Abstract: A microfluidic element comprising at least one pair of plates, at least one of said plates having an open channel distributed on a surface that is adjacent the other plate in the pair. In use, said plates are releasably clamped together so as to form an enclosed, continuous microfluidic channel between the plates that is suitable for the passage of a fluid.

Abstract: A dynamic voltage scaling system having time borrowing and local boosting capability, including: a time borrowing circuit and a local boost circuit. The time borrowing circuit connected electrically between a primary stage logic circuit and a secondary stage logic circuit is activated by an all-domain clock signal, and then generates an output data to the secondary stage logic circuit based on input data to the primary stage logic circuit. The local boost circuit is connected to a low working voltage line, when input data of the time borrowing circuit lags behind a positive level of said all-domain clock signal, the time borrowing circuit delays fetching data by a flip flop and changes state to produce a warning signal, so that the local boost circuit disconnects its connection with said low working voltage line, and is connected electrically to a high working voltage line.

Abstract: A method for exemplar-based inpainting using a Laplacian pyramid in a multi-scale space is provided, which is capable of reflecting structural features and texture features simultaneously every time inpainting is performed. The exemplar-based inpainting method using the Laplacian pyramid in the multi-scale space includes constructing a Laplacian pyramid image including a plurality of levels using an input image and performing inpainting reflecting the structural features of a low frequency region and the texture features of a high frequency region using the Laplacian pyramid image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are recombinant protein scaffolds for use in producing antigen-binding proteins. Related antigen-binding proteins are also provided herein. In addition, nucleic acids encoding such recombinant protein scaffolds and antigen-binding proteins are also described. Vectors and cells useful for expression of the described proteins are also provided, as are methods of use.

Abstract: A method for generating quantum anomalous Hall effect is provided. A topological insulator quantum well film in 3QL to 5QL is formed on an insulating substrate. The topological insulator quantum well film is doped with a first element and a second element to form the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film. The doping of the first element and the second element respectively introduce hole type charge carriers and electron type charge carriers in the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film, to decrease the carrier density of the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film to be smaller than or equal to 1×1013cm?2. One of the first element and the second element magnetically dopes the topological insulator quantum well film. An electric field is applied to the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film to decrease the carrier density.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel lip/cheek probes for detection of pulse-based differences in light absorbence across the vascularized tissue of a lip or cheek of a patient. These probes are fabricated to provide signals to estimate arterial oxygen saturation, and/or to obtain other photoplethysmographic data. The present invention also relates to a combined probe/cannula. The present invention also relates to other devices that combine a pulse oximeter probe with a device supplying oxygen or other oxygen-containing gas to a person in need thereof, and to sampling means for exhaled carbon dioxide in combination with the novel lip/cheek probes. In certain embodiments, an additional limitation of a control means to adjust the flow rate of such gas is provided, where such control is directed by the blood oxygen saturation data obtained from the pulse oximeter probe.

Abstract: A method for creating a highly accurate nanostructure is provided, the method includes: (i) creating a highly accurate nanostructure prototype, wherein the highly accurate nanostructure prototype, when illuminated with a predefined illumination, provides a unique optical pattern; (ii) creating at least one highly accurate nanostructure mold from the highly accurate nanostructure prototype, wherein each highly accurate nanostructure mold enables a creation of a highly accurate nanostructure that is substantially similar to the highly accurate nano structure prototype and which, when illuminated with the predefined illumination, provides the unique optical pattern; and (iii) molding the highly accurate nano structure using the highly accurate nano structure mold, wherein the highly accurate nanostructure, when illuminated with the predefined illumination, provides the unique optical pattern.

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 present invention discloses a metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor, which is designed to overcome the shortcomings such as the large base resistance RB of the prior art products. The metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor of the present invention mainly comprises an Si collector region, a local dielectric region, a base region, a base-region low-resistance metal silicide layer, a polysilicon emitter region, an emitter-base spacer dielectric region composed of a liner silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride inner sidewall, a monocrystalline emitter region, a contact hole dielectric layer, an emitter metal electrode and a base metal electrode. The base-region low-resistance metal silicide layer extends all the way to the outside of the emitter-base spacer dielectric region. The present invention discloses a method of forming a metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor, which is used to form the aforesaid bipolar transistor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of treating angiogenic disorders of the eye, such as macular degeneration, restenosis following glaucoma treatment or diabetic retinopathy, by administering an activator of CXCR3. In some embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is IP-10 or a fragment or variant thereof, such as a fragment comprising or consisting of the C-terminal ?-helix of IP-10. In other embodiments, the activator of CXCR3 is PF4 or a fragment or variant thereof.

