Abstract: Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.

Abstract: A method for rapid OCT image acquisition includes acquiring by OCT a plurality of compressive measurements (y) representing a set of under-sampled OCT data in a Dirac domain below a Nyquist rate by sampling an object of interest at randomly spaced vertical and horizontal lines in a Cartesian geometry using a raster scan, and recovering a 3D volumetric OCT image (f) from the compressive measurements (y) using compressive sampling. The method may also include recovering the 3D volumetric OCT image (f) from the compressive measurements (y) based at least in part on a sparsifying matrix (S) capable of transforming the 3D volumetric OCT image (f) into a sparse representation, such as a matrix representation of the 3D volumetric OCT image (f) in a shift-invariant wavelet transform domain. The method may also be applied to radial OCT scan patterns.

Abstract: A security document is disclosed which includes an electrical circuit embedded in a document substrate, where the electrical circuit includes a power source with at least one electroactive polymer power generator, and an optical display including at least one electroluminescent display element and at least one nanohole array which forms a layer of the electroluminescent display element. Security features comprising nanohole arrays are also provided. A method of authenticating a security document is disclosed, including illuminating an encoded nanohole array in the security document with a focused light beam or laser light source emitting at least one defined wavelength of incident light, detecting a transmitted portion of the incident light transmitted through the nanohole array with an optoelectronic sensor, analyzing at least one wavelength of the transmitted portion of light to produce a detected signal, and comparing the detected signal with an authentication signal to authenticate the security document.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are anion-conducting polymers that comprise a cationic benzimidazolium and imidazolium moieties. Methods of forming the polymers and membranes comprising the polymers are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula (I) for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.

Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag comprising foam bulk at least partially surrounded by a flexible membrane, the airbag compressible from a second volume to a first volume; a locking mechanism for maintaining the airbag compressed to the first volume; a one-way valve openable to deliver air to the airbag when the locking mechanism is released; and wherein when the locking mechanism is released, the airbag expands.

Abstract: A method of self-organizing sensor nodes in a wireless sensor network (WSN); a method of localizing mobile nodes in a WSN; and a method of self-calibrating a WSN are disclosed. The method of self-organizing sensor nodes in a WSN includes configuring sensor nodes to in turn broadcast consecutive messages at a plurality of pre-defined and incrementally increasing power levels; detecting receipt of the broadcasted messages at each of the sensor nodes and notifying a master node as to the identity of each sensor node receiving the broadcasted message and the power level at which it was received to define a detected neighborhood for each sensor node; determining relative locations of sensor nodes with the detected neighborhoods; and mapping relative locations of the sensor nodes by the master node based on results of the neighborhood detection and known locations of two anchor nodes.

Abstract: A modular dynamically re-configurable profiling core may be used to provide both operating systems and applications with detailed information about run time performance bottlenecks and may enable them to address these bottlenecks via scheduling or dynamic compilation. As a result, application software may be able to better leverage the intrinsic nature of the multi-core hardware platform, be it homogeneous or heterogeneous. The profiling functionality may be desirably isolated on a discrete, separate and modular profiling core, which may be referred to as a configurable profiler (CP). The modular configurable profiling core may facilitate inclusion of rich profiling functionality into new processors via modular reuse of the inventive CP. The modular configurable profiling core may improve a customer's experience and productivity when used in conjunction with commercial multi-core processors.

Abstract: The effectiveness of biomimetic dry adhesives at different ambient pressures is investigated. Biomimetic dry adhesives have great potential for space applications but there have been few studies on how these adhesives perform in low-pressure environments. Various geometrical configurations for cap and fiber structures of dry adhesive materials are disclosed. Various methods for manufacturing dry adhesive materials including a silicone rubber negative mold are disclosed. Various methods of manufacturing directly molded anisotropic dry adhesive structures with anisotropic peel strengths are also provided.

Abstract: An impact diverting mechanism comprising a top layer and a bottom layer is provided. The two layers are connected such that the top layer is configured to move in relation to the bottom layer when impacted, and therefore is able to divert impact and reduce rotational and linear acceleration on the bottom layer. The impact diverting mechanism may be attached to, or configured to attach to, an object in need of protection, such as a helmet.

