Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing a genetically modified cell by introducing a polydnavirus delivery construct to a target cell. The polydnavirus delivery construct can comprise an exogenous nucleic acid to form a genetically modified cell comprising the exogenous nucleic acid. Also provided are polydnavirus delivery constructs comprising an exogenous nucleic acid, as well as polydnavirus virions and genetically modified cells comprising the same. Further provided are in vitro methods of identifying a transformed cell. The methods comprise introducing a vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a glc polypeptide to an adherent cell and cultivating the cell under conditions that allow for the expression of the glc polypeptide. Expression of the glc polypeptide results in a transformed cell that is identified by a loss of adherency.

Abstract: A medical simulation model is provided for use in medical training, and having a wall defining a chamber, and having a slit in the wall providing access to the interior of the chamber. A pair of rib-cage members is located within the chamber such that adjacent edges of each member are spaced apart from each other. Resilient biasing elements are connected to each rib-cage member and configured such that adjacent edges of the rib-cage members may be brought into contact with each other, or further spaced-apart, against the action of the resilient biasing elements. A conduit is provided to enable fluid to be introduced into the chamber, and a facsimile of a mammalian heart is located within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for producing a substantially spherical metal powder is described. A particulate source metal includes a primary particulate and has an average starting particle size. The particulate source metal is optionally ball milled and mixed with a binder in a solvent to form a slurry. The slurry is granulated to form substantially spherical granules, wherein each granule comprises an agglomeration of particulate source metal in the binder. The granules are debinded at a debinding temperature to remove the binder from the granules forming debinded granules. The debinded granules are at least partially sintered at a sintering temperature such that particles within each granule fuse together to form partially or fully sintered solid granules. The granules can then be optionally recovered to form a substantially spherical metal powder.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst and a method of hydrogenating a hydrocarbon compound as a substrate using the same are provided. The hydrogenation catalyst includes inorganic nanoparticles and a nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide support for supporting the inorganic nanoparticles, and the hydrocarbon compound is derived from a biomass and contains a functional group. Therefore, the hydrogenation catalyst which exhibits a high conversion rate and high selectivity, is stable, and can be easily separated after a hydrogenation reaction, and whose catalytic activities are not significantly altered even when recovered and repeatedly recycled can be provided. The method of hydrogenating a hydrocarbon compound in which hydrogen can be directly produced in a reactor using formic acid as a hydrogen source without supplying additional hydrogen gas and simultaneously be used under normal pressure can also be provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a therapy apparatus includes a support, a body harness mounted to the body support, a gearbox positioned below the harness, the gearbox comprising at least one gear and supporting a crankshaft, crankarms mounted to the crankshaft, and pedals mounted to the crankarms, a driveshaft coupled to the at least one gear such that rotation of the driveshaft results in rotation of the crankshaft, crankarms, and pedals, and a motor that drives the driveshaft, wherein the apparatus is adapted to support part of the weight of an subject with the harness and part of the weight of the subject with the pedals and wherein rotation of the pedals due to operation of the motor provides therapy to the subject.

Abstract: Imidamide (amidine) analogs that can inhibit the activity of sphingosine kinase 1 and sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK1 & SphK2) are provided. The compounds can prevent angiogenesis in tumors.

Abstract: A substituted phenol compound represented by Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof. At least one of X and Y is CH, and the other one of X and Y is N or CH. R1 is C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 haloalkyl. R2 is C1-C4 alkyl, or halogen. R3 is H, C1-C4 alkyl, aryl, or —(CH2)n-aryl, in which n is 1, 2, or 3. The compound is useful as anticonvulsant.

Abstract: An optical device including a first optical fiber providing optical communication between one surface of the device and a target, the first optical fiber having one end located at that one surface of the device, a number of semiconductor light sources, each semiconductor light source from the number of semiconductor light sources disposed on a surface surrounding the first optical fiber and located away from the one end, and an optical system optically disposed to receive electromagnetic radiation from each semiconductor light source and image the electromagnetic radiation received from each semiconductor light source onto a core area of the one end of the first optical fiber.

Abstract: Industrial waste derived adsorbents were obtained by pyrolysis of sewage sludge, metal sludge, waste oil sludge and tobacco waste in some combination. The materials were used as media to remove hydrogen sulfide at room temperature in the presence of moisture. The initial and exhausted adsorbents after the breakthrough tests were characterized using sorption of nitrogen, thermal analysis, XRD, ICP, and surface pH measurements. Mixing tobacco and sludges result in a strong synergy enhancing the catalytic properties of adsorbents. During pyrolysis new mineral phases are formed as a result of solid state reaction between the components of the sludges. High temperature of pyrolysis is beneficial for the adsorbents due to the enhanced activation of carbonaceous phase and chemical stabilization of inorganic phase. Samples obtained at low temperature are sensitive to water, which deactivates their catalytic centers.

Abstract: Methods of making solid-state semiconducting films. The methods include forming a mixture by mixing at least two monomers in a pre-determined proportion such that at least one of the at least two monomers contains at least one non-conjugation spacer. Polymerization of the mixture is achieved by reacting the monomers with one another resulting in a solid state polymer which is then purified. The purified solid state polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent to form a homogenous solution which is then deposited onto a substrate, forming a solid-state semiconducting film by evaporating the solvent. Alternatively, the purified solid state polymer is deposited onto a substrate and heated to form a liquid melt, and cooling the liquid melt results in a solid state semiconducting thin film. Also, films comprising a semiconducting polymer composition containing a minimum of one non-conjugation spacer and devices comprising such films.

