Abstract: A modular hydroponic cultivation and transport system for the cultivation and transport of organisms, including but not limited to, various forms of plants and fungi in hydroponic towers, is provided. Further, apparatuses for the cultivation and transport of organisms grown in hydroponic towers, are provided. Methods for the cultivation and transport of organisms using the transport system and apparatuses described herein are also provided herein.

Abstract: A jet stream generating device that generates a jet stream of liquid includes: a cylindrical liquid chamber; a nozzle configured to open an end part of the liquid chamber and inject liquid F in the liquid chamber to outside; a liquid supply path configured to supply liquid F into the liquid chamber; a laser beam irradiation part configured to irradiate a pulse laser beam into the liquid chamber, and vaporize the liquid F in the liquid chamber; and a laser oscillator configured to control laser beam intensity and laser beam pulse width independently. An inner surface of the liquid chamber has a mirror plane for reflecting and guiding the pulse laser beam emitted from the laser beam irradiation part to the end part of the liquid chamber, and an adjusting part configured to adjust a distance between the nozzle and the laser beam irradiation part is included.

Abstract: Non-contact position and motion sensing is improved for oscillator frequency based sensors in response to adding a two phase calibration along with bootstrapping circuit. Calibration is performed across the multiple sensor channels, so that: (1) maximum sensor channel loading is determined, and (2) the amount of capacitive load required for each other channel to match this same maximum load is stored for application to that channel during non-contact sensing. Capacitive coupling between channels is nullified by a bootstrapping process, in which time-domain voltage on the active channel is replicated on the non-active channels during non-contact sensing, thus creating equal potentials across inter-channel couplings that effectively eliminate inter-channel capacitive loading.

Abstract: Techniques to profile a disease or a disorder (e.g., a tumor) based on a protein activity signature are disclosed herein. An example method can include measuring quantitatively protein activity of a plurality of master regulator proteins in a sample from a disease or disorder; and profiling the tumor from the quantitative protein activity of the master regulator proteins. Also disclosed are methods of identifying a compound or compounds that treats diseases or disorders (e.g., inhibit tumor cell growth).

Abstract: Non-fullerene electron acceptors for highly efficient organic photovoltaic devices are described. The non-fullerene electron acceptors have an extended, rigid, ?-conjugated electron-deficient framework that can facilitate exciton and charge derealization. The non-fullerene electron acceptors can physically mix with a donor polymer and facilitate improved electron transport. The non-fullerene electron acceptors can be incorporated into organic electronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Methods of detecting and treating diseases and pathological conditions of the eye are disclosed. In particular a genetic variant of the HtrA1 gene is correlated to age related macular degeneration (AMD). In addition, biologically active agents capable of inhibiting HtrA1 activity are provided, and methods of treating diseases and pathological conditions of the eye are additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for incorporating partially coherent illumination models into the problem of phase and amplitude retrieval from a stack of intensity images. The recovery of phase could be realized by many methods, including Kalman filters or other nonlinear optimization algorithms that provide least squares error between the measurement and estimation.

Abstract: Satisfactory magnet torque is achieved while avoiding a reduction in the reluctance torque generated. The rotor core is provided with a plurality of magnet slots arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotor core and a gap formed of base holes and a projecting hole. The base holes extend from both ends in the circumferential direction of each magnet slot to the outer side of the rotor core. The projecting hole projects in the circumferential direction of the rotor core from at least one of peripheral portions, opposed to each other, of the base holes provided at both of the ends of the magnet slot, when viewed in an axial direction. The projecting hole is located closer to the magnet slot than to an outer peripheral side end of the base hole.

Abstract: Provided is a video encoding method including: calculating a difference value between a rate-distortion (R-D) cost of a first coefficient level from among coefficient levels of a sub-block and an R-D cost of a second coefficient level adjacent to the first coefficient level by using a distortion difference calculated by using an integer of the first coefficient level and an integer of the second coefficient level and a rate variation between the first coefficient level and the second coefficient level; selecting one of the integer values of the first and second coefficient levels as a modified value of the first coefficient level based on the difference value; and outputting the modified value of the first coefficient level.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel compositions comprising anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof derived from 6G8G7 and 7C5B2 anti-DEspR variant antibodies, including fully human, composite engineered human, humanized, monoclonal, and polyclonal anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof, and methods of their use in a variety of therapeutic applications. The compositions comprising the anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof described herein are useful in diagnostic and imaging methods, such as DEspR-targeted molecular imaging of angiogenesis, and for companion diagnostic and/or in vivo non-invasive imaging and/or assessments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming a metal matrix composite including introducing a plurality of nanoparticles into a flow of metal material, and mixing of at least a partial portion of the flow of metal material with at least some of the plurality of nanoparticles to form a mixture of the metal material and at least some of the nanoparticles. The method further includes forming a metal matrix composite from the mixture, where the metal matrix composite includes a bulk region and an outer surface including a plurality of hydrophobic regions dispersed within a hydrophilic surface region. Further, the plurality of hydrophobic regions is formed or derived from the plurality of nanoparticles, and the hydrophobic regions have a first diameter, and an average spacing between the hydrophobic regions is a second diameter, where the first and second diameters are about 100 nm to 400 nm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cutting guide is disclosed for use in a surgical procedure to removed damaged tissue from a patient and form a recipient site configured and dimensioned to receive a donor graft. The cutting guide includes a first arm that abuts a section of the damaged tissue to be removed, and a second arm including a hole and a slot that receives a cutting implement, the first arm and the slot defining a distance therebetween corresponding to a desired dimension of the recipient site. In another embodiment, a cutting guide is disclosed for use in forming a donor graft from donor tissue. The cutting guide includes a body that receives the donor tissue, and a shaping member that is rotatably secured to the body. The shaping member includes at least one vane that shapes the donor tissue so as to form the donor graft.

