Abstract: A piston assembly for a piston pump includes an actuator rod, a piston coupled to the actuator rod and configured to contact a radially-inner wall of a cylinder, and a piston support structure coupled to the actuator rod and configured to contact the radially-inner wall of the cylinder. A fluid channel extends through the actuator rod and the piston support structure, and the fluid channel is configured to deliver a lubricating fluid to an annular space positioned between the piston and the piston support structure along an axial axis of the piston assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, non-transitory computer readable storage media, and systems that utilize a plurality of neural networks to determine structural and semantic information via different views of a word sequence and then utilize this information to extract a relationship between word sequence entities. For example, the disclosed systems generate a plurality of sets of encoded word representation vectors utilizing the plurality of neural networks. The disclosed system then extracts the relationship from an overall word representation vector generated based on the sets of encoded word representation vectors. Furthermore, the disclosed system enforces structural and semantic consistency between views via a plurality of constrains involving a control mechanism for the semantic view and a plurality of losses.

Abstract: The invention relates to new anti-hCD3 antibodies that, in contrast to prior art anti-CD3 antibodies, bind specifically to human CD3 at acidic pH, but do not significantly bind to human CD3 at neutral or physiological pH, methods to produce these antibodies and therapeutic uses of these antibodies. These antibodies are able to activate T cells at acidic pH while having significantly reduced activity at neutral or physiological pH.

Abstract: A renal tube assay device can include: a container having an inlet port and an outlet port; a matrix material in the container; and a lumen in the matrix material extending from the inlet port to the outlet port. The lumen can include a luminal surface with at least one low density region that has a lower density compared to another adjacent region of the matrix material that is located at least partially around the at least one low density region. The low density region can have a form of a bubble, bulge, capsule, or the like. The low density region can bulge into the lumen. A port can be adapted for receiving a pipette tip. The matrix material can include a hydrogel. The container can be located in a cell culture dish.

Abstract: Disclosed are a manufacturing method for a laser chip and a laser chip. The manufacturing method comprises: step S1, forming a first electroplating substrate on an epitaxial layer; step S2, forming an organic pattern layer on the first electroplating substrate, wherein the pattern layer defines a hollowed-out area and a part of the first electroplating substrate is exposed to the pattern layer by means of the hollowed-out area; step S3, forming a first metal coating on the first electroplating substrate, wherein the first metal coating completely covers the pattern layer and the part of the first electroplating substrate not covered by the pattern layer; and step S4, removing the pattern layer to have a hollow channel formed between the first metal coating and the first electroplating substrate, wherein the channel is provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet running through the first metal coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for facilitating proactive two-way communication sessions. One example includes proactively sending a message, where when the message is received, the message initiates a conversation with a user across a first messaging platform. When it is dynamically determined that the first messaging platform is unavailable, a list of prioritized alternative messaging platforms is dynamically generated. A prioritized second messaging platform is selected from the list of prioritized alternative messaging platforms, and the message is dynamically modified in accordance with standards associated with the prioritized second messaging platform. When a response is then received after sending the modified message on the prioritized second messaging platform, an agent is selected from a pool of agents to respond.

Abstract: Provided methods of inhibiting a glioblastoma stem-like cell (GSC), methods of treating a subject with glioblastoma, and methods of reprogramming an astrocyte to a glioblastoma stem-like cell (GSC).

Abstract: Systems and methods for natural language processing are described. Embodiments are configured to receive a structured representation of a search query, wherein the structured representation comprises a plurality of nodes and at least one edge connecting two of the nodes, receive a modification expression for the search query, wherein the modification expression comprises a natural language expression, generate a modified structured representation based on the structured representation and the modification expression using a neural network configured to combine structured representation features and natural language expression features, and perform a search based on the modified structured representation.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treatment of a patient's vasculature are described. Embodiments may include a permeable implant such as a permeable shell or mesh having a radially constrained state configured for delivery within a catheter lumen, an expanded state, and a plurality of elongate filaments that are woven together. The permeable implant may include a stiffer proximal portion that is configured to sit at the neck of an aneurysm. The stiffer proximal portion may include additional mesh layers on either the inside or the outside of a first permeable shell. The distal portion of the device may be softer and deformable.

Abstract: The present specification relates to a transformed yeast strain capable of simultaneously utilizing xylose and glucose as carbon sources, a preparation method thereof and a biofuel production method using the same. The transformed yeast strain transforms a wild-type yeast strain incapable of using xylose as a carbon source and simultaneously convert glucose and xylose, thereby enabling high yield production of a biofuel. The economics and sustainability of the biofuel and biomaterial production processes can be highly enhanced by providing a strain which can easily be converted to a strain capable of producing a biofuel/material in a high yield through an additional modification.

Abstract: A system includes a distributed ledger storing one or more smart contracts; one or more 5G small cells, each having one or more antennas mounted on a housing, each small cell sending packets of data trackable with the distributed ledger; and a processor to control a directionality of the antennas in communication with a predetermined target using 5G protocols.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to devices, kits, and methods for treating lumbar spinal stenosis by at least partially decompressing a compressed nerve root. The method can include identifying the compressed nerve root and percutaneously accessing a region of a lamina located adjacent to the compressed nerve root. The method can also include forming a channel through the region of the lamina, wherein the channel can be formed medial to a lateral border of the lamina. Further, the method can include expanding the channel in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a core-shell hybrid material made of an activated carbon core surrounded by a mesoporous silica sol-gel shell, the method including the formation of a mesoporous silica sol-gel shell around activated carbon particles. Also, the core-shell hybrid material formed by the method, and its use as a filtering material in filtering systems.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for implementing a self-supervised visual odometry framework using long-term modeling includes, within a pose network of the self-supervised visual odometry framework including a plurality of pose encoders, a convolution long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) module having a first-layer ConvLSTM and a second-layer ConvLSTM, and a pose prediction layer, performing a first stage of training over a first image sequence using photometric loss, depth smoothness loss and pose cycle consistency loss, and performing a second stage of training to finetune the second-layer ConvLSTM over a second image sequence longer than the first image sequence.

Abstract: The invention proposed the catadioptric system, which consists of two main components: the first component comprising the two reflective mirrors, in which surface distortion of mirror 1 is parabolic, surface distortion of mirror 2 is aspheric; the second component is a relay consisting of three lenses: lens 1, lens 2, and lens 3 arranged after the medial image plane correspondingly; the second component helps reduce aberration to ensure receiving good quality image at a plane of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for renewing spent fluid catalytic cracking (SFCC) catalysts are disclosed which comprises: treating SFCC catalysts using a static reactor designed to uniformly distribute with an oxalic acid solution and its reflux to obtain leached SFCC catalysts; washing with aqueous solution and filtering to collect cleaned and treated SFCC catalyst; and c) executing the cleaned and treated SFCC catalyst with thermal treatment to obtain renewed FCC catalysts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical composition having a mixture containing curcuminoids as at least one of the active therapeutic agents. Generally, the mixture comprises 4-8% by weight of purified curcuminoids; 20-35% by weight of an oil phase; 25-35% by weight of a co-solvent; and 40-50% by weight of a surfactant. Preferably, the purified curcuminoids in the mixture has an average size of about 19 nm or at least half of the curcuminoids carried in the mixture has particle size not exceeding 19 nm.

Abstract: The present application provides an agent comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for a kallikrein protein (for example, PSA or hK2) for use in the treatment of prostate cancer, and a method for the treatment of prostate cancer in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for a kallikrein protein to the patient.