Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for detecting the presence and orientation of traffic lane markings. Deep convolutional neural networks are used with convolutional layers and max-pooling layers to generate fully connected nodes. After the convolutional and max-pooling layers, two sublayers are applied, one to determine presence and one to determine geometry. The presence of a lane marking segment as detected by the first sublayer can serve as a gate for the second sublayer by regulating the credit assignment for training the network. Only when the first sublayer predicts actual presence will the geometric layout of the lane marking segment contribute to the training of the overall network. This achieves advantages with respect to accuracy and efficiency and contributes to efficient robust model selection.

Abstract: The biofuel cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an external circuit electrically connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a positive electrode region where the positive electrode is disposed, a negative electrode region where the negative electrode is disposed, and a proton permeable membrane disposed between the positive electrode region and the negative electrode region, and the negative electrode region houses a biocatalyst together with the crushed material. The negative electrode region is separated by a mesh into an electrode region and a crushed material region, the negative electrode is housed in the electrode region, and the crushed material is housed in the crushed material region.

Abstract: The described invention provides a system and method for predicting disease outcome using a multi-field-of-view scheme based on image-based features from multi-parametric heterogenous images.

Abstract: A fabric phase sorptive extractor (FPSE) is a sampling device where a flexible fabric is coated with at least one sol-gel derived film that includes at least two of a metal oxide portion, a siloxy portion, and an organic portion, where the gel has at least some amorphous portions. The FPSE is flexible such that it can be used in an extended form or draped over a solid surface to contact a gaseous, liquid, or solid environment and can be manipulated for placement in a container where the absorbed analyte can be removed from the FPSE for instrumental analysis. The FPSE can have specific functionalities that bind to specific analytes or can provide a general sorbent medium for extraction of a wide range of analytes, such that the sampling device can be employed for sampling analytes with biological, environmental, food, pharmaceutical, bio-analytical, clinical, forensic, toxicological, national security, public health, and/or safety implications.

Abstract: Inhibitors of Late SV-40 Factor (LSF) are used to treat cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In particular, small molecule chemical LSF inhibitors are employed. In addition, the activity and/or pattern of expression of LSF may is used to diagnose cancer, to characterize the cancer (e.g. stage, grade, prognosis, etc.) and also to develop suitable protocols for cancer treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a high-molecular-weight copolymer of polar group-containing allyl monomers including monomer units represented by formulae (3) and (4) (in the formulae, R1 represents a hydrogen atom (H) or hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents —OH, —OCOR3 (R3 represents hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms), —N(R4)2 (R4 represents a hydrogen atom or hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms); and n and m are a value representing the molar ratio of each of the monomer units), which has few branches and unsaturated group at the molecular end, by copolymerizing olefin and an allyl compound using a metal complex of group 10 elements in the periodic system represented by formula (I) as a catalyst

Abstract: A method for providing spectral and temporal stealthy information transmitted over an optical communication channel, according to which, at the transmitting side, the power spectral density of a pulse sequence bearing the information is reduced by encrypting the temporal phase of the pulse sequence. The power of the pulse sequence is spread in the frequency domain, to be below the noise level, by sampling the pulse sequence. Spectral phase encoding is used to temporally spread the pulse sequence and to prevent coherent addition of its spectral replicas in frequency domain. The resulting signal, encrypted both in time and frequency domains, is then transmitted. Spectral phase decoding is performed at the receiving side by performing coherent detection and folding all the spectral replicas of the transmitted signal to the baseband by means of sampling. The temporal phase of the signal is decrypted and the information which is delivered by the pulse sequence is decoded.

Abstract: A system and method for image-processing that will facilitate automatically analyzing and estimating atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) images of fabricated nanomagnetic arrays to identify the magnetization states of the nanomagnets in the array. The system and method will automatically estimate the magnetization states of nanomagnetics disks into one of a plurality of energy minimum magnetization state configurations and provide an annotated image of the results of the estimation.

