Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of endothelialized matrices and materials from immature endothelial cells using substrates to which particular peptides have been grafted. The resultant substrates can be used to capture and support immature endothelial cells. Further, the methods and compositions of the present invention provide viable cell delivery platforms that allow for production and provision of endothelialized medical devices and implants, including vascular grafts, stents, shunts, and valves, endothelialized surfaces and channels for in vitro testing devices, including microfluidic chips, and materials that support vascularization such as for use in engineered tissues. The present invention includes novel methods required for the successful production of cellularized substrates, systems and components used for the same, and methods of using the resultant cell and tissue compositions.

Abstract: Described herein are improved chemical reactors for carrying out partial oxidation reactions. The chemical reactor permits the use of levels of oxygen above the lower explosion limit (LEL) typically used in partial oxidation reactions, which increases both volumetric reactivity and conversion per pass, resulting in reduced separation and reactant recycle costs. Also described are methods of using the reactors.

Abstract: The present system for fall restraint includes a mounting frame connected to a trigger mechanism and firing blocks, with a trigger cable extending through apertures in the mounting frame and trigger mechanism. Sudden movement by a user, such as a fall, actuates the trigger mechanism to trigger the firing blocks. The firing blocks are loaded with anchors and firing cartridges. Triggering the firing blocks causes the cartridges to fire, propelling the anchors into an anchoring surface, such as a roof. Because the user is connected to the trigger cable, once the anchors deploy the user is anchored to the roof and their fall arrested.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods that include or utilize plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for improving growth and health in plants and animals. The compositions and methods include or utilize a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that expresses a protein associated with pectin metabolism, and a saccharide comprising pectin or a pectin-related saccharide.

Abstract: A network security system that employs space-time separated and jointly-evolving relationships to provide fast network access control, efficient real-time forensics capabilities, and enhanced protection for at-rest data in the event of a network breach. The network security system allows, in part, functionality by which the system accepts a request by a user to access the data stored in the database, identifies a sequence of security agents to participate in authenticating and protecting the access of the data by the user, generates a sequence of pseudorandom IDs and space-time varying credentials, checks at each one of the security agents a corresponding one of the credentials, determines that the user is permitted to access the data using access control logs if all the security agents accept the corresponding credentials, and varies the credentials based on a space-time relationship.

Abstract: A method for determining a length of a span of electrically conductive material, comprising a first voltage measurement across the entire span, and a second voltage measurement across a constant-length segment of the span. The dual measurements allow the calculation of the span length in a manner that is robust to many disturbances including ambient temperature, material temperature, and material stress and fatigue.

Abstract: The present system and method allow for preemptive, self-healing computer security. The system includes a user device processor and a PSS server processor. The two processors perform an initial Data Structure & Key Mutation (DSKM) method and an interval DSKM method at a given interval to protect secret information and prevent its exposure by attackers. When a user requests a site or service that is an attractive target for attackers, such as a bank site or monetary transfer service, the processors perform a Man in the Browser attack prevention method. When a packet is received or generated, the processors perform a Deep Protocol and Stateful Inspection and Prevention method to prevent receipt of malicious packets or the loss of sensitive information. Various forensics modules allow accurate forensic examination of the type, scope, and method of attack, as well as real-time protection of cloud-based services.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a system may include a basin that includes an index plate positioned at a bottom of the basin. The basin is configured to receive a liquid analyte, such as a liquid food product or a nutrient broth. The index plate includes an array of multiple wells. Each well opens into an interior of the basin and is sized to receive a magnetostrictive sensor in a predetermined orientation. One or more sensor coils is positionable beneath each well. The basin may be filled with liquid analyte and magnetostrictive sensors may be positioned in the wells. The liquid analyte may be allowed to incubate at a controlled temperature. A controller may position a sensor coil beneath a well, apply a varying magnetic field to a magnetostrictive sensor in the well, and detect a frequency response of the magnetostrictive sensor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A portable positive air filtration device including a respiration component and a harness component. The harness component being connected with the respiration component so as to secure the respiration component against the face of a user and covering the mouth and nostril of the user. One or more fans or air-moving components, one or more filters and at least one power supply provide filtered air to the user at a positive pressure. In some examples, the device includes a mask housing, a filter, a fan and an electronics control system. One or more batteries are provided for powering the device. The electronic control system can be connected with an electronic device for real time monitoring and control.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosure of the present application presents a multiple-ring coupled ring oscillator design that employs multiple-ring coupling to achieve improved phase noise by minimizing noise injection from tail current and adjacent rings, while providing additional output phases for multiphase signal generation. In one non-limiting exemplary prototype embodiment, a 1.5 GHz triple-ring coupled ring oscillator achieved measured phase noise of ?110.5 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset, demonstrating phase noise reduction of 7 dB compared with its single-ring oscillator counterpart. The MROs couple multiple rings with proper phase shifting to achieve improved phase noise. Common source coupling benefits from tail current noise reduction, and introducing phase delays in the coupling paths minimizes noise coupling from the adjacent cores. The overall effect leads to improved phase noise performance as demonstrated in quadrature voltage controlled VCO designs.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for enhancing growth in an animal in need thereof. The methods typically comprise administering orally to the animal a composition comprising biodegradable particles, the biodegradable particles comprising a polymer or a co-polymer comprising polymerized lactic acid and having an effective average diameter of 0.5-5 ?m. In the methods, the animal is administered a dose of the biodegradable particles that is effective for improving feed conversion rate in the animal in comparison to an animal that is not administered the composition.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for producing saccharides and ethanol from biomass feedstock that includes (a) producing an enzyme composition by culturing a fungal strain(s) in the presence of a lignocellulosic medium, (b) using the enzyme composition to saccharify the biomass feedstock, and (c) fermenting the saccharified biomass feedstock to produce ethanol. The process is scalable and, in certain aspects, is capable of being deployed on farms, thereby allowing local production of saccharides and ethanol and resulting in a reduction of energy and other costs for farm operators. Optional steps to improve the biomass-to-fuel conversion efficiency are also contemplated, as are uses for byproducts of the process described herein.

