to, each of said oligomers; and (d) a candidate chemical operably connected to each of said tag sequences, wherein each of said discrete locations is a unique identifier for its corresponding oligomer; and wherein said tag sequence is a unique identifier for its connected candidate chemical.

Abstract: Surface modification methods based on a combination of plasma and chemical treatments render an unfilled butyl rubber surface highly reactive toward organosilanes, allowing formation of an organosilane self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Plasma oxidation of the butyl rubber surface followed by vapor deposition of SiCl4 produces a hydrophilic surface suitable for anchoring organosilanes. Fabrication of SAMs on this hydrophilic butyl rubber surface with n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) and trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane (FOTS) via vapor deposition resulted in a 15% and 25% decrease in gas permeability, respectively, with no change in optical transparency of the butyl rubber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sample holders for holding a sample, particularly for an atomic force microscope. Such a sample holder comprising a sample dish (1) comprising a bottom (2), and an opening (3) arranged in said bottom (2) for receiving and holding the sample (15). Furthermore the present invention relates to a sample holder system and to a method for transferring an e.g. biological sample (15) from a biopsy tool (18) to a sample holder.

Abstract: A downcomer apparatus for use in a multi-stage bubble column humidifier. The humidifier comprises at least a first, second and third stage, wherein each of said stages includes an inlet, an outlet and a chamber defined by said stage, in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. In the humidifier, a heated liquid fluid stream flowing downwardly exchanges mass and heat with a cooler carrier gas stream flowing upwardly through the bubble column. A bubble generator comprising a perforated plate, or sparger, passes the carrier gas, such as air, from a lower chamber to form bubbles in a fluid, such as water, forming a bath on an upper chamber. An off-set arrangement of downcomer apparatuses, wherein said apparatus comprises a funnel, a watergate, and a downcomer, is used to prevent a recirculation of humid bubbles from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, thus preventing the air stream from circumventing the bubble generator in the form of the humid bubbles.

Abstract: Optical coupling designs are disclosed to provide a photonic device, for example, that includes a substrate; an optical waveguide formed on the substrate and configured as a multimode waveguide to support light in different optical waveguide modes; and an optical fiber structured as a multimode fiber to support light in different optical fiber modes, the optical fiber located above the optical waveguide and optically coupled to the optical waveguide via evanescent coupling to allow light to be coupled between the optical fiber and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A catalytic process for synthesizing an ester compound, and a catalytic process for synthesizing an amide compound, wherein a solid-supported palladium catalyst is used to catalyze an alkoxycarbonylation reaction of an aryl halide to form the ester compound, or to catalyze an aminocarbonylation reaction of an aryl halide to form the amide compound. Various embodiments of each of the processes are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating tunable attosecond-scale radiation pulses, with a frequency in range of mid-infrared to ultra-violet, from a silicon medium. The invention utilizes an intense laser pulse to drive a high harmonic generation (HHG) process in a silicon medium and a weak secondary field to control the HHG process. The weak secondary field has a frequency equal to the second harmonic of the intense laser pulse. The spatial, temporal and spectral properties of the HHG process and the emitted harmonic beam are tuned by adjusting the relative delay between the two fields and the intensity of the weak secondary field.

Abstract: In one embodiment, communicating robot intentions to human beings involves determining movements that a robot will make to complete a task, visually communicating a long-term intention of the robot that provides an indication of the movements the robot will make in completing the task, and visually communicating a short-tem intention of the robot that provides an indication of a movement of the robot will make within the next few seconds in working toward completing the task.

Abstract: A teething device for exercising gums and deciduous teeth. Two hollow receptacles sealingly mate to form a body of the teething device. A plurality of hollow knobs extend outwardly from the receptacles. The hollow interior of each knob is in a fluid communication with the interior space of the teething device. The teething device may be filled with a cold liquid to cool the exterior surfaces of the knobs. The liquid may be periodically discarded, and the hollow interior of the teething device may be refilled with a liquid of a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An autothermal reforming catalytic structure for generating hydrogen gas from liquid hydrocarbons, steam and an oxygen source. The autothermal reforming catalytic structure includes a support structure and nanosized mixed metal oxide particles dispersed homogenously throughout the support structure.