Abstract: The present invention relates conotoxin peptides that are analogs of the ?-conotoxin peptide RgIA. These conotoxin peptides block the ?9?10 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and can be used for treating pain, such as neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain, inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatic diseases, and in the treatment of breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aptazyme comprising an aptamer for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-encoding component; a hammerhead ribozyme comprising an antisense sequence to microRNA at the site released by self-cleavage; and a communication module sequence that connects the aptamer and hammerhead ribozyme and triggers a self-cleavage activity of the hammerhead ribozyme upon binding of the aptamer with the HCV RNA-encoding component. The present aptazyme inhibits microRNA activity specifically in HCV proliferating cells and thus a composition of the present invention comprising the aptazyme can be effectively used for treatment of HCV-related diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and melanoma, in a human patient. The methods and compositions of the present invention employ curcumin or a curcumin analogue encapsulated in a colloidal drug delivery system, preferably a liposomal drug delivery system. Suitable colloidal drug delivery systems also include nanoparticles, nanocapsules, microparticles or block copolymer micelles. The colloidal drug delivery system encapsulating curcumin or a curcumin analogue is administered parenterally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to additives used in conjunction with adhesives to give enhanced performance. Engineered composite wood materials and methods of making such materials are also provided by the subject application. A reinforced adhesive includes an adhesive and an additive material comprising nanoscopic and microscopic materials.

Abstract: A biomolecule-compatible highly branched polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer having an alkylene oxide and two or more radically polymerizable double bonds in a molecule in presence of a polymerization initiator in 5 mol % or more and 200 mol % or less relative to the moles of monomer, wherein molecular terminals of biomolecule-compatible highly branched polymer have one biomolecular site of at least one pair from the group of combination pairs of biotin and avidin, an antigen and antibody, polynucleotide and polynucleotide having complementary base sequence thereof, cDNA and mRNA, enzyme and substrate, an enzyme and product, an enzyme and competitive inhibitor, an enzyme (binding site) and coenzyme, an enzyme (binding site) and triazine dye, protease and protease inhibitor, Fc site and protein A, Fc site and protein G, lectin and sugar, hormone receptor and hormone, DNA and DNA binding protein, heparin and fibronectin, and heparin and laminin.

Abstract: A facile procedure to deliver nanocrystals to the cytosol of live cells that is both rapid and general. The technique employs a unique cationic core-shell polymer colloid that directs nanocrystals to the cytosol of living cells within a few hours of incubation. The present methods and compositions enable a host of advanced applications arising from efficient cytosolic delivery of nanocrystal imaging probes: from single particle tracking experiments to monitoring protein-protein interactions in live cells for extended periods.

Abstract: A TAF compound that can have substitutions on either of the two benzene rings and/or the C-5 position of the triazole to alter the properties of the TAF compound can be wherein X can be H, an aromatic group, a hetero aromatic group, an alkyl or any substituted alkyl group, ketone, aldyhyde, carboxylic acid derivatives; Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, and Y5 can be one or more of H, aromatic groups, hetero aromatic groups, alkyl or any substituted alkyl groups, ketone, aldyhyde, or carboxylic acid derivatives; and Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 and Z5 can be one or more of H aromatic groups, hetero aromatic groups, alkyl or any substituted alkyl groups, ketone, aldyhyde, or carboxylic acid derivatives. Included is a preparation of the TAF compound and use as a photoactive and/or catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing and determining prognosis of gastric cancer in a subject by detecting suppressed expression of the ZNF545 gene, which in some cases is due to elevated methylation level in the genomic sequence of this gene. A kit and device useful for such a method are also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating gastric cancer by increasing ZNF545 gene expression or activity.

Abstract: A plasma system includes a plasma device, an ionizable media source, and a power source. The plasma device includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode coaxially disposed around the inner electrode. The inner electrode includes a distal portion and an insulative layer that covers at least a portion of the inner electrode. The ionizable media source is coupled to the plasma device and is configured to supply ionizable media thereto. The power source is coupled to the inner and outer electrodes, and is configured to ignite the ionizable media at the plasma device to form a plasma effluent having an electron sheath layer about the exposed distal portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a moisture swing sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from air are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a heterogeneous ion-exchange material; soaking the material in deionized water; washing the material in hydroxide or carbonate solutions; rinsing the material in deionized water; collecting and titrating residuals of the soaking and the washing steps into a residual solution; measuring an amount of chloride in the residual solution; repeating all of the steps if the amount of chloride measured in the residual solution is greater than zero; and drying the material with either dry nitrogen gas or air free of carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: An aircraft-based infrared image recognition device for a ground moving target, including an infrared non-uniformity correction module, an image rotation module, an image registration module, a multi-level filtering module, a connected domain labeling module, a target detection and feature recognition module, a process control module, and a FPGA-based interconnection module. The invention uses an ASIC/SoC chip for image processing and target recognition, the DSP processor and the FPGA processor, it is possible to enable a multi-level image processing and target recognition algorithm, to improve system parallel, and to facilitate an aircraft-based infrared image recognition method for a ground moving target. Meanwhile, embodiments of the invention effectively reduce power consumption of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides novels genes encoding methyl butenol (MBO) synthase, methy butenol synthases and their use in methyl butenol production.