Abstract: The invention is a capacitive, aka electrostatic, deionization apparatus and method that solves the problem of short lifetime of conventional capacitive deionization (CDI) and of membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) devices and methods by shifting the Potential of Zero Charge of electrode surfaces through surface modifications. Such electrode surface modifications provide very long lifetime capacitive deionization devices and methods.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) for cancelling a self-interference (SI) signal is disclosed. The UE includes a rat-race coupler, a plurality of transceiving antennas capable of transmitting and receiving signals, a receive antenna, a transmission (Tx) chain connected to an input port when the rat-race coupler uses one port as the input port, and a reception (Rx) chain connected to the receive antenna and an isolated port when the rat-race coupler uses the one port as the input port.

Abstract: An efferent contraction training device may include a fixing unit, an electrical stimulation pad and a driving unit. The fixing unit may be configured to fix an articulation of a patient. The fixing unit may include a first member and a second member connected to the first member. The second member of the fixing unit may have an angle with respect to the first member changed in accordance with movements of the articulation of the patient. The electrical stimulation pad may apply an electrical stimulation to a muscle of the articulation to provide the articulation with an efferent contraction exercise. The driving unit may drive the electrical stimulation pad. Thus, the efferent contraction training device may be effectively used for rehabilitating the patient with the paralytic musculature.

Abstract: The Vitex agnus-castus plant is of short height, has a compact form and dark pink flowers.

Abstract: An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes.

Abstract: A method for treating intractable pain via electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. Remote, non-contact stimulation of a selected region of spinal cord is achieved by placement of a transceiver patch directly on the surface of that region of spinal cord, with said patch optionally being inductively coupled to a transmitter patch of similar size on either the outer or inner wall of the dura surrounding that region of the spinal cord. By inductively exchanging electrical power and signals between said transmitter and transceiver patches, and by carrying out the necessary electronic and stimulus signal distribution functions on the transceiver patch, the targeted dorsal column axons can be stimulated without the unintended stray stimulation of nearby dorsal rootlets. Novel configurations of a pliable surface-sheath and clamp or dentate ligament attachment features which realize undamaging attachment of the patch to the spinal cord are described.

Abstract: Location-mapped environments that provide panoramic and immersive views of street scenes are augmented with modern data visualization displays, to communicate additional information of interest. Specifically, illumination statistics information is mapped onto building facades in the location-mapped environments. The illumination statistics information can include variations of illumination as a function of time of a day and as a function of the season. The illumination statistics information can also include direct illumination statistics information and indirect illumination statistics information. Further, the illumination statistics can be calculated for any window on a building façade to determine natural lighting through that window. The illumination statistics can be employed, for example, to aid users in selection of real estate properties for rental or purchase.

Abstract: An highly porous electrically conducting film that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, nanowires or a combination of both. The highly porous electrically conducting film exhibits an electrical resistivity of less than 0.1 ?·cm at 25 C and a density of between 0.05 and 0.70 g/cm3. The film can exhibit a density between 0.50 and 0.85 g/cm3 and an electrical resistivity of less than 6×10?3 ?·cm at 25 C. Also included is a method of forming these highly porous electrically conducting films by forming a composite film using carbon nanotubes or nanowires and sacrificial nanoparticles or microparticles. At least a portion of the nanoparticles or microparticles are then removed from the composite film to form the highly porous electrically conducting film.

