Abstract: A gaming machine executes a normal mode game to rearrange symbols on the first display, based on at least one first table for determining symbols to be rearranged in the normal mode game, and triggers a chance mode game including a plurality of chance rounds when the rearranged symbols satisfies a first condition. The gaming machine closes the door when the chance mode game is triggered, and determining a chance type of the chance mode game. The gaming machine executes each chance round of the chance mode game to rearrange the symbols based on a second table for the determined chance type among a plurality of second tables, by controlling opening or closing of the door and displaying an object image on the display panel according to the determined chance type.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the combined treatment of memantine (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist) and tea polyphenol (an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent) is more effective (synergistic) in neuroprotection than either memantine or tea polyphenol alone in mouse excitotoxic injury. These findings provide useful information about the potential application of memantine and tea polyphenols in preventing or treating clinical excitotoxic injury such as brain trauma, brain ischemia, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Techniques for determining values for a metric of microscale interactions include determining a mesoscale metric for a plurality of mesoscale interaction types, wherein a value of the mesoscale metric for each mesoscale interaction type is based on a corresponding function of values of the microscale metric for the plurality of the microscale interaction types. A plurality of observations that indicate the values of the mesoscale metric are determined for the plurality of mesoscale interaction types. Values of the microscale metric are determined for the plurality of microscale interaction types based on the plurality of observations and the corresponding functions and compressed sensing.

Abstract: A human surrogate neck model includes a spinal neck region containing cervical vertebrae. A biosimulant intervertebral material is inserted between the cervical vertebrae. The spinal neck region is surrounded by a first silicone material mixed with a polymeric cross-linking inhibitor. One or more elastic tension bands are anchored to a top interface and a bottom interface of the neck model. A second silicone material mixed with a polymeric cross-linking inhibitor is applied to surround the spinal neck region and the first silicone material and to embed the tension bands. One or more of the elastic tension bands and/or a concentration ratio of the first silicone material or second silicone material to the polymeric cross-linking inhibitor can be adjusted for variable test conditions to closely simulate or mimic the static and dynamic characteristics of a human neck in various scenarios.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide an ultrahigh sensitive optical microangiography (OMAG) system that provides high sensitivity to slow flow information, such as that found in blood flow in capillaries, while also providing a relatively low data acquisition time. The system performs a plurality of fast scans (i.e., B-scans) on a fast scan axis, where each fast scan includes a plurality of A-scans. At the same time, the system performs a slow scan (i.e., C-scan), on a slow scan axis, where the slow scan includes the plurality of fast scans. A detector receives the spectral interference signal from the sample to produce a three dimensional (3D) data set. An imaging algorithm is then applied to the 3D data set in the slow scan axis to produce at least one image of the sample. In some embodiments, the imaging algorithm may separate flow information from structural information of the sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing stack data in multi-core processors having scratchpad memory or limited local memory. In one embodiment, stack data management calls are inserted into software in accordance with an integer linear programming formulation and a smart stack data management heuristic. In another embodiment, stack management and pointer management functions are inserted before and after function calls and pointer references, respectively. The calls may be inserted in an automated fashion by a compiler utilizing an optimized stack data management runtime library.

Abstract: A method of preparing a DNA copy of a target polynucleotide using template switching is described. The method includes mixing a double stranded template/primer substrate made up of a DNA primer oligonucleotide associated with a complementary oligonucleotide template strand with a target polynucleotide in a reaction medium and adding a suitable amount of a non-retroviral reverse transcriptase to the reaction medium to extend the DNA primer oligonucleotide from its 3? end to provide a DNA copy polynucleotide. The DNA copy polynucleotide includes a complementary target DNA polynucleotide that is synthesized using the target polynucleotide as a template. Methods of adding nucleotides to the double stranded template/primer substrate are also described. The method can be used to facilitate detection, PCR amplification, cloning, and determination of RNA and DNA sequences.

Abstract: Compositions and methods that act on Neuropeptide S receptors (NPSR) (also known as “TGR23” or “vasopressin receptor-related receptor 1 (VRR1)”) to cause desired effects in the bodies of human or animal subjects. Neuropeptide S (NPS) and other agonists of the NPSR may be administered to cause arousal, awakening, alertness, spontaneous movement, bronchoconstriction, contraction of bronchial smooth muscle or other effects. Antagonists of the NPSR may be administered to cause decreased arousal, decreased awakening, decreased alertness, decreased spontaneous movement, sleep, somnolence, sedation, anxiolytic effects, normalized sleep patterns, normalized sleep stages, increased duration of sleep, bronchodilation, relaxation of broncheal smooth muscle or other effects.

Abstract: Provided are methods for making and using chiral, non-racemic protected organoboronic acids, including pinene-derived iminodiacetic acid (PIDA) boronates, to direct and enable stereoselective synthesis of organic molecules. Also provided are methods for purifying PIDA boronates from solution. Also provided are methods for deprotection of boronic acids from their PIDA ligands. The purification and deprotection methods may be used in conjunction with methods for coupling or otherwise reacting boronic acids. Iterative cycles of deprotection, coupling, and purification can be performed to synthesize chiral, non-racemic compounds. The methods are suitable for use in an automated chemical synthesis process. Also provided is an automated small molecule synthesizer apparatus for performing automated stereoselective synthesis of chiral, non-racemic small molecules using iterative cycles of deprotection, coupling, and purification.

