Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of treating inflammatory indications with complement inhibitor compounds and compositions. Included are compounds and methods for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for estimating 3D coordinate of a 3D virtual model. Two pairs of feature points are obtained. Each of the pairs includes a respective 2D feature point on an organ observed in a 2D image, acquired during a medical procedure, and a respective corresponding 3D feature point from a 3D virtual model, constructed for the organ prior to the procedure based on a plurality of images of the organ. The depths of the first and the second 3D feature points are substantially the same. A first 3D coordinate of the first 3D feature point and a second 3D coordinate of the second 3D feature point are automatically determined based on the pairs of feature points so that a first distance between the determined first 3D coordinate and the determined second 3D coordinate equals to a second distance between a first actual 3D coordinate of the first 3D feature point and a second actual 3D coordinate of the second 3D feature point in the 3D virtual model.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to a method and system for path planning. A target is tracked via one or more sensors. Information of a desired pose of an end-effector with respect to the target and a current pose of the end-effector is obtained. Also, a minimum distance permitted between an arm including the end-effector and each of at least one obstacle identified between the current pose of the end-effector and the target is obtained. A weighting factor previously learned is retrieved and a cost based on a cost function is computed in accordance with a weighted smallest distance between the arm including the end-effector and the at least one obstacle, wherein the smallest distance is weighted by the weighting factor. A trajectory is computed from the current pose to the desired pose by minimizing the cost function.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for estimating 3D coordinate of a 3D virtual model. Two pairs of feature points are obtained. Each of the pairs includes a respective 2D feature point on an organ observed in a 2D image, acquired during a medical procedure, and a respective corresponding 3D feature point from a 3D virtual model, constructed for the organ prior to the procedure based on a plurality of images of the organ. The first and the second 3D feature points have different depths. A 3D coordinate of a 3D feature point is determined based on the pairs of feature points so that a projection of the 3D virtual model from the 3D coordinate substantially matches the organ observed in the 2D image.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementations for fusing a 3D virtual model with a 2D image associated with an organ of a patient. A key-pose is determined as an approximate position and orientation of a medical instrument with respect to the patient's organ. Based on the key-pose, an overlay is generated on a 2D image of the patient's organ, acquired by the medical instrument, by projecting the 3D virtual model on to the 2D image. A pair of feature points includes a 2D feature point from the 2D image and a corresponding 3D feature point from the 3D virtual model. The 3D coordinate of the 3D feature point is determined based on the 2D coordinate of the 2D feature point. The depth of the 3D coordinate is on a line of sight of the 2D feature point and is determined so that the projection of the 3D virtual model from the depth creates an overlay approximately matching the organ observed in the 2D image.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising borate-acid buffers, as well as methods of using these compositions in oil and gas operations, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations, fracturing operations, stimulation operations, etc.

Abstract: Methods and compositions of improving plant yield by introducing into a plant the K-domain of a MADS box gene are disclosed. The expression of the K-domain provides plants with altered flower development, plant size and leaf development.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polypeptide modulators of complement activity, including cyclic polypeptide modulators. Included are methods of utilizing such modulators as therapeutics. Also provided are methods of measuring C5 and related complexes using C5 binding agents.

Abstract: This invention provides polypeptides that were identified as interacting with Vip3 toxin. This invention also provides a method of identifying agents that bind to Vip3 interacting polypeptides, which agents may act as insecticidal agent, cytotoxic agents and/or modulate the activity of Vip3 interacting polypeptides.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising borate-acid buffers, as well as methods of using these compositions in oil and gas operations, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations, fracturing operations, stimulation operations, etc.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to surgical procedure planning. In one example, at least one 3D object contained in a 3D volume is rendered on a display screen. The at least one 3D object includes a 3D object corresponding to an organ. First information related to a 3D pose of a surgical instrument positioned with respect to the at least one 3D object is received from a user. A 3D representation of the surgical instrument is rendered in the 3D volume based on the first information. Second information related to a setting of the surgical instrument is received from the user. A 3D treatment zone in the 3D volume with respect to the at least one 3D object is estimated based on the first and second information. The 3D treatment zone in the 3D volume is visualized on the display screen. Controls associated with the 3D representation of the surgical instrument and/or the 3D treatment zone are provided to facilitate the user to dynamically adjust the 3D treatment zone via the controls.

