Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel composite structure with enhanced toughness, which incorporates features mimicked from nacre (mother of pearl). The structure can be used in many industrial and clinical applications, including aeronautics (aircraft skin), the defense industry (armor materials); orthopedics and medical devices (tough, biocompatible coatings on prostheses) and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS; increased reliability for critical components).

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compounds for detecting protease activity in a sample solution comprising contacting the sample solution with a protease substrate labelled with an electrochemically active marker, providing conditions under which any protease which may be present in the sample may degrade the protease substrate and electrochemically determining information relating to the electrochemically active marker.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a heat exchange catheter for indirect cooling of internal organs, particularly the heart. The heat exchange catheter is inserted into the esophagus and a cooled fluid is circulated within the catheter, cooling the esophagus, and by conduction, the heart. The heat exchange catheter or the invention may be rapidly deployed in the field and is particularly useful for preventing and reducing tissue damage caused by ischemia.

Abstract: Design of new, safe and effective biodegradable agents, which can cover a wide range of drug molecules in the transdermal permeation and other membranes absorption of physiologically active agents are disclosed. Biodegradable agents includes compounds having a multiple hydrophilic moiety groups which are water loving groups with general chemical structures provide for contributing the penetration enhancement characteristics such as glycolic group and N-alkyl substituted amino acidic group and a lipophilic moiety and also in contributing the balanced lipophilicity of the compounds such as long chain alkyl group are disclosed. More particularly, compounds with R1, and R2, as the steric hindered but can significantly affect the hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation or stability of the biodegradable enhancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for use in rehabilitation and/or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease. The system can overcome gravity-induced dysfunction in extremity paresis following stroke or other neurological disorders.