Abstract: An electrochemical ion sensor and a method for sensing a presence of at least one ion species in a solution are provided. The electrochemical sensor includes a solid-state electrolyte medium doped with an organometallic material, having an electrochemical affinity with the ion species, and a pair of electrodes electrically contacting the solid-state electrolyte. The electrochemical sensor also includes an electrical circuit configured to drive the pair of electrodes with an AC electrical excitation and to measure at least one parameter related to a complex electrical impedance of the doped solid-state electrolyte medium in response to the AC electrical excitation. The parameter may be an electrical resistance, an inductance or a combination of both, and represents the presence of the ion species in the solution when the solid-state electrolyte medium is exposed to the solution.

Abstract: The method includes receiving a value of a quantity of heat applied to at least a portion of a structure, said structure having a sensor surface exposed to the environment, receiving a temperature measurement of the sensor surface, receiving a wind speed measurement of the environment, receiving an ambient temperature measurement of the environment, determining a heat transfer projection of the sensor area using at least the wind speed measurement, the ambient temperature measurement, and one of the value of a quantity of heat and a target temperature of the sensor surface; comparing the heat transfer projection to an associated heat transfer value, and generating a signal indicating the icing condition status based on the comparison.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging system for producing an image of a scene, the image having at least one distorted zone, the imaging system comprising image producing means for producing an image of the scene; optical means for orienting light from the scene towards the image producing means, the optical means having a base optical power, the optical means being configurable to form at least one modified portion, each one of the at least one modified portion having a modified optical power different from the base optical power to thereby create at least one distorted zone on the image; and control means operatively connected to the optical means for changing the configuration of the optical means for forming the at least one modified portion. The imaging system may be reversible and provided instead as a scanning system.

Abstract: An optogenetic probe, an optogenetic system, and a method for fabricating an optogenetic probe are provided. The optogenetic probe has a proximal and a distal end, and includes an elongated body made of a body glass material and extending longitudinally between the proximal and distal ends. The optogenetic probe also includes at least one optical channel, each including an optical channel glass material having a refractive index larger than a refractive index of the body glass material, so as to guide light therealong. The optogenetic probes also includes at least one electrical channel, each including an electrical channel structure having an electrical conductivity larger than the electrical conductivity of the body glass material, so as to conduct electricity therealong. The optogenetic probe further includes at least one fluidic channel, each adapted for transporting fluid therealong. Each optical, electrical and fluidic channel extends longitudinally within the elongated body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the stimulation of secretion or expression of muscular IL-6 in a subject with the administration of Protectin DX (PDX). Particularly, the increase in circulating levels of IL-6 originating from the subject muscles is useful for regulating blood glucose and suppressing lipid-induced inflammation and other related inflammatory conditions such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Alternatively, the increase in muscular IL-6 expression in a subject may also be useful for increasing energy supply during exercise, or facilitating muscular recovery after strenuous effort.

Abstract: The present invention relates to uses and methods comprising one or more RANK/RANKL antagonists or of a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more RANK/RANKL antagonists and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for treating neuromuscular disorders, non-genetic myopathies, or genetic myopathies; maintaining and/or preserving the excitation:contraction:relaxation coupling; reducing loss of muscle strength associated with neuromuscular disorders, non-genetic myopathies or genetic myopathies; reducing the loss of muscular strength associated with skeletal or cardiac muscle disuse, diseases and aging; or regulating skeletal or cardiac muscle disuse, diseases and/or aging in a patient in need thereof. The present invention also relates to combinations and compositions comprising one or more RANK/RANKL antagonists and to methods for identifying candidate compounds.

Abstract: The present relates to the use of miRNA-132/212 mimics or activators comprising a doubled stranded ribonucleic acid molecule comprising a seed region sequence of miRNA-132 or miRNA-212, a spacer, a stabilizing sequence, and a carrier for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Tauopathies, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, prion's disease, mild cognitive impairment and Huntington's disease.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, screening methods, and therapeutic methods for preventing or reducing a human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection and/or propagation associated with dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR). Described herein are compounds which bind on at least one three-dimensional cavity of the DCIR, the cavity(ies) being involved in the interaction between HIV-1 and DCIR. Also described are screening methods for identifying active inhibitors and method of using such inhibitors for the prevention or treatment of virus infections, and more particularly for reducing human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) binding, entry and/or replication in human cells.

