Abstract: A method and system for heating a skin area surface of an individual from an initial temperature to a treatment temperature in a treatment time period exceeding 0.5 sec, where the treatment temperature is in the range of 40°-60° C. An RF generator provides a continuous wave RF voltage energy or a quasi-continuous wave RF voltage across first and second electrode, where at least the first electrode is associated with an applicator that is displaced over the skin surface. The system further includes a skin temperature measuring device or an applicator displacement speed measuring device; and a CPU that monitors a skin temperature or an applicator displacement speed. The CPU turns off the RF energy when the skin temperature is above a predetermined temperature or the displacement speed of the applicator is below a predetermined speed, in order to prevent overheating of the skin.

Abstract: A method for classifying a test tissue sample into a class from among K classes, where the test tissue sample has an associated gene expression vector is provided. For each class k from among the K classes, a gene expression matrix is provided based upon a gene expression level in one or more tissue samples known to be in the class k. One or more eigenvectors of the covariance matrix Cx of the centralized gene expression matrix are calculated. A metric ?k that is indicative of the extent of dissimilarity between the gene expression vector and the gene expression matrix is calculated using an algebraic expression involving one or more of the eigenvectors of the matrix Cx. The test tissue sample is then classified into a class k for which the metric ?k is minimum among the k classes.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that biological peptide-based mimotopes of mannose-containing cell-wall compounds of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, specifically, ManLAM, have an anti-inflammatory effect and immunoregulator effect in animal models of inflammation. Such models include animal models of allergic peritonitis, allergic asthma and septic shock model (mice injected with LPS) and in Crohn's disease model (TNBS-induced colitis). Thus, the present invention concerns the use a molecule, particularly, an amino acid based molecule for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of an inflammatory condition, the amino acid comprising one or more peptides characterized in that it can bind to ManLAM binding antibodies; and/or it can elicit an immune response in a subject inoculated therewith, giving rise to production of ManLAM-binding antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved, low-cost fuel cells having reduced fuel crossover, reduced sensitivity to metal ion impurities and ability to operate under a broad range of temperatures. The invention further provides improved methods for catalyst preparation and a new integrated flow field system for use in H2/O2 fuel cells.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a circuit for allowing an RFID transponder to relay transmissions. According to some embodiments of the invention, a circuit for allowing a first RFID transponder to relay transmissions may include a logic module and a synchronization module. The logic module may be configured to operate in a relay mode. While in the relay mode, the logic module may be adapted to cause the first RFID transponder to relay a communication received at the transponder. The synchronization module may be adapted to synchronize the first RFID transponder with at least a second RFID transponder, such that the relay communication is synchronized with a communication relayed by the second RFID transponder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of providing at least one digital content item substantially in real-time from at least one user's terminal to another user's terminal over a data network, said method comprises: (a) indexing at least one digital content item provided from at least one user's terminal over a data network, giving rise to an items index; (b) receiving a request to provide a digital content item to user's terminal over said data network; (c) conducting a search for the requested digital content item by means of said items index; and (d) if said requested digital content item is found within said items index, providing said requested digital content item from said at least one user's terminal to another user's terminal over said data network by streaming said digital content item substantially in real-time to said another user's terminal.

Abstract: An armor module and an explosive material therefore, which explosive material is normally retained at a less sensitive position, and upon demand it is modified into a more sensitive position, where its initiation ability is upgraded and wherein the modification is carried out by heating the explosive material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a material such as the water-wall tubes in boilers includes the use of a portable thermal line heater having radiation shields to control the amount of thermal radiation that reaches a thermal imager. A procedure corrects for variations in the initial temperature of the material being inspected. A method of calibrating the testing device to determine an equation relating thickness of the material to temperatures created by the thermal line heater uses empirical data derived from tests performed on test specimens for each material type, geometry, density, specific heat, speed at which the line heater is moved across the material and heat intensity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasticized dehydrated or freeze-dried bone and/or soft tissue product that does not require special conditions of storage, for example refrigeration or freezing, exhibits materials properties that approximate those properties present in normal hydrated tissue, is not brittle, does not necessitate rehydration prior to clinical implantation and is not a potential source for disease transmission. The invention replaces water in the molecular structure of the bone or soft tissue matrix with one or more plasticizers allowing for dehydration of the tissue, yet not resulting in an increase in brittleness of the plasticized product, and resulting in compressive and/or tensile properties similar to those of normal hydrated bone. Replacement of the chemical plasticizers by water prior to implantation is not required and thus, the dehydrated bone or soft tissue plasticized product can be placed directly into an implant site without significant preparation in the operating room.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for producing demineralized osteoinductive bone, and demineralized osteoinductive bone produced thereby. The process achieves demineralization of bone by subjecting bone, including for example ground bone, bone cubes, chips, strips, or essentially intact bone, to a rapid high volume, pulsatile acidification wave process. The process includes subjecting bone to two or more rapid pulse/drain cycles where one or more demineralizing acids are rapidly pulsed into a vessel containing bone, and after a desired period of time, is rapidly drained from the vessel, the vessel containing the bone is then rapidly refilled with the one or more demineralizing acids (pulsed). The process allows bone to be rapidly demineralized to a precise ans specific desired residual calcium level, without sacrificing osteoinductivity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a textured bone allograft for implantation in a patient, having one or more textured bone surfaces, and methods of making and using the textured bone graft. The textured surface preferably includes a plurality of closely spaced discrete, continuous, or a combination thereof, protrusions. The textured bone allograft is useful for repairing bone defects caused by congenital anomaly, disease, or trauma, in a patient, for example, for restoring vertical support of the anterior column. Implantation of the textured bone allograft results in improved graft stability and osteoinductivity, without a decrease in mechanical strength. The textured bone allograft does not shift, extrude or rotate, after implantation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bone matrix composition for use in the repair and healing of osseous tissue. The composition can be used in load-bearing and non-load bearing applications, including for example, orthopaedic applications including spinal applications, and oral-facial applications including dental applications. The composition includes one or more non-liquid semi-synthetic polymers; and particulate bone including allogenic, autogenic, or xenogenic bone, where the bone is cancellous, corticocancellous bone, and/or cortical bone. The composition may also optionally contain one or more pharmaceutically active agents. The composition can be formulated as a gel, putty, a paste, a cake, or solid.