Abstract: The present invention provides a longitudinally split immature tiller separated from a rhizome (LSITR), a cluster of multiple in vitro shoots (CMIT), a cluster of stem segments containing shoot primordia (CSSSP) and an in vitro tiller of Miscanthus x giganteus (Giant miscanthus), and their uses in propagating Miscanthus x giganteus (Giant miscanthus).

Abstract: The present invention provides a cable network planning method comprising: modelling the prespecified topology as a Steiner tree including a plurality of terminal nodes representing a plurality of cable landing stations (CLSs) to be installed respectively in a plurality of destination regions connected by the cable network, a plurality of Steiner nodes presenting a plurality of branching units (BUs) to be installed in the cable network, and a plurality of edges connecting the terminal nodes and Steiner nodes; constructing a directed acyclic graph (DAG); finding a Steiner minimal tree (SMT) by applying a DAG-Least-Cost-System algorithm; returning coordinates of Steiner nodes, terminal nodes of the SMT as locations of the BUs and the CLSs. The provided method enables inclusion of costs of the Steiner nodes by taking account of Steiner nodes with degree in excess of three such that more flexible BU branching structures and CLS locations alternatives can be considered.

Abstract: The disclosure provides polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Such polypeptides can be useful, for example, in treating pain in a subject. In some embodiments, the polypeptides are useful for treating neuropathic and/or inflammatory pain.

Abstract: Systems and methods of using and imaging shear-thinning biomaterial compositions are provided. More particularly, systems and methods of providing reversible birth control and/or for delivering therapeutics to reproductive organs are provided. A method includes administering a biomaterial into fallopian tubes, uterus, or vas deferens of the subject, where the biomaterial is a shear-thinning nanocomposite.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a secondary battery includes a potential sheath capable of suppressing a side reaction between an electrode and an electrolyte through electric potential control. The electrode structure for the secondary battery uses the electric potential control so that an unstable SEI layer, which causes decrease in cycle characteristic and capacity of an anode material, occurs only on the surface of a potential sheath without occurring on the surface of the anode active material, thereby being capable of completely solving the problems of the existing nanostructured electrode.

Abstract: A cross-contamination free and multiple laboratory sample grinder includes: a controller unit having a motor and a controller unit; a tube receptacle unit, removably laid on top of the controller unit, comprises a plurality of compartments designed to contain a plurality of laboratory tubes; and a top housing unit, removably laid on top of the tube receptacle unit, comprises an array of pestles coupled to a gear system that is operated by that motor. The top housing unit comprises a handle and a roller connector having a pair of wheels when rotated operable to eject the array of pestles into the plurality of laboratory tubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds useful as inhibitors of TIR NADase activity, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same. The present invention is useful for inhibition of TIR-domain NADase activity and/or treating microbial infection and/or modulating microbial physiology.

Abstract: Provided is an identification method of plastic microparticles, including: performing an infrared analysis on plastic microparticles to identify whether the plastic microparticles include polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon 66, wherein the identification is to determine whether the plastic microparticles have a characteristic peak of each plastic, and the characteristic peak is selected from signals that do not overlap and interfere with each other in the infrared spectrum signals of each plastic.

Abstract: A sensor can include a redox-active complex. The sensor can be voltage sensitive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glycopeptide that includes one or more modified amino acid residues having a sidechain comprising a monosaccharide or an oligosaccharide, wherein the glycopeptide binds specifically to a carbohydrate-binding monoclonal antibody from PGT128 family, preferably with an affinity of less than 100 nM. Immunogenic conjugates that include the glycopeptide, and pharmaceutical compositions that include the glycopeptide or the immunogenic conjugate are also disclosed. Various method of using the glycopeptides, immunogenic conjugates, and pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed, including inducing an immune response, inhibiting viral infection, treating a cancerous condition, and detecting a neutralizing antibody.

Abstract: A method for determining if a tissue is ganglionic is provided. The method comprises a) generating at least one hyperspectral Raman image of a tissue from a region of interest in a tissue suspected to contain ganglion cells that was optionally identified by a method comprising autofluorescence (AF) and Second Harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of the tissue; and b) analyzing any of the images for one or more of the following: i) optical excitation; ii) chemical information or emission spectra; or iii) AF, SHG, and/or Raman signatures, wherein the analysis provides indicators that the region of interest is either ganglionic or non-ganglionic. A system for analysis of in vivo tissue or ex vivo tissue samples including a multiphoton autofluorescence microscope, a Second Harmonic Generation microscope, and a hyperspectral Raman microscope in operative communication is also provided.

Abstract: Size-band analysis is used to determine whether a chromosomal region exhibits a copy number aberration or an epigenetic alteration. Multiple size ranges may be analyzed instead of focusing on specific sizes. By using multiple size ranges instead of specific sizes, methods may analyze more sequence reads and may be able to determine whether a chromosomal region exhibits a copy number aberration even when clinically-relevant DNA may be a low fraction of the biological sample. Using multiple ranges may allow for the use of all sequence reads from a genomic region, rather than a selected subset of reads in the genomic region. The accuracy of analysis may be increased with higher sensitivity at similar or higher specificity. Analysis may include fewer sequencing reads to achieve the same accuracy, resulting in a more efficient process.

