Abstract: The present application describes embodiments of a non-tracking solar energy collector comprising: (a) at least one solar radiation concentrator for collimating and directing the incident solar radiation rays to at least one focal point along the surface of a reactive reflector; (b) the reactive reflector mounted on top of an external cavity and having at least one transparency zone instantly formed at said at least one focal point of the solar radiation rays, for letting the solar radiation rays enter said external cavity, wherein said transparency zone is constantly moving along the surface of said reactive reflector following the position of said at least one focal point of the solar radiation rays; and (c) the external cavity containing a solar cell and capable of trapping the entered solar radiation rays by inner scattering of said solar radiation rays on the walls of said external cavity, wherein said inner scattering of said solar radiation rays inside said external cavity is preventing solar radiation

Abstract: A low voltage sub-nanosecond pulsed current driver for driving current to a load, which comprises a regulated current source connected to the load, for driving controlled current to the load (which may be a laser diode for LIDAR applications); a current routing network, being connected in parallel to the load following the regulated current source and consisting of a plurality of controlled power switches; and a controller for individually timing the operation of the plurality of controlled power switches, to generate a current pulse having desired narrow pulse width and reduced rise and fall times that will be delivered to the load.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of analyzing a liquid sample, comprising the steps of: passing near-infrared light through the sample, wherein the light travels in metal nanoparticles-added microfiber that is immersed in the sample; obtaining spectral information across a wavelength range of about 750 nm to about 1800 nm; and qualitatively identifying, and optionally quantitatively characterizing, one or more analytes in the sample. Near-infrared spectrophotometer carry out the method is also provided by the invention.

Abstract: Nano-sized particles are provided comprising at least one multi-headed amphiphilic compound, in which at least one headgroup of said multi-headed amphiphilic compound is selectively cleavable or contains a selectively cleavable group, and at least one biologically active agent, which is both encapsulated within the nano-particle and non-covalently associated thereto.

Abstract: Provided are co-assembled nanoparticles including at least one polypeptide including a polyanion; and at least one amphiphilic peptide capable of forming a ?-sheet structure, a derivative or a salt thereof, the amphiphilic peptide including at least 2 pairs of alternating hydrophobic/hydrophilic amino acid residues in which the hydrophilic amino acid residue is positively charged, and methods of preparation of the nanoparticles. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions including the co-assembled nanoparticles and a pharmaceutically active ingredient, dissolved, entrapped, encapsulated or attached to the co-assembled nanoparticles. Further provided are therapeutic uses of the pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A digital controller for controlling an average-current-mode voltage regulator with an output connected to a load.

Abstract: A system and method for performing four dimensional multicolor nanotomography with high harmonics and attosecond pulses to attain spectrally resolved absorption data about the three-dimensional volumetric structure of a sample are disclosed. Also disclosed are embodiments of the system and method that have been adapted to perform four dimensional multicolor nanotomography absorption and index of refraction data about the three-dimensional volumetric structure of a sample, to perform five dimensional multicolor nanotomography with high harmonics and attosecond pulses to obtain spectrally resolved absorption data about the three-dimensional volumetric structure and temporal dynamics of the sample, to perform five dimensional multicolor nanotomography to obtain spectrally resolved absorption and index of refraction data about the three-dimensional volumetric structure and temporal dynamics of the sample, and to perform Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

Abstract: Conjugates of drugs suitable for use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and phospholipids, and their use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, are disclosed. The disclosed conjugates serve as targeted prodrugs which are suitable for oral administration, and which are capable of releasing the drug selectively at the diseased tissue upon activation by PLA2.

Abstract: Systems and method for classifying EEG signals of a human subject generated responsive to a series of images containing target images and non-target images. The EEG signals are in a spatio-temporal representation. The time points are classified independently, using a linear discriminant classifier, to compute spatio-temporal discriminating weights that are used to amplify the spatio-temporal representation, to create a spatially-weighted representation. Principal Component Analysis is used on a temporal domain for dimensionality reduction, separately for each spatial channel of the signals, to create a projection, which is applied to the spatially-weighted representation onto a first plurality of principal components, to create a temporally approximated spatially weighted representation.