Abstract: Robot control typically requires many physical joysticks, buttons and switches. We have created a dynamically resizing, ergonomic, and multi-touch (DREAM) controller that enables a software-based operator control unit (SoftOCU) using a multi-touch screen. The DREAM controller can be formed wherever a person places his or her hand on a touch screen. We have also developed an algorithm for accurate hand and finger registration that can be used to create the DREAM controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light quality evaluating device, comprising a light receiving unit, first processing unit, a memory unit, a second processing unit, a display unit, and a power management unit, and being used for evaluating the light quality light based on physiological perception of human. In evaluating operation, it transfers a power spectrum of the light emitted from a light source to a luminance spectrum of light through a luminosity function. Next, the method compares the luminance spectrum of light with a corresponding luminance spectrum of blackbody radiation thereof. Therefore, an index of spectral resemblance with respect to the black body radiation (SRBR) would be calculated and then obtained, such that the SRBR can be used for evaluating the quality of the light emitted from the light source. Moreover, comparing to conventional CRI, SRBR is a better light quality evaluating method because of having fairness and consistency.

Abstract: A navigation environment establishing method for an intelligent moving-assistance apparatus moving in a movement area having a plurality of regions includes steps of: a navigation map is set, and the content of the navigation map including the relative locality of the regions. A current data indicating a current region is set. At least one target data indicating an available target region is set. Then, a navigation data is generated. The content of the navigation data includes the current region and a first target region, wherein the region where the intelligent moving-assistance apparatus first arrive when moving from the current region to the first target region according to a predetermined path is in a first direction with respect to the current region. Subsequently, the navigation data is recorded into an image identification tag. Finally, the image identification tag is placed in the current region.

Abstract: The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that parvovirus (including AAV) capsids can be engineered to incorporate small, selective regions from other parvoviruses that confer desirable properties. The inventors have discovered that in some cases as little as a single amino acid insertion or substitution from a first parvovirus (e.g., an AAV) into the capsid structure of another parvovirus (e.g., an AAV) to create a chimeric parvovirus is sufficient to confer one or more of the desirable properties of the first parvovirus to the resulting chimeric parvovirus and/or to confer a property that is not exhibited by the first parvovirus or is present to a lesser extent.

Abstract: Provided is a scintillation neutron detector capable of measuring neutrons with precision even under a high amount of ? rays as background noise and excellent in neutron counting precision, the scintillation neutron detector comprising a neutron scintillator crystal containing 6Li, and the crystal having a specific surface area of no less than 60 cm2/cm3.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for improved VA-TIRFM microscopy. The method comprises automatically controlled calibration of one or more laser sources by precise control of presentation of each laser relative a sample for small incremental changes of incident angle over a range of critical TIR angles. The calibration then allows precise scanning of the sample for any of those calibrated angles for higher and more accurate resolution, and better reconstruction of the scans for super resolution reconstruction of the sample. Optionally the system can be controlled for incident angles of the excitation laser at sub-critical angles for pseudo TIRFM. Optionally both above-critical angle and sub critical angle measurements can be accomplished with the same system.

Abstract: A construction structure includes a substrate made of a concrete material and having an external surface, and an external reinforcement attachment. The attachment includes an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface and has a non-uniform cross-sectional area along the reinforcement attachment. The reinforcement attachment is secured to the substrate with the inwardly facing surface bonded to the external surface of the substrate. The reinforcement attachment has at least first portions and second portions, the two portions are treated such that the first portions have a greater cross-sectional area than the second portions for increasing yield strength of the first portions whereby when the construction structure is under stress the first portions block or reduce spreading of strain sustained by the reinforcement attachment to avoid or at least delay complete detachment of attachment from the substrate.

Abstract: Problem To provide an antioxidant, an antioxidant composition, and a method for producing the antioxidant and the antioxidant composition, which feature a high content rate and degree of extraction of substances. These substances are taurine, glycogen, protein, so-called blood platelet anticoagulant with zinc, fat-soluble vitamin with a high activation such as vitamin D, and other useful substances. The antioxidant and the antioxidant composition also feature a so-called antioxidative property, which has recently attracted attention. Solution The present invention, for example, includes 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides an organoboronate nanoparticle. The nanoparticle includes a polymer, which includes a repeating unit that includes at least one organoboronate functional group. Various embodiments provide compositions including the nanoparticles, surface functionalized nanoparticles, nanoparticles including an encapsulant, methods of making the nanoparticles, and methods of using the nanoparticles, such as methods of stimuli-responsive release of encapsulants.

Abstract: The present invention provides the new method for extracting lutein from natural materials wherein the said method comprises of modification of natural lutein ester in the natural materials to free lutein and/or low molecular weight lutein ester, extraction of the said natural materials with supercritical fluid at the optimal conditions. The said method yields high amount of crude lutein with high purity due to the mild condition used for extraction. Therefore, no degradation of the desired product is occurred. The crude lutein can be further purified with chromatography in order to obtain the highly purified lutein. The method according to this invention can be applied to the extraction of xanthophylls or others beside lutein.

Abstract: Methods and systems of concealing access patterns to data storage, such as within servers of a cloud computing environment are presented. Server data storage is securely partitioned into smaller electronic data storage partitions of predetermined size. The client side maintains a shuffling buffer and position map for these blocks as stored on the electronic data storage partitions of the server. Concealment is performed with respect to accesses from the client to server using an oblivious sorting protocol. Access operation is concealed with each block being randomly assigned to any of the data storage partitions, and whenever a block is accessed, the block is logically removed from its current partition and logically assigned to a fresh random partition selected from all partitions, while the client maintains tracking of which partition each block is associated with at any point of time.