Abstract: Disclosed are a method for extracting a biomarker for diagnosing biliary tract cancer and a computing apparatus therefor, and the biomarker for diagnosing biliary tract cancer and an apparatus for diagnosing biliary tract cancer comprising same. More particularly, disclosed are a method for extracting a biomarker for diagnosing biliary tract cancer using a gene specifically expressed in a biliary tract cancer patient, or a microRNA obtained from blood or a tissue, capable of forming a pair with the gene and a computing apparatus therefor, and the biomarker for diagnosing biliary tract cancer and an apparatus for diagnosing biliary tract cancer comprising same.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention are systems and methods for using scan chains for the creation of unique physically uncloneable function (PUF). In particular, the present invention uses existing circuitry on an integrated circuit and the internal-scan or boundary-scan register to create a unique identifier for each integrated chip. The unique nature of the scan chains results from the inherent variability of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: An imaging system includes: a first lighting device for irradiating an imaging target object with visible light; a second lighting device for irradiating the imaging target object with near-infrared light; and an image sensor for photodetecting visible light caused by the visible light and coming from the imaging target object and fluorescence caused by the near-infrared light and coming from the imaging target object during a predetermined shutter open period every frame of a predetermined period. The image sensor outputs photodetection signals corresponding to photodetection amounts of the visible light and the fluorescence. The imaging system also includes a controller that generates a composite image of a visible image and a fluorescence image based on the photodetection signals, and has a lighting controller that turns on the second lighting device with optical power corresponding to the shutter open period in synchronism with the shutter open period.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method for aggregating dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells or a combination thereof, the method comprising: growing dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells or a combination thereof in suspension culture; and contacting the culture with an effective amount of an enzyme, wherein a substrate of the enzyme is an extracellular matrix molecule in the suspension culture, so as to aggregate dermal papilla cells or dermal sheath cells. The culture may be a hanging drop culture and the enzyme may be a hyaluronidase.

Abstract: A self-monitoring catheter system may detect an obstruction during use of a catheter. The system may include a catheter with an interior lumen that has one or more ports into the lumen; a first and a second electrode; and an impedance measurement instrument that measures changes in the impedance between the first and the second electrodes after the first electrode is exposed to fluid within the catheter lumen, thereby signaling an obstruction during use of the catheter.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein R1-R3, Ra, and Rb have any of the values defined herein, and salts thereof. The compounds have immunomodulatory properties.

Abstract: A nanocomposite structure includes: a) a charged fibrous substrate including fibers having disposed on their surfaces a multilayer structure including a layer of a first polyelectrolyte and disposed thereon a layer of a second polyelectrolyte of opposite charge from the first, the second polyelectrolyte forming the outermost layer of the charged fibrous substrate; and b) charged nanorods having a charge opposite that of the charged fibrous substrate, including gold nanorods each having disposed on its surface one or more layers, the outermost of which is a third polyelectrolyte having a charge opposite that of the second polyelectrolyte, wherein the first and third polyelectrolytes may be the same or different; wherein the charged nanorods are disposed unaligned with respect to each other on the charged fibrous substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of immunology and hyperproliferative diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of detecting and monitoring therapeutic antibody:antigen complex, soluble antigen and soluble therapeutic antibody, wherein a patient has undergone at least one course of immunotherapy. Yet further, levels of therapeutic antibody:antigen complexes, soluble antigens or soluble therapeutic antibodies may be measured and used to stage or monitor a hyperproliferative disease.

Abstract: Beta-hydroxybutyrate mineral salts in combination with medium chain fatty acids or an ester thereof such as medium chain triglycerides were used to induce ketosis, achieving blood ketone levels of (2-7 mmol/L), with or without dietary restriction. The combination results in substantial improvements in metabolic biomarkers related to insulin resistance, diabetes, weight loss, and physical performance in a short period of time. Further, use of these supplements to achieve ketosis yields a significant elevation of blood ketones and reduction of blood glucose levels. Use of these substances does not adversely affect lipid profiles. By initiating rapid ketosis and accelerating the rate of ketoadaptation, this invention is useful for the avoidance of glucose withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced by individuals initiating a ketogenic diet, and minimizes the loss of lean body mass during dietary restriction.

Abstract: Baboon Adenovirus (BaAdV)-2/4 and BaAdV-3 are disclosed herein. BaAdV-2/4 and BaAdV-3 polynucleotide, polypeptides and antibodies that specifically bind BaAdV-2/4 and/or BaAdV-3 are disclosed. Methods are disclosed for detecting BaAdV-2/4 and BaAdV-3. Methods are also disclosed for treating, preventing, and inducing an immune response to BaAdV-2/4 and/or BaAdV-3. Kits are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a carbon dioxide-releasing device, including a chamber having a sealable aperture for receiving a first material; a carbon dioxide-releasing polymer disposed within the chamber; and a port for releasing a carbon dioxide generated by the carbon dioxide-releasing polymer from the chamber. The carbon-dioxide releasing polymer can be a self-immolative polymer.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for generating dots in image reproduction, and relates to the field of image reproduction in the printing industry. The method comprises performing a binarization process on a threshold matrix of one or more basic dots according to level thresholds to obtain a set of level-binarization matrixes corresponding to the threshold matrix; determining substitution binarization matrixes and auxiliary binarization matrixes from the set of level-binarization matrixes; performing a Boolean operation on the substitution binarization matrixes and the auxiliary binarization matrixes to generate resulted binarization matrixes; substituting binarization matrixes to be substituted in the set of level-binarization matrixes with the resulted binarization matrixes; and according to the substituted set of level-binarization matrixes, forming a substituted threshold matrix, and generating shape-varied dots according to the substituted threshold matrix.