Abstract: A method, implemented on a machine having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform capable of connecting to a network for characterizing a tumor embedded inside a medium, comprising: measuring at least one of a mechanical property and a spectral property of the tumor.

Abstract: The invention relates to synthetic miRNA precursor molecules and methods for the use of the miRNA precursor molecules in modulating the expression of target polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to robot path planning. Depth information of a plurality of obstacles in an environment of a robot are obtained at a first time instance. A static distance map is generated based on the depth information. A path is computed for the robot based on the static distance map. At a second time instant, depth information of one or more obstacles is obtained. A dynamic distance map is generated based on the one or more obstacles, wherein for each obstacle that satisfies a condition: a vibration range of the obstacle is computed based on a position of the obstacle and the static distance map, and the obstacle is classified as a dynamic obstacle or a static obstacle based on a criterion associated with the vibration range. A repulsive speed of the robot is computed based on the dynamic distance map to avoid the dynamic obstacles.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to surgical procedure planning. In one example, at least one 3D object contained in a 3D volume is rendered on a display screen. The at least one 3D object includes a 3D object corresponding to an organ. First information related to a 3D pose of a surgical instrument positioned with respect to the at least one 3D object is received from a user. A 3D representation of the surgical instrument is rendered in the 3D volume based on the first information. Second information related to a setting of the surgical instrument is received from the user. A 3D treatment zone in the 3D volume with respect to the at least one 3D object is estimated based on the first and second information. The 3D treatment zone in the 3D volume is visualized on the display screen. Controls associated with the 3D representation of the surgical instrument and/or the 3D treatment zone are provided to facilitate the user to dynamically adjust the 3D treatment zone via the controls.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to robot path planning. Depth information of a plurality of obstacles in an environment of a robot are obtained at a first time instance. A static distance map is generated based on the depth information. A path is computed for the robot based on the static distance map. At a second time instant, depth information of one or more obstacles is obtained. A dynamic distance map is generated based on the one or more obstacles, wherein for each obstacle that satisfies a condition: a vibration range of the obstacle is computed based on a position of the obstacle and the static distance map, and the obstacle is classified as a dynamic obstacle or a static obstacle based on a criterion associated with the vibration range. A repulsive speed of the robot is computed based on the dynamic distance map to avoid the dynamic obstacles.

Abstract: A wedge mechanism for light modulator image adjustment is provided. In particular, a device is provided comprising: a first plate; a second plate for receiving a light modulator; one or more biasing mechanisms to bias the second plate in a biased position relative to the first plate, to allow the second plate to move with respect to the first plate; first and second wedge devices configured respectively interact with a first and second edges of the second plate to move the second plate, relative to the first plate, against the one or more biasing mechanisms, the second edge of the second plate being about perpendicular to the first edge of the second plate; and first and second wedge device adjustment mechanisms configured to respectively adjust positions of the first and second wedges device relative to the first and second edges, to move the second plate.

Abstract: A computing system for controlling a plurality of exterior lights on a flying vehicle is disclosed. The computing system is configured to: determine a flying vehicle status for the flying vehicle; determine an environment status for the flying vehicle; determine a current flight phase for the flying vehicle; determine, for each of a plurality of the exterior lights that is in an automatic lighting control mode, a desired lighting state for the exterior light by applying a predefined lighting pattern that identifies, based on the flying vehicle status, environmental status, and the current flight phase, a first subset of the exterior lights to cause to enter a first lighting state and a second subset of the exterior lights to cause to enter a second lighting state; and cause the first subset of exterior lights to be in the first lighting state and the second subset of exterior lights to be in the second lighting state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polypeptide modulators of complement activity, including cyclic polypeptide modulators. Included are methods of utilizing such modulators as therapeutics. Also provided are methods of measuring C5 and related complexes using C5 binding agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptide modulators of complement activity, including cyclic polypeptide modulators. Also provided are methods of utilizing such modulators as therapeutics.