Abstract: An undulator with a compact construction is provided that reduces weight, complexity and cost. The compact undulator system and methods provides mechanical integrity without compromising magnetic field quality.

Abstract: A virtual sensor network system is provided that includes a virtual sensor node that stores sensor data collected from a sensor mounted within a vehicle in time synchronization therewith and provides the stored sensor data in time synchronization therewith, in addition, a master node performs a control on the virtual sensor node and executes an algorithm used in an intelligent vehicle using the sensor data. The master node receives the sensor data stored in the virtual sensor node as the virtual sensor data in time synchronization therewith, without inputting actual sensor data from the sensor mounted within the vehicle when executing the algorithm.

Abstract: A method for constructing an image includes acquiring image data in a first domain. The acquired image data is transformed from the first domain into a second domain in which the acquired image data exhibits a high degree of sparsity. An initial set of transform coefficients is approximated for transforming the image data from the second domain into a third domain in which the image may be displayed. The approximated initial set of transform coefficients is updated based on a weighing of where substantial transform coefficients are likely to be located relative to the initial set of transform coefficients. An image is constructed in the third domain based on the updated set of transform coefficients. The constructed image is displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a one-bead-two-compound method for the creation of encoded cyclic peptoid libraries. This scheme is useful for the creation of cyclic peptoid microarrays since only the cyclic peptoid, not the linear encoding molecule, contains an attachment residue and thus can be spotted onto an activated substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a transmission line transformer, and more particularly, a transmission line transformer capable of decreasing a power loss caused by a parasitic resistance component of the transmission line transformer and improving a coupling factor by forming a primary transmission line and a secondary transmission line parallel to each other on an integrated circuit (IC) by using a highest layer metal line, and forming a lower layer metal line immediately below the highest layer metal line in addition to the highest layer metal line in a region where the primary transmission line and the secondary transmission line face each other, while forming the transmission line transformer used in a high frequency circuit via a semiconductor process.

Abstract: A method of detecting a skin condition may include employing a multiband hyperspectral sensor to obtain multi-spectral data, employing the multi-spectral data to map constitutive skin parameters to corresponding spectral signatures via a forward model that enables generation of a set of samples including a plurality of parameters mapped to a plurality of spectral signatures, utilizing the set of samples to employ machine learning to generate an inverse model to enable mapping of a spectral signature of skin of a patient to corresponding skin parameters, estimating constitutive skin parameters of the skin of the patient based on the inverse model, and determining a distribution of the constitutive parameters for one or more skin locations.

Abstract: A target tracking device for tracking a moving target, based on X-ray fluoroscopic images from a plurality of directions, the target tracking device may include a plurality of X-ray fluoroscopic devices, an image processing unit, and a position determining unit. The X-ray fluoroscopic devices obtain a plurality of images from a plurality of directions, each of the images in a given direction having a different sensitivity. The image processing unit identifies a position of a target image based on pattern matching between the plurality of images and an image of the target. The position determining unit determines a 3D position of the target based on the position of the target image in the plurality of images from the plurality of directions.

Abstract: The embodiments presented herein include systems and methods for mitigating fatigue and fracture in mast-and-arm supporting structures caused by wind and other excitation forces. In particular, the embodiments presented herein utilize pre-stressed devices to reduce tensile stresses in arm-to-mast connections and/or mast-to-foundation connections of the traffic signal supporting structures. Present embodiments may employ stressed cables, post-tensioned bars (e.g., DYWIDAG bars), threaded rods, and so forth, to mitigate fatigue and fracture in the traffic signal supporting structures.

Abstract: Methods of isolating membrane vesicles from a biological fluid sample are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise providing a biological fluid sample comprising membrane vesicles; filtering the biological fluid sample through a filtration module comprising a filter having an average pore diameter of between about 0.01 um and about 0.15 um; and collecting from the filtration module a retentate comprising the membrane vesicles, thereby isolating the membrane vesicles from the biological fluid sample.

Abstract: The invention provides engineered red-shifted channelrhodopsin variants. In some embodiments, the channelrhodopsin variants are characterized by improved membrane trafficking, expression, and/or unique spectral and kinetic properties.