Abstract: Methods and kits for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and melting analyses to determine copy number variation and/or gene expression are disclosed herein. Related uses of such methods and analyses are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for predicting a fault state of an inverter. The apparatus for predicting a fault state of an inverter includes: an inverter converting DC power into AC power; a switching element provided in the inverter; and a controller extracting a fault sign factor based on an output signal output from the inverter and predicting a fault of the switching element based on the fault sign factor.

Abstract: A medication and event monitoring system operates through the internet, interconnecting and accommodating the transfer of information and data between a patient center, a caregiver/researcher center, and a pharmacist. A control center is provided in intercommunication with the patient, caregiver and pharmacist for accommodating the exchange of information and data regarding medication usage between and among the persons of interest. The patient center also includes physical sensing devices, such as for blood pressure, temperature, and the like for obtaining and transmitting information. The patient communicates through a smartphone, and further communicates through pill dispensing devices housed in a docking system that is in intercommunication with the various centers.

Abstract: Provided are a hole filling method using estimated spatio-temporal background information and a recording medium and apparatus for performing the same. The present disclosure is providing a hole filling method using estimated spatio-temporal background information, the hole filling method being capable of estimating temporal background information, estimating spatial background information, and merging the temporal background information and the spatial background information to perform a hole filling process, and a recording medium and apparatus for performing the same.

Abstract: A method for designing an off-axis three-mirror imaging system with freeform surfaces is provided. A primary mirror initial structure, a secondary mirror initial structure, and a tertiary mirror initial structure are established. A number of first feature rays are selected, while the primary mirror initial structure and the secondary mirror initial structure unchanged. The first feature rays are forward ray tracked from an object space to an image detector. A number of first feature data points are calculated to obtain a tertiary mirror. A number of fields and a number of second feature rays are selected, while the secondary mirror initial structure and the tertiary mirror unchanged. The second feature rays are reverse ray tracked from the image detector to the object space. A number of second feature data points are calculated to obtain the primary mirror.

Abstract: The present application discloses video data encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses, so as to conveniently perform data encoding and decoding on video data. The method includes: arithmetic encoding, where the arithmetic encoding includes: obtaining a binary symbol of image data; and if the binary symbol is a most probable symbol (MPS), updating a first encoding interval corresponding to the MPS in a logarithm domain, and if the first updated encoding interval is less than a preset range of an arithmetic encoding interval, performing normalization processing on the first encoding interval in the logarithm domain; or if the binary symbol is a least probable symbol (LPS), updating a second encoding interval corresponding to the LPS in an original number domain, and performing normalization processing on the second encoding interval in the original number domain.

Abstract: A method for preparing biomass graphene by using cellulose as a raw material includes preparing a catalyst solution, carrying out ionic coordination and high-temperature deoxidization on cellulose and a catalyst so as to obtain a precursor, carrying out thermal treatment and pre-carbonization, and carrying out acid treatment and drying to obtain the graphene. The graphene is uniform in morphology with a single-layer or multi-layer two-dimensional layered structure having a dimension of 0.5 ?m to 2 ?m, and an electric conductivity of 25000 S/m to 45000 S/m. The graphene can be applied to electrode materials of super capacitors and lithium ion batteries, and can also be added to resin and rubber as an additive so as to improve physical properties of the resin and the rubber.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: An automatic straightening device includes a fully-mechanized coal mining working face, which includes a plurality of middle troughs, and each middle trough is connected to a push-pull rod of one hydraulic support. The fully-mechanized coal mining working face is provided with the automatic straightening device. The automatic straightening device includes a flexible element rope, the tensile and compressive force sensors, and a signal processing device. Each middle trough is provided with two tensile and compressive force sensors; one end of the flexible element rope is connected to a rope extend-retract control device, and the other end of the flexible element rope sequentially passes through lifting rings to be connected to the tensile and compressive force sensors and is fixed to a positioning force bearing bolt on the outermost side.

Abstract: A device and methods for performing a simulated CT biopsy on a region of interest on a patient. The device comprises a gantry configured to mount an x-ray emitter and CT detector on opposing sides of the gantry, a motor rotatably coupled to the gantry such that the gantry rotates horizontally about the region of interest, and a high resolution x-ray detector positioned adjacent the CT detector in between the CT detector and the x-ray emitter.