Abstract: An ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) capacitor is disclosed which includes a thin single layer non-hydrated ionic polymer substrate with conductive film electrodes applied to at least a portion of each side of the non-hydrated ionic polymer substrate. The disclosed capacitor is suited for providing thin capacitance structures made to substantially any desired dimensions and shape and may be particularly suited for short term power storage in low power electronics, sensors, micro-electronics, MEMs and high temperature applications. A method of manufacturing an IPMC capacitor is also disclosed including providing a thin single layer non-hydrated ionic polymer substrate, applying a conductive film electrode to both sides of the substrate, and attaching electrical connections to the electrodes. The disclosed method of manufacture may optionally also include heat curing the capacitor and coating the capacitor with at least one moisture-resistant protective coating layer.

Abstract: An intelligent dental handpiece control system is disclosed. The handpiece includes a sensor which detects a vibration, sound, force or torque frequency/time signal produced by the handpiece in use and signal processor which produces or determines secondary signal characteristics such as the handpiece torque, force or angular velocity. A controller analyzes the secondary signal characteristics and produces a control signal which controls or stops the angular velocity of the dental handpiece in order to avoid overdrilling of healthy tooth material or damaging the nerves in the jaw during dental implant operations. The controller may also provide a warning signal to the user and/or control the angular velocity of the handpiece.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new non-invasive method for inducing angiogenesis and more particularly coronary angiogenesis wherein an operator applies localized percussion upon the upper torso proximate an ischemic myocardial region, whereby the percussive forces penetrate to cause sheer stresses to the endothelium of the coronaries which lie thereupon, and thereby cause new coronary growth by virtue of endogenous liberation of beneficial angiogenic mediators. A pair of vibratory contacts are advantageously applied to rib-spaces to either side of the sternum (or alternatively to the upper back), where-after percussion is applied at the resonance frequency of the heart/epimyocardium at a displacement amplitude of 0.1 mm-15 mm (preferably greater than 1 mm), such as to maximize an internal oscillatory effect. The system is also adaptable for cerebral and peripheral vasculature applications. Ultrasonic imaging may optionally be utilized to direct percussive therapy.

Abstract: A vibratory attachment interface enabling transmission of oscillations generated by an oscillation source upon an external human body surface. The interface comprises a first contact node and a second contact node slideably mounted alongside the first contact node, wherein the contact nodes are each sized and shaped to enable seating within a human rib-space, and whereby upon forced engagement of the first contact node within a first rib-space, the second contact node automatically slides and conforms to the contour of a second differing rib-space thereby optimally nestling within the second rib-space. The attachment interface is for use in contoured application to preferably the anatomic left sternal border, third and fourth intercostal space, such as to enable and ensure an optimized vibratory transmission pathway from the chest wall to the base of the heart and coronary arteries thereupon.

Abstract: The effectiveness of biomimetic dry adhesives at different ambient pressures is investigated. Biomimetic dry adhesives have great potential for space applications but there have been few studies on how these adhesives perform in low-pressure environments. Various geometrical configurations for cap and fiber structures of dry adhesive materials are disclosed. Various methods for manufacturing dry adhesive materials including a silicone rubber negative mold are disclosed. Various methods of manufacturing directly molded anisotropic dry adhesive structures with anisotropic peel strengths are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.

Abstract: Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.

Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag comprising foam bulk at least partially surrounded by a flexible membrane, the airbag compressible from a second volume to a first volume; a locking mechanism for maintaining the airbag compressed to the first volume; a one-way valve openable to deliver air to the airbag when the locking mechanism is released; and wherein when the locking mechanism is released, the airbag expands.

Abstract: Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.

Abstract: A three-phase boost converter is disclosed, as well as a related control technique. In certain embodiments, the provided boost converter enables efficient transfer of energy from an irregular input power source to a battery storage device or a DC link. To achieve maximum power absorption in such cases, the provided embodiments utilize a variable resistive behavior across each phase of the converter using feedback control.