Abstract: A method for performing Building Information Modelling design collaboration via Confidentiality-Minded Framework using Interplanetary-File-System-Blockchain integrated network by a server is provided. The method includes: segregating one or more sensitive and non-sensitive BIM portions of a BIM object; uploading a target BIM component into an IPFS network to receive a target content identifier (CID) of the target BIM component from the IPFS network; if the target BIM component has one or more of the sensitive portions, encrypting the target CID to obtain a target encrypted CID (ECID), and adding the target ECID into a target blockchain ledger as a target transaction via a target smart contract; accessing the target transaction to download the target BIM component from the IPFS network; and performing a design coordination operation on the target BIM component, so as to distributing revised target BIM component to a receiver terminal.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for identifying and correcting optical aberrations within a sample under optical microscopy. The method includes providing a plurality of optical beams including at least a first optical beam and a second optical beam; modulating at least one of the optical beams at one or more frequencies; providing a combined optical beam at least partially superimposed in time by the first optical beam and the second optical beam; focusing the combined optical beam into the sample; detecting a first signal excited by the combined optical beam in the sample; demodulating the first signal by at least one lock-in amplifier to obtain a second signal including performing a plurality of measurements of spatial positions of the first optical beam with respect to the second optical beam; identifying and correcting the optical aberrations by the second signal through obtaining the electric-field point spread function of the optical beams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for calibrating a first sensor in a changing operating environment by a calibration process. Sensor data are received from the first sensor and sensor values are received from a known calibrating sensor. A sensor specific model is maintained for the first sensor. Calibration needs are detected by estimating a drift and an error, taking into account a difference of sensor values to the known calibrating sensor and further taking into account a sensor profile of the first sensor. A correction factor or a correction model is estimated to the sensor data using said difference and used for calibrating the sensor. The correction factor or the correction model is derived from the sensor specific model.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an asymmetric wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing chip based on inverse design, which belongs to the technical field of optical components, systems or instrument. The chip includes the first-level asymmetric wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing unit and the second-level symmetric wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing unit, which is constructed by silicon based photonics integration technology, includes a substrate, a bottom cladding layer, a core layer and a top cladding layer sequentially stacked from bottom to top. The functional regions inside the first-level unit and the second-level unit are designed based on the inverse design algorithms, and are composed of subunits on the submicron or nanometer scale.

Abstract: A brain measurement apparatus includes: a magnetoencephalograph module having a cell, a pump laser configured to emit pump light, a probe laser configured to emit probe light to a sensitivity region intersecting the pump light in the cell, an optical sensor group configured to detect a polarization plane angle of the probe light having passed through the sensitivity region, and a bias magnetic field coil configured to apply a bias magnetic field; and an MRI module having a transmission coil for transmitting an RF pulse of a predetermined frequency, and a receiver coil configured to detect a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated by transmission of the RF pulse. The magnetoencephalograph module and the MRI module are surrounded by a magnetic shield including a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: An optically pumped magnetometer includes a cell, a pump light incidence unit causing pump light to be incident on a sensitivity region inside the cell in a first direction, a probe light incidence unit causing probe light for detecting change in electron spins to be incident on the sensitivity region in a direction intersecting the first direction, a bias magnetic field coil applying a bias magnetic field in the first direction to the inside of the cell and determining a resonance frequency of the electron spins, a gradient correction coil correcting a gradient of the bias magnetic field, an electron spin tilting unit tilting a rotation axis direction of the electron spins, an optical sensor detecting the probe light having passed through the sensitivity region, and a magnetic field measuring unit measuring a magnetic field strength related to the sensitivity region based on an output of the optical sensor.

Abstract: A multi-source solid waste recycling method based on composition design for calcium-silicon-aluminum-magnesium oxide includes collecting multi-source solid waste composition data; calculating and designing compositions of calcium oxide, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide units to obtain an inorganic non-metallic raw material with a target composition; and melts the raw material into slag, and uses carbon, metallic aluminum, aluminum nitride, aluminum carbide, silicon nitride and silicon carbide in the multi-source solid waste as reducing agents. The slag provides a high-temperature homogeneous reaction environment and serves as a “solvent” for reactants, the reducing agents reduce valuable metals in the slag to obtain an alloy, thereby achieving recovery of the valuable metals, and the slag is used for the inorganic non-metallic material in a high-value mode.

Abstract: The invention provides antibiotic BPI Fold Containing Family A Member 2 (BPIFA2) peptides, compositions comprising a BPIFA2 peptide, hydrogels comprising a BPIFA2 peptide, nanofibrillar networks comprising a BPIFA2 peptide, and tissue scaffolds comprising BPIFA2 peptides. The peptide, compositions, hydrogels nanofibrillar networks and tissue scaffolds are useful for medical therapy in an animal.