Abstract: Processes for oxidizing alkanes are provided. In embodiments, such a process comprises combining an alkane, e.g., isobutane, and ozone in a liquid phase medium comprising a protic additive, e.g., water, under conditions sufficient to oxidize the alkane to products comprising a hydroxylate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides aerosol generating substrates and aerosol source members comprising aerosol generating substrates, as well as methods of manufacturing thereof. In an example implementation, an aerosol generating substrate may comprise a fibrous filler material, an aerosol forming material, and a plurality of heat conducting constituents, wherein the substrate is formed as a sheet, and wherein the heat conducting constituents are part of the sheet. The heat conducting constituents may be incorporated within the sheet, or may be formed on a surface of the sheet. In another example implementation, an aerosol source member may comprise a substrate portion formed of a collection of intermingled pieces cut from an aerosol substrate sheet. In addition, or alternatively, a substrate portion may be formed of a series of overlapping layers of an aerosol substrate sheet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ozonolysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a liquid CO2 reaction environment. It has been unexpectedly discovered that oxygen-containing functional groups can be added to PAH substrates while substantially avoiding combustion reactions and while reducing or minimizing formation of energetic intermediates. Because the formation of energetic intermediates is minimal, the ozonolysis can be performed at temperatures near ambient (e.g., between ?10° C. and 50° C.) while still achieving a satisfactory safety profile. In various aspects, ozonolysis can occur while forming a reduced or minimized amount of water, such as forming substantially no water in the reaction environment.

Abstract: A method of analyzing images of a biological specimen using a computational model is described, the method including processing a cell image of the biological specimen and a phase contrast image of the biological specimen using the computational model to generate an output data. The cell image is a composite of a first brightfield image of the biological specimen at a first focal plane and a second brightfield image of the biological specimen at a second focal plane. The method also includes performing a comparison of the output data and a reference data and refining the computational model based on the comparison of the output data and the reference data. The method also includes thereafter processing additional image pairs according to the computational model to further refine the computational model based on comparisons of additional output data generated by the computational model to additional reference data.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing an alkyl substrate may comprise combining an alkyl substrate (e.g., propane, n-butane) and ozone in a liquid phase medium comprising a branched alkane activator (e.g., isobutane) and a protic additive (e.g., water) under conditions sufficient to oxidize the alkyl substrate to products. The alkyl substrate may be selected from linear and cyclic alkanes.

Abstract: Methods are provided to project depth-spanning stacks of limited depth-of-field images of a sample into a single image of the sample that can provide in-focus image information about three-dimensional contents of the image. These methods include applying filters to the stacks of images in order to identify pixels within each image that have been captured in focus. These in-focus pixels are then combined to provide the single image of the sample. Filtering of such image stacks can also allow for the determination of depth maps or other geometric information about contents of the sample. Such depth information can also be used to inform segmentation of images of the sample, e.g., by further dividing identified regions that correspond to the contents of the sample at multiple different depths.

Abstract: Methods are provided to project depth-spanning stacks of limited depth-of-field images of a sample into a single image of the sample that can provide in-focus image information about three-dimensional contents of the image. These methods include applying filters to the stacks of images in order to identify pixels within each image that have been captured in focus. These in-focus pixels are then combined to provide the single image of the sample. Filtering of such image stacks can also allow for the determination of depth maps or other geometric information about contents of the sample. Such depth information can also be used to inform segmentation of images of the sample, e.g., by further dividing identified regions that correspond to the contents of the sample at multiple different depths.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for acquiring a single, in-focus two-dimensional projection image of a live, three-dimensional cell culture sample, with a fluorescence microscope. One or more long-exposure “Z-sweep” images are obtained, i.e. via a single or series of continuous acquisitions, while moving the Z-focal plane of a camera through the sample, to produce one or more two-dimensional images of fluorescence intensity integrated over the Z-dimension. The acquisition method is much faster than a Z-stack method, which enables higher throughput and reduces the risk of exposing the sample to too much fluorescent light. The long-exposure Z-sweep image(s) is then input into a neural network which has been trained to produce a high-quality (in-focus) two-dimensional projection image of the sample.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for acquiring a single, in-focus two-dimensional projection image of a live, three-dimensional cell culture sample, with a fluorescence microscope. One or more long-exposure “Z-sweep” images are obtained, i.e. via a single or series of continuous acquisitions, while moving the Z-focal plane of a camera through the sample, to produce one or more two-dimensional images of fluorescence intensity integrated over the Z-dimension. The acquisition method is much faster than a Z-stack method, which enables higher throughput and reduces the risk of exposing the sample to too much fluorescent light. The long-exposure Z-sweep image(s) is then input into a neural network which has been trained to produce a high-quality (in-focus) two-dimensional projection image of the sample.