Abstract: A method of mitigating narrow band interference (NBI) in ultra wide band (UWB) systems operating around 10 GHz mitigates multiuser interference from IEEE 802.22 and WiMAX, wherein the multiuser interference interfers with both trained and blind UWB systems, with the trained UWB system using pilot symbol assisted modulation. The method passes a received UWB signal through a band pass filter (BPF), wherein the BPF is located at a UWB receiver and the UWB signal is a Hanning modulated pulse centered at 4 GHz frequency. The method further measures a plurality of test functions, determines a number of active users, notch filters NBI signals, based on the determined number of active users, passes the notch filtered signal through a quadratic programming algorithm, to perform joint decoding, estimates an arrival of a UWB payload, and demodulates the UWB payload, based on the estimated arrival of the UWB payload.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting in a sample the presence of an anti-M and/or anti-A and/or anti-C/Y anti-body, the method comprising contacting the sample with a diagnostic conjugate provided according to the invention, comprising an oligosaccharide which comprises at least two units of 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose and comprising at least one -(1-3)-link between adjacent 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose units, in which the carbon at position 5 in the pyranose is linked to an R group, where R is independently selected from —CH2OH, —H or an alkyl group having at least one C atom, the oligosaccharide being covalently linked to a non-saccharide molecule or to a surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel alloy catalyst material for use in the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen and hydrogen, or from oxygen and water. The present invention also relates to a cathode and an electrochemical cell comprising the novel catalyst material, and the process use of the novel catalyst material for synthesising hydrogen peroxide from oxygen and hydrogen, or from oxygen and water.

Abstract: A field-portable fluorescence imaging platform is disclosed that is installed on mobile communications device for imaging of individual nanoparticles or microparticles such as viruses, bacterial, and the like using a light-weight and compact opto-mechanical attachment or housing configured to be removably secured to the mobile communication device. The housing includes a sample holder configured to hold a sample along with a light source and a lens or lens system that is positioned generally opposite the lens in the mobile communication device. An optical filter is disposed in the housing and is interposed between the lens of the housing and the lens of the mobile communication device. A z-adjust stage is disposed in the housing and coupled to the sample holder, the z-adjust stage is configured to adjust the position of the sample holder in a z direction along an optical path passing through the lenses and onto an image sensor contained in the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A monolithic, bulk piezoelectric actuator includes a bulk piezoelectric substrate having a starting top surface and an opposing starting bottom surface and a at least two electrodes operatively disposed on the bulk piezoelectric substrate consisting of at least two discrete electrodes disposed on either/both of the starting top surface and the starting bottom surface and at least one electrode disposed on the respective other starting bottom surface or starting top surface. A stage includes a base, at least two of the monolithic, bulk piezoelectric actuators disposed on the base, a movable platform disposed on the base, and a respective number of deformable connectors each having a first connection to a respective one of the piezoelectric actuators and a second connection to a respective portion of the movable platform. A method for monolithically making a monolithic, bulk piezoelectric actuator involves a direct write micropatterning technique.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for synthesizing self-assembling nanoparticles with defined plasmon resonances. More particularly, certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to an improved method for synthesizing self-assembling gold nanoparticles by dialyzing samples during the self-assembly process or in presence of a surface to reduce certain subpopulations.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] Provided is a higher sensitive biosensor, in which a trace amount of non-invasively collected body fluid sample can be used, and even in a case where such a trace amount of sample is used, or even in a case where the concentration of an object substance to be measured in a sample is low, the object substance can be measured with high accuracy. [Solution] A biosensor 100 for measuring an object substance contained in a body fluid comprises: a molecule identification member 110 which is permeable to the body fluid, and has a molecule identification element 113 that can interact with the object substance contained in the permeated body fluid; and a detection element 120, which is connectable with the molecule identification member 110, and detects a change generated as a result of the interaction of the molecule identification element 113 with the object substance.

Abstract: A microblogs data management system and method that includes receiving, via communication circuitry, microblogs from a plurality of sources, storing, in a memory, the microblogs wherein the memory is temporally partitioned, transferring, using processing circuitry, a batch of the microblogs to an intermediate disk buffer when the memory is full, wherein the batch of the microblogs is selected based on a query and a temporal flushing policy, and transferring microblogs stored in the intermediate disk buffer to disk indexes.