Abstract: Provided are methods of in vitro maturation of human spermatogonium, comprising culturing the spermatogonium in a three-dimensional methylcellose culture system (MCS) under conditions capable of differentiating said human spermatogonium into an elongated spermatid, thereby in vitro maturing the human spermatogonium. Also provided is an in vitro matured sperm obtainable according to the method of the invention and methods of treating subjects in need of mature sperm cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The methods generally involve administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent that blocks a transforming growth factor-beta pathway.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method for treating, delaying the onset, delaying progression of, reducing the incidence of or reducing the severity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in a subject. The composition in some embodiments of the invention is an immunoglobulin derived Fc fragment which binds and partially antagonizes the action of CD16.

Abstract: Methods of creating frames captured with a video camera that are independent of light conditions are presented. In a first method the invention attains this goal by the addition of a modulated light source, for example amplitude modulation (AM), to the background light that illuminates the scene being captured and executing an algorithm that generates processed images in which the effects of the background illumination have been eliminated. In a second aspect the invention is a method of modifying the flash no flash technique by executing an algorithm that averages out the maximum and minimum intensity peaks in adjacent frames thereby allowing this technique to be employed using non-synchronous light in video.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing and troubleshooting failures of components of a physical system with low troubleshooting cost, according to which for each component in the system, a Model-Based Diagnosis (MBD) is used for computing the probability of causing a system failure, based on currently observed system behavior or on knowledge about the system's structure. Then the probability of causing a system failure is computed, based on its age and its survival curves. Then, it is determined whether a faulty component C should be fixed or replaced by minimizing future troubleshooting costs, being the costs of the process of diagnosing and repairing an observed failure.

Abstract: The invention relates to potassium-promoted, Fe2+(Fe3+yAl3+i-y)2o4 [0.3<y?0.7] silica-containing extrudates, processes for the preparation of the extrudates with the aid of colloidal silica, and the use of the extrudates to catalyze processes for producing liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention relates to potassium-promoted, Fe2+(Fe3+yAl3+1-y)2O4 [0.3?y?0.7] silica-containing extrudates, processes for the preparation of the extrudates with the aid of colloidal silica, and the use of the extrudates to catalyze processes for producing liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for the generation of images of optical sections of a three-dimensional (3D) volume in space such as an object, scene, or target, comprising: an illumination unit, an optical arrangement for the imaging of the object onto at least one spatially resolving detector, a scanning mechanism for scanning the entire object and a signal processing unit for the implementation of a method for digital reconstruction of a three-dimensional representation of the object from images of said object as obtained by said detector (which may be in a form of a hologram), wherein the optical arrangement includes a diffractive optical element (herein a phase pinhole), realized using a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) configured to mimic an actual physical pinhole, while allowing the formation of a three-dimensional representation for a specific point of interest in said object, such that for each scanning position a single hologram or an image is recorded.

Abstract: A planar Hall effect (PHE) sensor for measuring at an external magnetic field includes a plurality of elongated magnetic regions. Each magnetic region includes a ferromagnetic material that is magnetized along a longitudinal axis. The magnetic regions cross one another at an overlap region that is characterized by a plurality of easy magnetic axes. At least two pairs of electrical leads are each aligned along one of the easy magnetic axes. A current source may be connected to a first pair of the electrical leads to cause a current to flow through the overlap region along a first easy magnetic axis. A voltage measurement device may be connected to another pair of the electrical leads to measure a PHE voltage that is generated by a component of the external magnetic field that is perpendicular to the easy magnetic axis along which the overlap region is magnetized.

Abstract: Compositions comprising an alginate, a source of sodium ions and a carrier (e.g., a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier), which are characterized by reduced association of the alginate chains and hence by at least one of: (i) a zeta potential weaker than ?25 mV, at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v) alginate in the carrier; and (ii) a diffusion coefficient of at least 10?8 cm2/second, at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v) alginate in the carrier, are disclosed. Also disclosed are uses of the composition and methods utilizing the composition for treating inflammatory bowel disease; liver damage, diseases and disorders, for treating a medical condition treatable by a hepatotoxic agent and for reducing or preventing liver damage, including liver damage caused by a hepatotoxic agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for diagnosing faults in a software system, according to which, predictions of the probability of each software component of the software system to be faulty are obtained from a diagnoser, and the probability predictions are input to a fault diagnosis software module, executed by the diagnoser.