Abstract: A parallel mechanism comprises legs with kinematically redundant actuation for a parallel mechanism. Each of these legs comprises a first sub-leg and a second sub-leg, each said sub-leg comprising a proximal end and a distal end. A link has a proximal end and a distal end. A joint with a rotational degree of freedom (DOF) is between and common to the distal ends of each of the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg, and the proximal end of the link. A joint provides at least two rotational DOFs at the distal end of the link and is adapted to connect the distal end of the link to one end of the parallel mechanism. Joints in the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg to provide DOFs to the sub-legs and to connect the proximal ends of the sub-legs to the other end of the parallel mechanism. A degree of actuation (DOA) is provided for each of the first sub-leg and the second sub-leg to control movement of the link. A method for controlling movement of the parallel mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: A method and a system for obtaining a high-resolution image of a volume of a sample using laser imaging are provided. The method includes a step of probing the volume of the sample with a first excitation beam having an intensity profile of maximum intensity at a center thereof, thereby obtaining a positive image of the volume. The method also includes a step of probing the volume of the sample with a second excitation beam having an intensity profile of minimum intensity at a center thereof and defining a peripheral region of maximum intensity around the center, thereby obtaining a negative image of the volume. The method finally includes a step of subtracting the negative image from the positive image, thereby obtaining the high-resolution image of the volume of the sample. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention can be probe- and fluorescence-independent, and be conveniently retrofitted into existing laser imaging systems.

Abstract: Methods and products (e.g., recombinant proteins) are described for increasing frataxin expression/levels in a cell, as well as uses of such methods and products, for example for the treatment of Friedreich ataxia in a subject suffering therefrom.

Abstract: Provided are compounds of general formula A and A?, wherein X1 and X2 are each C, CH or N; R3 and R4 are each H, optionally substituted C1-C30 saturated or unsaturated chemical group, or together form an optionally substituted C5-C8 cycle; Z1; Z2 and Z3 are each N or CH; V is C?O, C?S or CH2; n is from 1 to 12; W1 and W2 are each H, CH2, O or S; and R1 and R2 are each H, Cr1C6 alkyl, C1C6 aryl, C1C12 alkylaryl, optionally substituted phenyl, C1C6 alkoxy, C1C6 thioalkoxy, F, Cl, Br or I. These compounds inhibit steroid sulfatase (STS), act as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), increase alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and are useful in the treatment of medical conditions involving hormones such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometriosis, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and endometrial cancer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel formulations suitable for the intravaginal delivery of tinidazole, as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: A method for treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound having the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are independently alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, Xa is CH or N, Ya is hydrogen or a substituent, each of which is independently selected; n is an integer from 1 to 5, J is a counter ion.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a radiation dosimetry apparatus and associated methods for measuring radiation dose. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes multiple scintillating elements for detecting amounts of radiation dose at multiple points within a detection region. Each of the scintillating elements generates light in response to radiation interacting within their volume. A light guide combines the light generated by all of the scintillating elements as well as radiation-induced contaminated optical energy and transmits the combined light to a spectral analysis setup. Multi or hyper-spectral calibration technique allows calculating the dose or dose rate at the positions of the different scintillating elements. The calibration technique isolates the light produced by a given scintillating element from the other scintillating elements as well as any other source of radiation-induced contaminating light.

Abstract: A movement device is moved along an X axis and a Y axis by providing a sensor configured to measure angle of rotation of at least one of a first and a second kinematic link about a respective axis of rotation. A force is imparted on the first and second kinematic links such that an angular displacement of the first and second kinematic links about the respective axis of rotation is achieved. The angular displacement of the first and second kinematic links about the respective axis of rotation is determined. The movement device is moved along the X axis and/or the Y axis in response to the determination of the angle of rotation of the first and second kinematic links about the respective axis of rotation until first and second kinematic links are vertical.

Abstract: An articulated compliance mechanism for use with a support structure includes a carriage and a pair of parallel four-bar linkage arrangements. The arrangements collectively have a first set of links configured to rigidly connect to the support structure, a second set of links rotatably coupled to the carriage a distance from the first set of links, and a third set of links rotatably coupled to and spanning the distance. The compliance mechanism supports and provides the carriage, e.g., a rectangular shaped frame, with a stable equilibrium point using a gravitational restoring force, and provides the carriage with a passive translational degree of freedom along a horizontal axis in response to an input force from an operator. An additional compliance mechanism may be serially connected to provide a passive translational degree of freedom along a vertical axis. A system includes the compliance mechanism and support structure.

Abstract: A method for the laser reinforced direct bonding of two optical components having a respective bonding surface and a reinforced optical assembly made thereby are provided. The method includes a first step of assembling the two optical components by direct bonding of their respective bonding surface together, thereby defining a direct-bonded interface therebetween. The method further includes a second step of reinforcing the direct-bonded interface with a weld seam including at least one substantially continuous reinforcing weld line forming a closed shape enclosing a sealed direct-bonded region. Each weld line is inscribed by focusing ultrashort laser pulses at the direct-bonding interface so as to generate non-linear optical phenomena inducing a localized junction between the two optical components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring three-dimensional radiation dose distributions with high spatial and temporal resolution using a large-volume scintillator. The scintillator converts the radiation dose distribution into a visible light distribution. The visible light is transported to one or more photo-detectors, which measure the light intensity. The light signals are processed to correct for optical artifacts, and the three-dimensional light distribution is reconstructed. The reconstructed light distribution is post-processed to convert light amplitudes to measured radiation doses. The high temporal resolution of the detector makes it possible to observe the evolution of a dynamic dose distribution as it changes over time. Integral dose distributions can be measured by summing the dose over time.