CRISPR-dCas9 based DNA detection scheme for diagnostics in resource-limited settings

Nucleic-acid detection is crucial for basic research as well as for applications in medicine such as diagnostics. In resource-limited settings, however, most DNA-detection diagnostic schemes are inapplicable since they rely on expensive machinery, electricity, and trained personnel. Here, we present an isothermal DNA detection scheme for the...

Electron scattering properties of biological macromolecules and their use for cryo-EM map sharpening

Resolution-dependent loss of contrast in cryo-EM maps may obscure features at high resolution that are critical for map interpretation. Post-processing of cryo-EM maps can improve the interpretability by adjusting the resolution-dependence of structure factor amplitudes through map sharpening. Traditionally this has been done by rescaling the...

Safe Policies for Factored Partially Observable Stochastic Games

We study planning problems where a controllable agent operates under partial observability and interacts with an uncontrollable opponent, also referred to as the adversary. The agent has two distinct objectives: To maximize an expected<br/>value and to adhere to a safety specification. Multi-objective partially observable stochastic games (POSGs...

From XXS to XXL: Towards a typology of distribution centre facilities

Distribution centres are becoming more and more relevant for spatial planning, due to their rapidly increasing size and number. There is little literature, however, that provides a generalized analysis of the size and functional attributes of distribution centres, and none that discusses the relationships between these attributes. Our aim is to...

Diagnosing point-of-care diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases

Inadequate and nonintegrated diagnostics are the Achilles' heel of global efforts to monitor, control, and eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). While treatment is often available, NTDs are endemic among marginalized populations, due to the unavailability or inadequacy of diagnostic tests that cause empirical misdiagnoses. The need of...

Matching Development of Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tests to the Local Context: A Case Study of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Kenya and Uganda

The rapid growth of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests necessitates a clear vision of when, where, and why a new POC diagnostic test needs to be developed and how it can be used in a way that matches a local health care context. Here, we present an innovative approach toward developing a concept target product profile (CTPP), which is a new...

IOT based advanced medicine dispenser integrated with an interactive web application

Internet of Things (IOT) is a development of the internet which plays a major role in integrating human-machine interaction by allowing everyday objects to send and receive data in a variety of applications. Using IOT in healthcare monitoring provides an avenue for doctors and patients to interact and to track the dosage of medication...

Seismic Waveform Inversion: Bump functional, parameterization analysis and imaging ahead of a tunnel-boring machine

During a seismic experiment, mechanical waves are usually generated by various manmade sources. These waves propagate in the subsurface and are recorded at receivers. Modern seismic exploration methods analyze them to infer the mechanical properties of the subsurface; this is commonly referred as quantitative imaging. These properties assist in...

A shear-wave seismic system using full waveform inversion to look ahead of a tunnel-boring machine

In the near surface with unconsolidated soils, shear-wave properties can often be characterised better and with a higher resolution than compressional-wave properties. To enable imaging ahead of a tunnel-boring machine, we developed a seismic prediction system with a few shear-wave vibrators and horizontal receivers. The boring process is...

Full waveform inversion with an auxiliary bump functional

Least-squares inversion of seismic arrivals can provide remarkably detailed models of the Earth's subsurface. However, cycle skipping associated with these oscillatory arrivals is the main cause for local minima in the least-squares objective function. Therefore, it is often difficult for descent methods to converge to the solution without an...

A Shear-Wave Seismic System to Look Ahead of a Tunnel Boring Machine

The Earth’s properties, composition and structure ahead of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) should be mapped for hazard assessment during excavation. We study the use of seismic-exploration techniques for this purpose. We focus on a seismic system for soft soils, where shear waves are better and easier to interpret than compressional waves, as has...

Multi-objective full waveform inversion in the absence of low frequencies

Least-squares inversion of seismic reflection waveforms can reconstruct remarkably detailed models of the Earth’s subsurface. However, the cycle-skipping associated with the highfrequency waveforms are responsible for spurious local minima in its objective function. Therefore, it is often difficult for descent methods to converge to the true...