Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least a portion of an optical waveguide having a hollow core generally surrounded by a cladding. The cladding substantially confines a first optical signal and a second optical signal within the hollow core as the first optical signal and the second optical signal counterpropagate through the optical waveguide. Interference between the first optical signal and the second optical signal is responsive to perturbation of the at least a portion of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treatment of prolapsed hemorrhoidal arteries is disclosed. The devices can identify the hemorrhoid and ligate the artery without causing significant pain or distension of the rectum. The artery can be identified with ultrasound. The ligation can be performed using energy and/or mechanical structures, such as clips or rubber bands.

Abstract: A method may include identifying a linked document that is linked to by a group of linking documents; identifying links between the linking documents and the linked document; assigning a weight to each of the identified links; and determining a score for the linked document based on the identified links between the linking documents and the linked document, and the weights assigned to each of the identified links.

Abstract: A method may include identifying a group of documents; identifying linking documents that include links to the identified documents; assigning a measure of importance to one or more of the linking documents; and generating a score for each of the identified documents based on the measure of importance assigned to at least one of the linking documents that includes a link to the identified document.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for expressing a gene or nucleotide sequence of interest are provided. The compositions include an expression cassette that includes a synthetic enhancer, a transthyretin promoter, and a nucleotide sequence operably under the control of the synthetic enhancer and the transthyretin promoter. The expression cassette may be used in an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, such as a self-complementary AAV vector.

Abstract: A method and system for encrypting a first piece of information M to be sent by a sender [100] to a receiver [110] allows both sender and receiver to compute a secret message key using identity-based information and a bilinear map. In a one embodiment, the sender [100] computes an identity-based encryption key from an identifier ID associated with the receiver [110]. The identifier ID may include various types of information such as the receiver's e-mail address, a receiver credential, a message identifier, or a date. The sender uses a bilinear map and the encryption key to compute a secret message key gIDr, which is then used to encrypt a message M, producing ciphertext V to be sent from the sender [100] to the receiver [110] together with an element rP. An identity-based decryption key dID is computed by a private key generator [120] based on the ID associated with the receiver and a secret master key s.

Abstract: In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to methods of detecting the over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a subject or sample, methods of diagnosing the presence of one or more angiogenesis related diseases or related biological events in a subject or sample, method of monitoring the progress of one or more angiogenesis related diseases or related biological events in a subject or sample, a 18F-FBEM-CYS-ZEGFR:1907 probe, compositions including a 18F-FBEM-CYS-ZEGFR:1907 probe, and pharmaceutical compositions including a 18F-FBEM-CYS-ZEGFR:1907 probe and the like.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for cutting a material including biological tissue. The apparatus has a cutting electrode with an elongate cutting portion. A voltage pulse waveform (typically comprising repeated bursts of minipulses) having a low or very low duty-cycle is applied to the cutting electrode to cut the tissue or other material by producing a vapor cavity around the cutting portion of the electrode and ionizing a gas inside the vapor cavity to produce a plasma. A low duty cycle cutting waveform may prevent heat accumulation in the tissue, reducing collateral thermal damage. The duration of the burst of minipulses typically ranges from 10 ?s to 100 ?s, and the rep rate typically ranges from 1 KHz to 10 Hz, as necessary. The apparatus and method of invention may cut biological tissue while decreasing bleeding and maintaining a very shallow zone of thermal damage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a crystal structure of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) with a modulator of ALDH bound thereto. The present disclosure provides a computer readable medium comprising atomic coordinates for an ALDH polypeptide and a modulator bound to a site within the polypeptide. A method is also provided. In general terms, the method comprises computationally identifying a compound that binds to an ALDH polypeptide, using the atomic coordinates.

Abstract: Circular nucleic acid vectors that provide for persistently high levels of protein expression are provided. The circular vectors of the subject invention are characterized by being devoid of expression-silencing bacterial sequences, where in many embodiments the subject vectors include a unidirectional site-specific recombination product hybrid sequence in addition to an expression cassette. Also provided are methods of using the subject vectors for introduction of a nucleic acid, e.g., an expression cassette, into a target cell, as well as preparations for use in practicing such methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including both research and therapeutic applications. Also provided is a highly efficient and readily scalable method for producing the vectors employed in the subject methods, as well as reagents and kits/systems for practicing the same.

