Abstract: Processing images of a scene taken with different focus includes, for each of at least some of the images, determining at least one portion of the image having a predetermined characteristic. A representation of the scene is generated that includes an array of elements, where each of at least some of the elements corresponds to a determined portion of at least one of the images. An element of the array is based on a correspondence between a distance associated with a determined portion of at least one image and a focused distance associated with at least one image. The generated representation is stored or provided as output.

Abstract: Nanocells allow the sequential delivery of two different therapeutic agents with different modes of action or different pharmacokinetics. A nanocell is formed by encapsulating a nanocore with a first agent inside a lipid vesicle containing a second agent. The agent in the outer lipid compartment is released first and may exert its effect before the agent in the nanocore is released. The nanocell delivery system may be formulated in pharmaceutical composition for delivery to patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases such as asthma, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious diseases, and neurological diseases such as epilepsy. In treating cancer, a traditional antineoplastic agent is contained in the outer lipid vesicle of the nanocell, and an antiangiogenic agent is loaded into the nanocore. This arrangement allows the antineoplastic agent to be released first and delivered to the tumor before the tumor's blood supply is cut off by the antianiogenic agent.

Abstract: A system contains a first actuator half containing a first pair of actuator coils and a second pair of actuator coils located above the first pair of actuator coils, wherein the first pair of actuator coils is connected to a first metallic backing. A second actuator half is also providing within the system, which contains a first pair of actuator coils and a second pair of actuator coils located above the first pair of actuator coils, wherein the first pair of actuator coils is connected to a second metallic backing. The system also contains a mechanical flexure suspension having at least one flexure supporting a permanent magnet that is capable of moving, wherein the mechanical flexure suspension is located between the first actuator half and the second actuator half.

Abstract: Nanocells allow the sequential delivery of two different therapeutic agents with different modes of action or different pharmacokinetics. A nanocell is formed by encapsulating a nanocore with a first agent inside a lipid vesicle containing a second agent. The agent in the outer lipid compartment is released first and may exert its effect before the agent in the nanocore is released. The nanocell delivery system may be formulated in pharmaceutical composition for delivery to patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases such as asthma, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious diseases, and neurological diseases such as epilepsy. In treating cancer, a traditional antineoplastic agent is contained in the outer lipid vesicle of the nanocell, and an antiangiogenic agent is loaded into the nanocore. This arrangement allows the antineoplastic agent to be released first and delivered to the tumor before the tumor's blood supply is cut off by the antiangiogenic agent.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and uses thereof A devices disclosed herein comprises a plurality of microneedles adapted to protrude from the device. In some embodiments, a device is dimensioned and constructed to carry a payload, so that the payload can be delivered to an internal tissue of a subject or through a wall of a vessel after interaction with microneedles. In some embodiments, devices can be used for oral or intravenous administration. In some embodiments, devices can be used for implantation such as vaginal, rectal, urethral or bladder suppository or pessary.

Abstract: Electrochemical redox supercapacitor. The supercapacitor includes two thin films of electrically conducting polymer separated by an ion-permeable membrane and including an electrolyte disposed between the two thin films. Electrical contacts are disposed on outer surfaces of the two thin films. The supercapacitor is flexible and may be rolled, folded on itself, or kept substantially flat. A suitable conducting polymer is polypyrrole. In another aspect, the invention is a method for making a redox supercapacitor.

Abstract: An electrolytic extraction method wins a target element from an oxide feedstock compound thereof. The feedstock compound is dissolved in an oxide melt in contact with a cathode and an anode in an electrolytic cell. During electrolysis the target element is deposited at a liquid cathode and coalesces therewith. Oxygen is evolved on an anode bearing a solid oxide layer, in contact with the oxide melt, over a metallic anode substrate.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds and compositions characterized, in certain embodiments, by conjugation of various groups, such as lipophilic groups, to an amino or amide group of an amino acid, a linear or cyclic peptide, a linear or cyclic polypeptide, or structural isomer thereof, to provide compounds of the present invention, collectively referred to herein as “APPLs”. Such APPLs are deemed useful for a variety of applications, such as, for example, improved nucleotide delivery. Exemplary APPLs include, but are not limited to, compounds of Formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), and (VI), and salts thereof, as described herein: wherein m, n, p, R?, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R8, Z, W, Y, and Z are as defined herein.

Abstract: A robotic system for simulating a wearable device actuation delivery mechanism and the source removed from the actuation delivery mechanism that is linked to the actuation delivery mechanism by at least one cable. A sensing system detects a physiological feature of the subject and, based on feedback from the sensing system, a control system linked to both the sensing system and the actuation source modulates the actuation source, and thereby modulating actuation of the joint of a subject in response to the physiological future sensed by the sensing system. A method for simulating a wearable robotic system employs the robotic system of the invention to thereby provide a model on which to base design of an ambulatory prosthetic for a subject.

Abstract: Methods, systems and media are described for computer-assisted video surveillance. Methods may support detection of moving persons in video frames, extraction of features of the detected moving persons and identification of which detected moving persons are likely matches to a person of interest. Identification of the likely matches may be determined using an attribute-based search, and/or using a specific person-based search. The method may include using likely matches confirmed as images of the person of interest to reconstruct a path of the person of interest.