Abstract: An aspirator syringe comprising a blood-detecting spectrometer. The syringe may accommodate a standard drug cartridge and may provide manual or automatic movement of a plunger for aspiration and injection. Indicator lights may signal the presence or absence of blood in an aspirate within a drug cartridge. The syringe may also include a detector to read a color of a band on a standard drug cartridge in order to identify a drug.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a method performed by at least one processor for processing a plurality of x-ray projection images of a subject, the method comprising a plurality of operations including reconstructing the projection images to yield a volume reconstruction; segmenting the reconstructed volume by assigning a material type to each voxel; estimating a first set of scatter images corresponding to a subset of the projection images by calculating probabilistic predictions of interactions of x-rays with the subject and applying a low pass spatial filter to the scatter images; estimating a second set of scatter images corresponding to projection images not included in the subset, based on the first set of scatter images; and subtracting, for each projection image, the corresponding scatter image to yield a corrected projection image.

Abstract: An electrode that comprises a nanostructured material that comprises pyrolyzed date palm leaves that are obtained from a pyrolysis of an agro-waste containing date palm leaves in an inert gas and in a temperature range of 800 to 1600° C., an electrochemical cell thereof, and a method of determining a hydroquinone concentration in a hydroquinone-containing solution with the electrochemical cell. Various combinations of embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: A device of high-temperature solar gas turbine power generation with thermal energy storage includes a combustion chamber, a solar receiver, a thermochemical energy storage tank, a triple valve A and a triple valve B. The thermochemical energy storage tank has a high-temperature side and a low-temperature side. One outlet of the triple valve A is connected to the compressed air inlet of the solar receiver, and the other outlet is connected to the inlet of the triple valve B. One outlet of the triple valve B is connected to the low-temperature side of the thermochemical energy storage tank, and the other outlet is connected to the inlet of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to mutant polypeptides comprising the IGF2 binding domain of the Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Receptor (IGF2R) with residue P1597 is substituted for a different residue, for example H or K. Other residues which may be mutated include S1543, E1544, K1545, G1546, L1547, Q1569, S1602, G1603 and/or K1631. These IGF2 binding domains display dramatically increased binding affinity for IGF2 compared to both the wild-type and previously identified mutants and may be useful for example in cancer therapy.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to novel polymers and polymeric nanogels having biodegradable polymeric backbones, and compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof, for example, as guest-host polymer nano-assemblies and nano-delivery vehicles, which offer utilities in diverse fields including drug delivery, diagnostics and specialty materials.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of preparing a primary or secondary amine and hydroxylated aromatic compounds. In some embodiments, the aromatic compound may be unsubstituted, substituted, or contain one or more heteroatoms within the rings of the aromatic compound. The methods described herein may be carried out without the need for transition metal catalysts or harsh reaction conditions.

Abstract: The present invention includes a live attenuated virus and methods of making the same comprising an isolated virus comprising a viral genome that expresses one or more viral antigens; and one or more exogenous species-specific microRNAs inserted into the viral genome and expressed thereby, wherein the species-specific microRNAs are ubiquitously expressed in a viral target species cell but not in a viral propagation cell.

Abstract: A hemostatic putty for treatment of a variety of wounds topographies, including but not limited to highly three dimensional wounds, for example gunshot wounds and impalements, is disclosed. The putty is comprised of a matrix polymer weakly crosslinked or not crosslinked such that a viscoelastic matrix is formed. The viscoelastic nature of the putty is tunable by the composition and enables the putty to conform to a variety of wound topographies. Likewise, a hemostatic polymer, for example chitosan or hydrophobically modified chitosan, is included in this matrix to impart hemostatic properties and tissue adhesive on the putty. The hemostatic polymers disclosed prevent microbial infection and are suitable for oxygen transfer required during normal wound metabolism.

Abstract: A data center network, comprises a first group of optical ports for connection to respective servers of a first group of servers; a second group of optical ports for connection to respective servers of a second group of servers; a first lower passive optical routing element arranged to route optical communication signals between the first group of optical ports and a first lower optical communication path; a second lower passive optical routing element arranged to route optical communication signals between the second group of optical ports and a second lower optical communication path; an upper passive optical routing element arranged to: (i) route optical communication signals between the first lower optical communication path and an upper optical communication path, and (ii) route optical communication signals between the second lower optical communication path and the upper optical communication path.