Abstract: A sensing system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an optical actuator configured to apply an optical stimulus into a detection target substance, a photo detector configured to output an electrical signal having a snapback form in response to an optical response generated according to a concentration of the detection target substance to which the optical stimulus is applied, an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical signal output from the photo detector and to provide the amplified electrical signal as positive feedback to the optical actuator, and a detection unit configured to detect the detection target substance in response to the electrical signal.

Abstract: A system for artificial stimulation of the heart of a subject comprises a controller comprising a receiver for receiving signal data, a processor for processing received signal data, and a transmitter for transmitting signal data; a sensing stent for location in the proximal coronary sinus of the subject and comprising a sensing electrode assembly for sensing atrial and/or ventricular signals from the heart of the subject and a transmitter for transmitting signal data to the receiver; a stimulation stent for location in a vein of the subject distal of the sensing stent and comprising a receiver for receiving signal data from the transmitter and an electrode assembly for providing a stimulating electrical signal to the heart in response to the data received; and a defibrillator assembly for providing stimulation to the heart sufficient to defibrillate the heart in response to a signal received from the controller assembly.

Abstract: A synapse array based on a static random access memory (SRAM), a pulse shaper circuit, and a neuromorphic system are provided. The synapse array includes a plurality of synapse circuits. At least one synapse circuit among the plurality of synapse circuits includes at least one bias transistor and at least two cut-off transistors, and the at least one synapse circuit is configured to charge a membrane node of a neuron circuit connected with the at least one synapse circuit using a sub-threshold leakage current that passed through the at least one bias transistor.

Abstract: A joint prosthesis system, specifically a shoulder prosthesis, for shoulder replacement, revision and repair. The implants provide fixation into the best bone available to a surgeon. The implants are used in a superior-inferior and anterior-posterior construct forming a type of cross or X-shape. The implants allow for interchangeability of the articulating component as well as rotational orientation. The systems will allow for augments to accommodate bone loss. The implants may allow for additional security using screws or anchors inserted into the scapula.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus that produces a high-purity gas and to a method of producing a high-purity gas using the apparatus. An apparatus for producing a high-purity gas according to an embodiment of the invention may include a column configured to perform a sorption-enhanced reaction for removing a reaction by-product produced through a catalyst reaction by using sorption, where the column is divided into a multiple number of sections, and the multiple sections have decreasing proportions of a catalyst and increasing proportions of an adsorbent from a front end towards a rear end along a reaction path. According to an embodiment of the invention, a multi-section column may be applied to obtain an increased amount of gas production compared with the conventional sorption-enhanced reaction, even with the same amounts of catalyst and adsorbent.

Abstract: Methods are provided for constructing an on-the-fly circle of trust for a user of an online social network to enable the user to reduce the likelihood that information will be leaked to an unwanted target. In one embodiment, a maximum circle of trust is constructed by using an iterative greedy construction (IGC) algorithm with leakage estimation using disjoint cut-sets. In another embodiment, the maximum circle of trust is constructed by using the IGC algorithm with leakage estimation using a hybrid method where the initial CT is constructed using the disjoint cut-sets and then the neighbors not included in the CT are sorted in non-decreasing order of visibilities and then each of these neighbors is included in the CT one at a time while checking if the leakage is below a threshold using a Sampling algorithm. In yet another embodiment, randomized rounding is used to construct the maximum circle of trust.

Abstract: A scheduling method and an apparatus are provided for use in a Device-to-Device (D2D) communication system. A scheduling method of a node in a wireless communication system according to the present disclosure includes acquiring a first data rate on a first link in consideration of interference occurring when a second link is established, acquiring a second data rate on the first link without consideration of the second link, acquiring, when the second link is established, a third data rate on the second link, and determining whether to establish the second link in consideration of the first data rate, second data rate, and third data rate.

Abstract: A content adaptive compression system includes a plurality of encoders being coupled to receive a portion of an image, and accordingly generating candidate compressed codes, respectively, the plurality of encoders being configured for encoding images of different contents. An error count unit is configured to determine an amount of error between the image and the candidate compressed code for each of the encoders. A mode decision unit is coupled to receive a plurality of the amount of error, the candidate compressed code associated with least amount of error being outputted as an adaptive compressed code for the image.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a mapping device may be capable of passing through cerebral veins and other cerebrovascular spaces to provide electrophysiological mapping of the brain. These embodiments of the device may also be capable of providing, simultaneously or separately, ablation energy or other treatments to targeted brain tissue. In such circumstances, a user may be enabled to analyze an electrophysiological map of a patient's brain and, at the same time or within a short time period before or after the mapping process, may be enabled to apply ablation energy for treatment of a central nervous system disorder. Such treatment may be accomplished without the use of invasive surgery in which the brain is accessed through an opening in the patient's cranium.

Abstract: A bone fixation assembly to promote healing of a bone fracture comprises a first bone engagement member and a second bone engagement member. The first bone engagement member comprises an elongated body with proximal and distal end portions, a projection, and an inner surface defining an opening. The second bone engagement member comprises a main body, first and second outer surfaces, an inner surface defining an aperture, and an inner surface defining an opening spaced from the aperture. One of the end portions of first bone engagement member is dimensioned to extend through the aperture of the second bone engagement member. The opening of the first bone engagement member and the opening of the second bone engagement member are aligned to receive a fastener when the elongated body extends through the aperture and contacts an outer surface of the second bone engagement member.