Abstract: Disclosed are an anti-B7-H7 antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, a preparation method therefor and the use thereof. The anti-B7-H7 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention has high affinity and high biological activity for B7-H7, and can effectively block the binding of B7-H7 to a receptor CD28H thereof and the binding of B7-H7 to a receptor KIR3DL3 thereof; furthermore, the anti-B7-H7 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof only specifically binds to B7-H7 without cross-reacting with other member proteins of the B7 family, and has good stability; in addition, the anti-B7-H7 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof shows strong in vivo anti-tumor activity.

Abstract: Provided is an anti-B7-H4 antibody containing a VH, wherein the VH contains the following CDRs or a mutation thereof: CDR1 as shown in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5, CDR2 as shown in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15, and CDR3 as shown in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 or 25, and wherein the mutation is an insertion, deletion or substitution of 3, 2 or 1 amino acid(s) in the amino acid sequences of the CDRs. The antibody has the activity of binding to human B7-H4 and cynomolgus monkey B7-H4. The antibody still retains the activity of binding to human B7-H4 and cynomolgus monkey B7-H4 when prepared into a B7-H4×CD3 bispecific antibody, and has a strong killing effect on tumor cells. The antibody induces a very low expression of nonspecific cytokines such as IL-6 and IFN-?, and exhibits a strong in vivo anti-tumor activity.

Abstract: A method for preparing sodium taurine as a taurine intermediate is provided in the present disclosure. The method comprises the following steps: providing sodium hydroxyethyl sulfonate and an ammonia source; and placing the sodium hydroxyethyl sulfonate and the ammonia source in an aminolysis reactor for an aminolysis reaction to obtain a mixture containing sodium taurine as a taurine intermediate, wherein the molar ratio of ammonia in the ammonia source to the sodium hydroxyethyl sulfonate is greater than or equal to 25:1. A method for preparing taurine is further provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for providing accurate image-guided localization of a radiation target using digital image acquisition with real time data analysis utilizing a radiation device, directing a beam of radiation through a sample reflecting onto a film screen and reflecting an image from the film screen onto a mirror that will project the image from the mirror to a bean splitter where it is captured by a camera operatively associated with a computer device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for image segmentation and analysis are described. A predictive model may be trained to identify and/or extract a rich set of image features with extensive prognostic value. For example, the predictive model may be trained to identify and/or extract features that that may be visualized to identify areas of interest (e.g., high-risk regions, etc.) within or adjacent to an object of interest, such a tumor. The predictive model may be trained to identify and/or extract features that that may predict a health related outcome, such as cancer patient survival/death, and modify therapeutic outcomes, such as diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a circuit. The first circuit may be configured to receive an input signal, split the input signal into component signals and present the component signals to a plurality of amplifiers. The second circuit may be configured to receive amplified component signals from the amplifiers and combine the amplified component signals into an output signal. The circuits may each comprise an outer conductor, an inner conductor, a cavity and a plurality of blades. Each of the blades may be arranged evenly spaced along a surface within the cavity and extend along a length of the surface with a shape. The shape of the blades may have a probe and the shape may gradually meet the surface and may be configured to provide a low-loss transition for propagation of a microwave signal. The output signal may be an amplified version of said input signal.

Abstract: An apparatus including an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The inner conductor may comprise a cylindrical portion, a tapered end and a plurality of blades. The blades may be arranged around the cylindrical portion and extend along a length of the cylindrical portion with a predetermined shape. The shape may have a probe at a first end and a second end of the shape may meet the cylindrical portion. The tapered end may have an input/output (I/O) transition. The outer conductor may comprise a cavity, a first connector and a plurality of second connectors. The inner conductor may be within the cavity. The first connector may be connected to the I/O transition. Each of the second connectors may be connected to the probe of one of the blades. The shape of each of the blades may be configured to provide a low-loss transition for a microwave signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage. The apparatus for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage includes a water chilling unit, a hydrate-based cold storage tank, an airflow disturbance device, a water layer positioning system, a spraying system, a suction filtration system, a heat exchange system, and a system monitoring device. The water chilling unit provides a secondary refrigerant at a low temperature. The secondary refrigerant flows through an evaporator coil in the hydrate-based cold storage tank for heat exchange. The airflow disturbance device induces hydrate nucleation. The water layer positioning system positions a contact surface between a water layer and a hydrate former after hydrate decomposition to facilitate drawing and separation of the treated upper water layer. The spraying system and the suction filtration system enhance the solid-liquid separation efficiency to improve the removal rate of pollutants.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage. The apparatus for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage includes a water chilling unit, a hydrate-based cold storage tank, an airflow disturbance device, a water layer positioning system, a spraying system, a suction filtration system, a heat exchange system, and a system monitoring device. The water chilling unit provides a secondary refrigerant at a low temperature. The secondary refrigerant flows through an evaporator coil in the hydrate-based cold storage tank for heat exchange. The airflow disturbance device induces hydrate nucleation. The water layer positioning system positions a contact surface between a water layer and a hydrate former after hydrate decomposition to facilitate drawing and separation of the treated upper water layer. The spraying system and the suction filtration system enhance the solid-liquid separation efficiency to improve the removal rate of pollutants.