Abstract: The present invention provides that exosomes from human body fluid samples contain double stranded genomic DNA that spans all chromosomes and may be used to determine the mutation status of genes of interest in diseases, such as cancer. Furthermore, the present invention provides the use of exosomes to produce therapeutic proteins and for their use in therapy as well as the detection of cancer cell-derived exosomes to diagnose cancer and monitor therapeutic response.

Abstract: A broad-band photodetector utilizes perovskite hybrid material and quantum dots as light harvesters. In particular, the photodetector is configured so that the structural defects on the surface of a quantum dot layer are passivated with perovskite hybrid material. As a result, the trap states on the surface of the quantum dot material is reduced, allowing leakage currents in the quantum dot material to be significantly reduced. As such, the photodetector is able to achieve broad-band operation, with enhanced photoresponsitivity and detectivity.

Abstract: Aluminum-zirconium and aluminum-zirconium-lanthanide superalloys are described that can be used in high temperature, high stress and a variety of other applications. The lanthanide is preferably holmium, erbium, thulium or ytterbium, most preferably erbium. Also, methods of making the aforementioned alloys are disclosed. The superalloys, which have commercially-suitable hardness at temperatures above about 220° C., include nanoscale Al3Zr precipitates and optionally nanoscale Al3Er precipitates and nanoscale Al3(Zr,Er) precipitates that create a high-strength alloy capable of withstanding intense heat conditions. These nanoscale precipitates have a L12-structure in ?-Al(f.c.c.) matrix, an average diameter of less than about 20 nanometers (“nm”), preferably less than about 10 nm, and more preferably about 4-6 nm and a high number density, which for example, is larger than about 1021 m?3, of the nanoscale precipitates.

Abstract: A method for operating a sensor, including simultaneously exciting a first set of electrodes and sensing an output of each electrode of a second set of electrodes, storing output data corresponding to the output of each electrode of the second set of electrodes in a memory storage device, shifting at least one electrode from the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes and at least one electrode from the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes, and repeating the simultaneously exciting and sensing, the storing, and the shifting until an output data has been stored for each possible pair of electrodes in the first and second set of electrodes.

Abstract: Detection of neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease can be accomplished through analyzing a subject's speech for acoustic measures based on human factor cepstral coefficients (HFCC). Upon receiving a speech sample from a subject, a signal analysis can be performed that includes identifying articulation range and articulation rate using HFCC and delta coefficients. A likelihood of Parkinson's disease, for example, can be determined based upon the identified articulation range and articulation rate of the speech.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to polymer ligands that are optimally suited for surface-functionalizing magnetic nanoparticles. The amphiphilic polymers are prepared by coupling several amine-terminated anchoring groups, polyethylene glycol moieties, and reactive groups onto a poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PIMA) chain. The reaction of maleic anhydride groups with amine-containing molecules is highly-efficient and occurs in one-step. The availability of several dopamine groups in the same ligand greatly enhances the ligand affinity, via multiple-coordination, to the magnetic NPs, while the hydrophilic and reactive groups promote colloidal stability in buffer media and allow subsequent conjugation with target biomolecules. Nanoparticles ligated with terminally reactive polymers have been easily coupled to target dyes and tested in live cell imaging with no measurable cytotoxicity.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus producing distributed X-ray, and in particular to a cathode control multi-cathode distributed X-ray apparatus, which produces X-ray that changes focal position in a predetermined order by arranging multiple independent hot cathodes and controlling cathodes in an X-ray source device, and a CT device having said X-ray apparatus.

Abstract: The detection range and the detection precision of a sensor device that makes use of the deformation of a viscoelastic elastomer are made variable. The sensor device comprises a magnetic viscoelastic elastomer containing electroconductive magnetic particles dispersed therein so as to demonstrate an elastic modulus that varies depending on a magnetic field applied thereto and an electric resistance in a prescribed direction that varies depending on a deformation thereof, electromagnets for applying a magnetic field that can be varied to the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer, a resistance detection circuit for detecting the electric resistance of the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer, and a control unit for computing at least one of a deformation state of the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer and a load applied to the magnetic viscoelastic elastomer according to a detection value of the resistance detection circuit and a magnitude of the magnetic field applied by the electromagnets.