Abstract: An amplifier system providing improved Cartesian feedback is provided. A complex band pass error amplifier is provided. A quadrature up converter is connected to the complex band pass error amplifier so as to receive as input, output from the complex band pass error amplifier. An amplifier is connected to the quadrature up converter so as to receive as input, output from the quadrature up converter. A quadrature down converter is connected at or beyond the amplifier output so as to receive as input a signal proportional to that delivered by the amplifier as output to a load, wherein the complex band pass error amplifier is connected to the quadrature down converter so as to receive as a first input, output from the quadrature down converter and as a second input, a quadrature reference signal.

Abstract: Methods of bonding optical structures, bonded optical structures, silylated bonded optical structures, and the like, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method assigns importance ranks to nodes in a linked database, such as any database of documents containing citations, the world wide web or any other hypermedia database. The rank assigned to a document is calculated from the ranks of documents citing it. In addition, the rank of a document is calculated from a constant representing the probability that a browser through the database will randomly jump to the document. The method is particularly useful in enhancing the performance of search engine results for hypermedia databases, such as the world wide web, whose documents have a large variation in quality.

Abstract: Devices, bandages, kits and methods are described that can control or regulate the mechanical environment of a wound to ameliorate scar and/or keloid formation. The mechanical environment of a wound includes stress, strain, and any combination of stress and strain. The control of a wound's mechanical environment can be active, passive, dynamic, or static. The devices are configured to be removably secured to a skin surface in proximity to the wound site and shield the wound from endogenous and/or exogenous stress.

Abstract: Devices, bandages, kits and methods are described that can control or regulate the mechanical environment of a wound to ameliorate scar and/or keloid formation. The mechanical environment of a wound includes stress, strain, and any combination of stress and strain. The control of a wound's mechanical environment can be active, passive, dynamic, or static. The devices are configured to be removably secured to a skin surface in proximity to the wound site and shield the wound from endogenous and/or exogenous stress.

Abstract: Described here is an automated robotic device that isolates circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or other biological structures with extremely high purity. The device uses powerful magnetic rods covered in removable plastic sleeves. These rods sweep through blood samples, capturing, e.g., cancer cells labeled with antibodies linked to magnetically responsive particles such as superparamagnetic beads. Upon completion of the capturing protocol, the magnetic rods undergo several rounds of washing, thereby removing all contaminating blood cells. The captured target cells are released into a final capture solution by removing the magnetic rods from the sleeves. Additionally, cells captured by this device show no reduced viability when cultured after capture. Cells are captured in a state suitable for genetic analysis. Also disclosed are methods for single cell analysis. Being robotic allows the device to be operated with high throughput.

Abstract: A medical imaging-based system and method uses both kV and MV images captured during a treatment period for organ motion tracking. 3D geometric locations of internal features are computationally tracked as a function of time from internal features, such as natural biological features or implanted fiducials, which are computationally extracted from the captured kV and MV images. A partial information method allows 3D tracking to be maintained in the event that imaging information is temporarily not available.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for compounds, pharmaceutical preparations, kits and methods for the inhibition of the Hh pathway and the alleviation of cancer and developmental disorders associated with the Hh pathway.

Abstract: Organic semiconductor devices exhibit desirable mobility characteristics. In connection with various example embodiments, a monolayer of methyl-terminated molecules exhibits density characteristics that are sufficient to promote two-dimensional growth of organic semiconductor material formed thereupon. In some applications, the methyl-terminated molecules are sufficiently dense to dominate inter-layer interactions between layers of the organic semiconductor material.

Abstract: Location systems and methods are implemented using a variety of arrangements and methods. Using one such system location information is provided in response to a utility-line arrangement propagating signals that represent a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication originating from one or more remote transmitters. The system includes a receiver circuit communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement. The system also includes a signal-processing logic circuit, communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement. The signal processing logic circuit is arranged to derive location information from characteristics of the signals that are indicative of a location of the receiver circuit relative to the remote transmitters.