Abstract: Provided are a B7H4-targeting antibody or a variant thereof, and a bispecific antibody containing the B7H4-targeting antibody, wherein the B7H4-targeting antibody comprises a light chain variable region and a heavy chain variable region. The variant has an amino acid mutation in the light chain variable region or heavy chain variable region of the antibody and can maintain the function of the antibody. The B7H4-targeting antibody has the activity of binding to human B7H4 and cynomolgus macaque B7H4, and does not cross-react with other B7 family members. The B7H4-targeting antibody exhibits good anti-tumor activity, T-cell activation activity and internalization activity in in-vivo and in-vitro experiments, and is more suitable for use as an ADC drug. Further provided is a bispecific antibody targeting B7H4 and CD3, which has a longer half-life, retains good stability and hydrophilicity, and reduces toxicity while ensuring efficacy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a binding protein and use thereof, wherein the binding protein comprises a first protein functional region binding to a targeting moiety of an antigen on a target cell, and a second protein functional region binding to an effector moiety of an antigen on an immune effector cell; and the binding protein is selected from the following structure: the first protein functional region is of a Fab structure, the second protein functional region is of a VH structure or a Fab structure, and the first protein functional region and the second protein functional region are arranged sequentially from the N-terminus to the C-terminus of the binding protein. The binding protein can bring the immune effector cell and the specific target cell together, efficiently and selectively activate the immune effector cell in a microenvironment of the specific target cell, further enhance immune responses, and reduce toxic and side effects caused by non-specific activation of peripheral immune cells.

Abstract: A method for needle position optimization for prostate brachytherapy for use with a radiation delivery device configured to use a plurality of needles inserted into a prostate of a patient includes obtaining imagery of the prostate of the patient, generating a needle pool for prostate brachytherapy treatment of the patient based on the imagery of the prostate of the patient, and determining at a computing device an optimum prostate brachytherapy treatment plan for the patient by iteratively removing needles from the needle pool by forming and computationally solving a convex optimization problem wherein the convex optimization problem uses a quadratic dosimetric penalty function, dwell time regularization by total variation, and block sparsity regularization term.

Abstract: Provided are a bispecific antibody and use thereof. The bispecific antibody comprises a B7-H4-targeting antigen-binding domain and a 4-1BB-targeting antigen-binding domain. The bispecific antibody has one or two or three sites for binding to 4-1BB, along with a novel fully human B7-H4 antibody. The bispecific antibody specifically binds to tumor cells by targeting B7-H4, reducing toxicity induced by 4-1BB activation. In addition, the bispecific antibody of the present invention comprises a human Fc fragment, and thus retains the binding of Fc to FcRn and has a longer half-life.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for a rotating shield brachytherapy device. As disclosed herein, the rotating shield brachytherapy (RSBT) apparatus may comprise a radiation source, a drive assembly, a catheter, and an applicator. The applicator can have an outer surface and opposed proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the catheter. The distal end portion of the catheter can comprise one or more radiation shields and is configured to receive the radiation source. The drive assembly can be configured to engage the proximal end portion of the catheter to selectively rotate the catheter about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Potentiometric sensors based on potentiometric mechanosensation and/or thermosensation mechanisms operate by regulating the potential difference between electrodes at two different electrode/electrolyte interfaces. A potentiometric sensor may include at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a microstructured ionic hydrogel composite electrolyte in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode. Methods of making a potentiometric sensor device may include forming a first electrode on a substrate, forming a second electrode on the substrate, and applying a microstructured ionic hydrogel composite electrolyte structure in contact with both the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A seismic exploration method includes performing a true amplitude PSDM based on an initial velocity model of a subsurface formation to obtain a reflectivity model, and then a Born modeling using the reflectivity model to generate synthetic data. An image-based reflection full waveform inversion is applied to a cost function of differences between seismic data acquired over the subsurface formation and the synthetic data to update the initial velocity model. The updated velocity model enables exploring the presence of and/or assisting in the extraction of natural resources from the subsurface formation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for image segmentation and analysis are described. A predictive model may be trained to identify and/or extract a rich set of image features with extensive prognostic value. For example, the predictive model may be trained to identify and/or extract features that that may be visualized to identify areas of interest (e.g., high-risk regions, etc.) within or adjacent to an object of interest, such a tumor. The predictive model may be trained to identify and/or extract features that that may predict a health related outcome, such as cancer patient survival/death, and modify therapeutic outcomes, such as diagnosis and treatment.