Abstract: A braided, open structure composite made with large prepreg tow can be cured without bonding at the yarn crossovers and after removal from the mandrel, it can be used directly as a spring in which the spring constant in bending, torsion, tension or compression can be controlled by the geometry of the braided structure as well as the size of the structural elements. Alternatively the spring may be curved in multiple directions to form complex shapes and then crossovers can be re-bonded to make more rigid open structure composites that would be difficult or impractical to manufacture by conventional techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of cell cultures and tissues from undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells using three-dimensional biomimetic materials. The resultant cell cultures or tissues can be used in any of a number of protocols including testing chemicals, compounds, and drugs. Further, the methods and compositions of the present invention further provide viable cell sources and novel cell delivery platforms that allow for replacement of diseased tissue and engraftment of new cardiomyocytes from a readily available in vitro source. The present invention includes novel methods required for the successful production of cell cultures and tissues, systems and components used for the same, and methods of using the resultant cell and tissue compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for improving feed conversion rate in an animal in need thereof. The methods typically comprise administering orally to the animal a composition comprising biodegradable particles, the biodegradable particles comprising a polymer or a co-polymer comprising polylactide (PLA) and having an effective average diameter of 0.5-5 ?m. In the methods, the animal is administered a dose of the biodegradable particles that is effective for improving feed conversion rate in the animal in comparison to an animal that is not administered the composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) based RF-to-digital (RDC) data converter for time domain signal processing polar receivers. Polar data conversion achieves better SNR tolerance owing to its phase convergence near the origin in a polar coordinate. The proposed RDC consists of a TDC for phase detection and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for amplitude conversion. Unlike the conversional data converter, the proposed ADC's sampling position is guided by the detected phase result from the TDC's output. This TDC assisted data-converter architecture reduces the number of bits required for the ADC. In addition, oversampling is no longer needed. With precisely controlled tunable delay cells and gain compensator, this hybrid data convertor is capable to directly convert Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) waveforms and Amplitude Phase Shift Keying (APSK) waveforms directly from the RF signal without down-conversion.

Abstract: Methods are provided for formulating binders for wood comprising unmodified soy flour and synthetic adhesives. The soy-based formulations can be in either liquid or solid form and are prepared by mixing unmodified soy flour with the synthetic adhesive prior to application to the wood or by adding them sequentially to the wood. The present invention provides adequate bonding at reduced cost.

Abstract: The current invention provides metal ion complexes with an organic ligand, compositions comprising such complexes. In particular, these complexes are capable of reacting with a reactive oxygen species in a subject and increase their T1-weighted relaxivities so a clinical MRI scanner can detect an oxidative stress hotspot in the subject. The disclosed complexes also exhibit excellent anti-oxidant properties and low cell toxicity, therefore can be used as a therapeutic agent to relieve oxidative stress in the subject, or as both a MRI contrast agent and therapeutic agent in a composition.

Abstract: The present system for fall restraint includes a mounting frame connected to a trigger mechanism and firing blocks, with a trigger cable extending through apertures in the mounting frame and trigger mechanism. Sudden movement by a user, such as a fall, actuates the trigger mechanism to trigger the firing blocks. The firing blocks are loaded with anchors and firing cartridges. Triggering the firing blocks causes the cartridges to fire, propelling the anchors into an anchoring surface, such as a roof. Because the user is connected to the trigger cable, once the anchors deploy the user is anchored to the roof and their fall arrested.