Abstract: Methods are provided to project depth-spanning stacks of limited depth-of-field images of a sample into a single image of the sample that can provide in-focus image information about three-dimensional contents of the image. These methods include applying filters to the stacks of images in order to identify pixels within each image that have been captured in focus. These in-focus pixels are then combined to provide the single image of the sample. Filtering of such image stacks can also allow for the determination of depth maps or other geometric information about contents of the sample. Such depth information can also be used to inform segmentation of images of the sample, e.g., by further dividing identified regions that correspond to the contents of the sample at multiple different depths.

Abstract: A method of analyzing images of a biological specimen using a computational model is described, the method including processing a cell image of the biological specimen and a phase contrast image of the biological specimen using the computational model to generate an output data. The cell image is a composite of a first brightfield image of the biological specimen at a first focal plane and a second brightfield image of the biological specimen at a second focal plane. The method also includes performing a comparison of the output data and a reference data and refining the computational model based on the comparison of the output data and the reference data. The method also includes thereafter processing additional image pairs according to the computational model to further refine the computational model based on comparisons of additional output data generated by the computational model to additional reference data.

Abstract: The disclosure provides example embodiments for automatically or semi-automatically classifying cells in microscopic images of biological samples. These embodiments include methods for selecting training sets for the development of classifier models. The disclosed selection embodiments can allow for the re-training of classifier models using training examples that have been subjected to the same or similar incubation conditions as target samples. These selection embodiments can reduce the amount of human effort required to specify the training examples. The disclosed embodiments also include the classification of individual cells based on metrics determined for the cells using phase contrast imagery and defocused brightfield imagery. These metrics can include size, shape, texture, and intensity-based metrics. These metrics are determined based on segmentation of the underlying imagery.

Abstract: Techniques to securely store and retrieve data are disclosed. In various embodiments, a process of retrieving secure data includes receiving a request, where the request includes a first secret data and a second secret data. The process further includes identifying a first encrypted data to retrieve based on the request, using the first secret data to decrypt the first encrypted data to generate a decrypted data, generating a second encrypted data, where the second encrypted data is encrypted using the second secret data. In response to the request, the second encrypted data is provided.

Abstract: A smart trailer system coupled to a trailer of a vehicle includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter of the trailer, a sensor interface board electrically coupled to the sensor and configured to retrieve the measured parameter, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the sensor interface board via a data bus.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the electrical stimulation of a bladder of a patient including selecting a first subset of electrodes from a set of electrodes positioned adjacent to a set of nerves associated with the bladder. The set of electrodes may include one or more electrodes, each of which may be configured to deliver electrical stimulation pulses generated by a stimulator device to the nerves. The method may further include delivering an electrical stimulation pulse through the selected first subset of electrodes and recording at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation pulse after receiving patient feedback.

Abstract: Techniques to securely store and retrieve data are disclosed. In various embodiments, a process of retrieving secure data includes receiving a request, where the request includes a first secret data and a second secret data. The process further includes identifying a first encrypted data to retrieve based on the request, using the first secret data to decrypt the first encrypted data to generate a decrypted data, generating a second encrypted data, where the second encrypted data is encrypted using the second secret data. In response to the request, the second encrypted data is provided.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the electrical stimulation of a bladder of a patient including selecting a first subset of electrodes from a set of electrodes positioned adjacent to a set of nerves associated with the bladder. The set of electrodes may include one or more electrodes, each of which may be configured to deliver electrical stimulation pulses generated by a stimulator device to the nerves. The method may further include delivering an electrical stimulation pulse through the selected first subset of electrodes and recording at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation pulse after receiving patient feedback.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the electrical stimulation of a bladder of a patient including selecting a first subset of electrodes from a set of electrodes positioned adjacent to a set of nerves associated with the bladder. The set of electrodes may include one or more electrodes, each of which may be configured to deliver electrical stimulation pulses generated by a stimulator device to the nerves. The method may further include delivering an electrical stimulation pulse through the selected first subset of electrodes and recording at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation pulse after receiving patient feedback.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a dimension of a non-rigid object and using the dimension to pick and place the object. A first input device conveys a non-rigid object into contact with a feed forward unit, which contact causes a displacement of the feed forward unit. The displacement measures a dimension of the object. The measured dimension is transmitted via at least one line of communication.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a dimension of a non-rigid object and using the dimension to pick and place the object. A first input device conveys the object into contact with a feed forward unit, which contact conditions the object. A distance sensor is positioned over a gap in the feed forward unit to measure a distance to a surface of the conditioned object. The distance measures a dimension of the conditioned object. The measured dimension is transmitted via at least one line of communication.