Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and a method for reducing hazardous gases, including PHGs, through one or more photocatalysts in a filter system. A microstructure of the photocatalytic filter can be formed using biological systems as a template for the photocatalysts to be deposited thereon. The biological system can be removed by heat, oxidation, or by chemical processes to leave the photocatalytic template as a filter for the gases. In various embodiments, multiple photocatalysts can be activated at different wavelengths to filter different gases, or multiple photocatalysts can be activated at the same wavelength to filter different gases, or a photocatalyst can be activated at different wavelengths to filter different gases, or some combination thereof. The activation can be sequential or concurrent. For multiple layers of photocatalysts, the sequence of the photocatalysts can be arranged to reduce damaging output from an upstream photocatalyst to one or more downstream photocatalysts.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for an ultrathin optical metasurface with an array patterning formed on an optical fiber facet that enables manipulation of light passing therethrough, such as focusing and steering the light, and controlling a polarization state of light. The patterning can be non-uniform to selectively direct light passing through the metasurface. Array structures can vary in size, angle, shapes, and other non-uniform aspects. Further, the array can include materials that can be electrically activated and controlled to variably tune the metasurface characteristics for increased ability to manipulate the light passing therethrough. The materials can include a conductor, a dielectric, or a composite of a conductor, insulator, and dielectric formed on the optical fiber.

Abstract: A disclosed system quantifies the power distribution of a wireless signal within a constrained environment using non-sequential ray tracing. For each ray, one or more ray-reflecting surface is prescreened to identify collision-eligible surfaces and identify a collision surface from the collision-eligible surfaces, wherein the collision surface is the first ray-reflecting surface that a ray collides with. A power distribution component, indicating the position and power of a ray at a particular elevation within the environment, is added to a cumulative power distribution. If a reflected ray corresponding to each collision is calculated and satisfies ray eligibility conditions, a collision surface may be determined for the reflected ray. Collision surfaces may be identified by evaluating a target function for a number of ray positions, where the target function evaluates to zero when displacement between the ray and the ray-reflecting surface is zero.

Abstract: A disclosed system quantifies the power distribution of a wireless signal within a constrained environment using non-sequential ray tracing. For each ray, one or more ray-reflecting surface is prescreened to identify collision-eligible surfaces and identify a collision surface from the collision-eligible surfaces, wherein the collision surface is the first ray-reflecting surface that a ray collides with. A power distribution component, indicating the position and power of a ray at a particular elevation within the environment, is added to a cumulative power distribution. If a reflected ray corresponding to each collision is calculated and satisfies ray eligibility conditions, a collision surface may be determined for the reflected ray. Collision surfaces may be identified by evaluating a target function for a number of ray positions, where the target function evaluates to zero when displacement between the ray and the ray-reflecting surface is zero.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for a programmable medical wire that can be preprogrammed, and controlled and reshaped upon command. The system can include a power supply, a controller, and a multilayered wire assembly. The wire assembly includes a core conductor, actuator conductors coupled to the core conductor, selective conductors formed adjacent the core conductor and the actuator conductors, and a protective biocompatible shield around the layers. The selective conductors can be energized to activate the actuator conductors and cause the actuator conductors to bend or twist in a preprogrammed manner. By selectively controlling the direction of movement of the actuator conductors, the wire assembly can be remotely guided through body passageways to the target. Auxiliary equipment such as sensors, micro cameras, detectors, cutters, and other equipment can also be coupled to the wire assembly, and controlled and communicated with through one or more of the selective conductors.

Abstract: A method of treating a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition to a mammal to reduce a proliferation of hypoxic carcinoma cells, wherein the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition comprises a clathrate containing free oxygen gas (O2) molecules. The carcinoma cells may comprise prostrate carcinoma (22Rv1). The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide material is configured to provide bioavailable oxygen gas molecules to a mammal when administered to the mammal. The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition can be administered intravenously, directly to carcinoma cells, and orally. The composition may comprise a fluid, where the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition is soluble in the fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a ureteral stent, having an elongated tube configured to be inserted into a ureter; a first end having a retainer portion configured to be inserted into a kidney; and a second end configured to be inserted into a bladder, the second end having an anchor portion fluidicly coupled with the first end, the second end having a collapsible wall expandable to a cross-sectional size greater than the cross-sectional size of the ureter; a tube port fluidicly coupled with the first end; and a flapper valve having at least two valve ends coupled to the anchor portion over the port; and a flexible middle portion between the at least two valve ends configured to flex toward the port to cover the port with a predetermined amount of ambient pressure in the bladder and flex away from the port when ambient pressure is lower than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of detecting the presence of a foreign substance, such as ice, in an air-flow path within an operating jet engine by providing one or more electromagnetic sensors that are tuned to receive electromagnetic waves at one or more frequencies generated by the operating jet engine that change upon the presence of the foreign substance. In at least one embodiment, the waves can be transmitted to the electromagnetic sensor through an electromagnetically transparent window in a wall of the jet engine. In at least another embodiment, the electromagnetic sensor can be coupled with a connector that penetrates an operating chamber in the jet engine to measure the electromagnetic parameters of one or more components from within the chamber of the jet engine. In some embodiments, the amount of ice or other foreign substances can be measured or estimated.

Abstract: This present disclosure is directed to compound of Formula I and methods of using these compounds in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of a cathepsin, particularly cathepsin L, cathepsin K, and/or cathepsin B, will be therapeutically useful. Formula I: or a solvate or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Each of R1-R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, alkoxy, halo, hydroxy, phosphate, phosphate salts, disodium phosphate, diphosphate dimer, diphosphate dimer salt, and sodium diphosphate dimer with at least one of R1-R10 is a phosphate or diphosphate dimer group.