Abstract: Method for casting a continuous cylindrical polymer stamp. The method includes depositing a first layer of a fluid polymer on the inside of a rotatable drum and rotating the drum for a selected time and at a selected angular velocity. The polymer is cured to produce a uniform datum surface. A second layer of polymer is deposited on the first layer in the drum and the drum is rotated until solvent in the polymer has evaporated thereby forming a stable layer. The polymer is selectively exposed and developed to create a desired pattern. Thereafter, a polymer precursor is deposited on the patterned second layer and the polymer precursor is allowed to cure while the drum is rotating to produce a cured stamp. The cured stamp is removed from the drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of altering expression of a genomic locus of interest or specifically targeting a genomic locus of interest in an animal cell, which may involve contacting the genomic locus with a non-naturally occurring or engineered composition that includes a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) binding polypeptide having a N-terminal capping region, a DNA binding domain comprising at least five or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target the genomic locus of interest, and a C-terminal capping region, wherein the polypeptide includes at least one or more effector domains, and wherein the polypeptide is encoded by and translated from a codon optimized nucleic acid molecule so that the polypeptide preferentially binds to the DNA of the genomic locus.

Abstract: A valve actuator, valve, and method of actuation of a valve are disclosed. The valve actuator includes a shape memory alloy element attachable to a valve body, capable of use with a valve to cause movement of the valve between first and second positions responsive to at least a threshold amount of temperature change of the shape memory alloy element. The valve actuator further includes a negative-differential spring applied to the shape memory alloy element, thereby reducing the threshold amount of temperature change needed to cause movement of the valve between the first and second positions.

Abstract: Described are an FSK modulator and a method for large-alphabet FSK modulation. The FSK modulator and the method are based on filtering of a multi-tone optical source such as a mode-locked laser which provides a comb distribution of tones. A frequency-selective component selects for transmission a subset of the tones. In various embodiments the frequency-selective component is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer filter or a microring resonator filter. A second frequency-selective component selects a subset of the tones from the comb distribution provided by the first frequency-selective component. Still more frequency-selective components can be used according to the number of tones supplied by the multi-tone optical source to the FSK modulator. The optical signal exiting the last frequency-selective component includes only a single tone which corresponds to the symbol to be transmitted.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of altering expression of a genomic locus of interest or specifically targeting a genomic locus of interest in an animal cell, which may involve contacting the genomic locus with a non-naturally occurring or engineered composition that includes a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) binding polypeptide having a N-terminal capping region, a DNA binding domain comprising at least five or more Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) monomers and at least one or more half-monomers specifically ordered to target the genomic locus of interest, and a C-terminal capping region, wherein the polypeptide includes at least one or more effector domains, and wherein the polypeptide is encoded by and translated from a codon optimized nucleic acid molecule so that the polypeptide preferentially binds to the DNA of the genomic locus.

Abstract: Some aspects of this invention provide engineered microbes for oil production. Methods for microbe engineering and for use of engineered microbes are also provided herein. In some embodiments, microbes are provided that are engineered to modulate a combination of rate-controlling steps of lipid synthesis, for example, a combination of a step generating metabolites, acetyl-CoA, ATP or NADPH for lipid synthesis (a push step), and a step sequestering a product or an intermediate of a lipid synthesis pathway that mediates feedback inhibition of lipid synthesis (a pull step). Such push-and-pull engineered microbes exhibit greatly enhanced conversion yields and TAG synthesis and storage properties.

Abstract: Real-time parking availability system. The system includes a database including an inventory of parking spaces in a city including their location, size, and level of demand. A mobile phone is programmed for access to the database to locate a vacant space, to pay for a requested time duration in the space, and to update the database to remove the space from the database of available parking spots for the requested time duration. The parking spaces may accommodate an automobile or a plurality of bicycles.

Abstract: A noble metal nanoparticle can be grown on a semiconductor substrate by contacting a predetermined region of the substrate with a solution including noble metal ions. The predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate can be exposed by applying a polymeric layer over the substrate selectively removing a portion of the polymeric layer. The nanoparticles can be prepared in a predetermined pattern. The nanoparticle can be formed with a barrier separating it from another nanoparticle on the substrate; for example, nanoparticle can be located in a pit etched in the substrate. The size and location of the nanoparticle can be stable at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-intrusive power monitoring and current measurement in a circuit breaker without modification of the breaker panel or the circuit breaker itself. In one example, an inductive pickup sensor senses current from the breaker face, an inductive link transmits power through a steel breaker panel door, and a passive balanced JFET modulator circuit modulates a carrier signal on the inductive link with information regarding the sensed current. A demodulated breaker current signal is available outside of the breaker panel door. The JFET modulator circuit does not require DC power to modulate the carrier signal with the information regarding the sensed current from the breaker. Such methods and apparatus may be interfaced with a spectral envelope load detection system that can monitor multiple loads from a central location.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.