Abstract: A mid-infrared cascading fiber amplifier device having a source configured to generate a first electromagnetic wave output at a first frequency, a fiber coupled to the source and a pump coupled to the fiber and configured to generate a second electromagnetic wave output at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency and causes the fiber to undergo two or more transitions in response to stimulation by the first electromagnetic wave output at the first frequency, wherein the first transition generates the first electromagnetic wave output approximately at the first frequency and the second transition generates the first electromagnetic wave output approximately at the first frequency.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for a fiber-coupled, metal-tip chemical imaging spectroscopy. The system couples the electromagnetic radiation (EMR), such as laser light, through an optical fiber to a conductive tip for both EMR excitation to the sample through the conductive tip and EMR signal collection from the sample through the conductive tip. The system and method effectively eliminates the need for an optical alignment between the EMR source and the tip, and still offers the customary spatial resolution of a non-coupled system.

Abstract: A composition of chlorine-free poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide that comprises a clathrate containing oxygen gas molecules, and which may comprise a nutraceutical. In one embodiment, the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition is soluble, and may have particles having a diameter of 212 ?m or less. The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide may comprise of a poly-oxygenated aluminum hydroxide. The nutraceutical may include one or more of a protein, vitamin, fiber, mineral and electrolytes. The composition may be in a powder or fluid form, where the poly-oxygenated aluminum hydroxide is soluble in the fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition to a mammal to reduce a proliferation of hypoxic carcinoma cells, wherein the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition comprises a clathrate containing free oxygen gas (O2) molecules. The carcinoma cells may comprise lung carcinoma (A549). The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide material is configured to provide bioavailable oxygen gas molecules to a mammal when administered to the mammal. The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition can be administered intravenously, directly to carcinoma cells, and orally. The composition may comprise a fluid, where the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition is soluble in the fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition to a mammal to reduce a proliferation of hypoxic carcinoma cells, wherein the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition comprises a clathrate containing free oxygen gas (O2) molecules. The carcinoma cells may comprise colon adenocarcinoma cells (CaCo-2). The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide material is configured to provide bioavailable oxygen gas molecules to a mammal when administered to the mammal. The poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition can be administered intravenously, directly to carcinoma cells, and orally. The composition may comprise a fluid, where the poly-oxygenated metal hydroxide composition is soluble in the fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for a tunable ENZ material that can vary the absorption of radiant energy. The tunable ENZ material can act as a broadband absorber advantageously using a stack of ultrathin conducting layers having an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) regime of permittivity at different wavelengths. The conducting materials can include at least partially transparent conducting oxide or transition metal nitride layers with different electron concentrations and hence different ENZ frequencies for a broadband range of energy absorption. The layer(s) can be directly tuned to various frequencies to achieve high levels of absorption at deep subwavelength ENZ thicknesses. An applied electric bias can create electron accumulation/depletion regions in an ENZ semiconductor device and allows control of plasma frequency and hence high levels of absorption in the device. Further, for a stack of layers, the carrier concentration can be altered from layer to layer.

Abstract: Benzocyclooctene (fused 6,8 ring system) analogues and corresponding indene (fused 6,5 ring system) analogues function as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. The compounds are useful as anticancer agents in a new therapeutic approach for cancer treatment utilizing small-molecule inhibitors of tubulin polymerization that also act as vascular disrupting agents (VDAs).

Abstract: Insecticidal toxins described herein are fused toxin peptides made up of a targeting domain fused to a toxin domain. The targeting peptide generates a specific association with mosquitoes by causing the fused toxin peptide to bind mosquitoes in a way that leads to the insecticidal activity. Transgenic plants described herein are mosquitocidal by expressing an insecticidal toxin protein in nectar that includes a targeting peptide to ensure specificity against mosquitoes. These transgenic plants serve as role models for safety, since they are non-crop plants and specific to one mosquito species.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a ureteral stent, having an elongated tube configured to be inserted into a ureter; a first end having a retainer portion configured to be inserted into a kidney; and a second end configured to be inserted into a bladder, the second end having an anchor portion fluidicly coupled with the first end, the second end having a collapsible wall expandable to a cross-sectional size greater than the cross-sectional size of the ureter; a tube port fluidicly coupled with the first end; and a flapper valve having at least two valve ends coupled to the anchor portion over the port; and a flexible middle portion between the at least two valve ends configured to flex toward the port to cover the port with a predetermined amount of ambient pressure in the bladder and flex away from the port when ambient pressure is lower than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for a fiber-coupled, metal-tip chemical imaging spectroscopy. The system couples the electromagnetic radiation (EMR), such as laser light, through an optical fiber to a conductive tip for both EMR excitation to the sample through the conductive tip and EMR signal collection from the sample through the conductive tip. The system and method effectively eliminates the need for an optical alignment between the EMR source and the tip, and still offers the customary spatial resolution of a non-coupled system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for using oral sensory stimulation with models for educating visually impaired students. The oral senses through the mouth using a three-dimensional model of a structure offer an improved approach to educating such students. A student can insert a 3-D model in the mouth and use oral senses to feel the model and learn the shape that a non-visually impaired student can see on a computer. The model can have a reference guide for orientation that can also be used to hold the model. Further, model indicia, such as Braille, can be printed on the reference guide or model to help guide the student. The student can use other senses, such as tactile or hearing senses, to understand supplemental educational information related to the model using the oral senses to feel the model and relate such feel to the educational information.