Abstract: Slurry compositions and chemically activated CMP methods for polishing a substrate having a silicon carbide surface using such slurries. In such methods, the silicon carbide surface is contacted with a CMP slurry composition that comprises i) a liquid carrier and ii) a plurality of particles having at least a soft surface portion, wherein the soft surface portion includes a transition metal compound that provides a Mohs hardness <6, and optionally iii) an oxidizing agent. The oxidizing agent can include a transition metal. The slurry is moved relative to the silicon carbide comprising surface, wherein at least a portion of the silicon carbide surface is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for transmitting data using a fountain code are provided. The method for transmitting data includes determining a degree distribution of a fountain code based on erasure rate information regarding at least one receiving end, performing fountain encoding according to the degree distribution, and transmitting symbols generated by the fountain encoding.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and at least one blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as pumping blood within a patient. A blood pump may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing the near term risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event in a patient presenting to an Emergency Department with chest pain are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises determining the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and/or mass in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. Levels of MPO activity or MPO mass in bodily samples from the test subject are then compared to a control value in comparable bodily samples obtained from a control population. Such comparison can also be used to determine the near term treatment of the patient.

Abstract: A method and system of optimizing a complex manufacturing process performed to achieve one or more processing objectives for the process and/or a component produced by the process. The system includes a graphical user interface, a process module, and an optimization module. The process module includes a training module, an empirical relationships database, an analytical equations database, a heuristic knowledge database, and a process models database. The graphical user interface is used to input one or more processing variables and constraints for the processing objective. The training module generates empirical relationships from the processing variable and empirical data obtained from the manufacturing process. The process module generates a process model that takes into consideration heuristic knowledge of the manufacturing process, empirical relationships, and optionally analytical equations relating to the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic resistance structure, a method of manufacturing the magnetic resistance structure, and an electronic device including the magnetic resistance structure. The method of manufacturing the magnetic resistance structure includes forming a hexagonal boron nitride layer, forming a graphene layer on the boron nitride layer, forming a first magnetic material layer between the boron nitride layer and the graphene layer according to an intercalation process; and forming a second magnetic material layer on the graphene layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for multicoil telemetry are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an intermediate coil disposed between a driving coil and a receiving coil, where the intermediate coil is configured to act on magnetic fields between the driving coil and receiving coil in order to provide improved coupling efficiency. The improved coupling may assist in providing efficient power transfer and/or data transfer utilizing the magnetic fields. In some embodiments the receiving coil may be in direct communication with the intermediate coil, without any other intermediate coils. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a second intermediate coil disposed between the driving coil and receiving coil to improve the transfer efficiency between the driving and receiving coils. The intermediate coils may have a high quality factor and be configured to decouple the resistance between the driving and receiving coils.

Abstract: The invention provides mass spectrometry methods, compositions and systems which enable a unique platform for analyte quantitation accessing very high degrees of multiplexing and accurate quantification, particularly well-suited for a range of quantitative analysis for proteomics applications. Embodiments of the present methods and systems combine isotopic coding agents characterized by very small differences in molecular mass with mass spectrometry methods providing large resolving power to provide relative or absolute analyte quantification in a large number of samples.

Abstract: A micromachining process to fabricate a single chip that simple drops into a supporting structure. The micromachining process provides the ability to create a probe that will interface with integrated circuits, for example, operating at frequencies in the range of about 100 GHz to about 3,000 GHz (3 THz). This approach creates a silicon structure (or other applicable choice of material) that provides mechanical force for probing while supporting the transfer of the high frequency energy between a measurement system and the integrated circuit, individual device or material.

Abstract: Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) polypeptide variants of the presently-disclosed subject matter have enhanced catalytic efficiency for (?)-cocaine, as compared to wild-type BChE. Pharmaceutical compositions of the presently-disclosed subject matter include a BChE polypeptide variant having an enhanced catalytic efficiency for (?)-cocaine. A method of the presently-disclosed subject matter for treating a cocaine-induced condition includes administering to an individual an effective amount of a BChE polypeptide variant, as disclosed herein, to lower blood cocaine concentration.

Abstract: A method of removing noise from a two-channel signal includes receiving channel signals constituting the two-channel signal; obtaining a noise signal for each channel by removing a target signal from each channel signal by subtracting another channel signal multiplied by a weighted value from each channel signal; estimating a power spectral density (PSD) of diffuse noise from each channel signal; obtaining a target signal including an interference signal for each channel by removing the diffuse noise from each channel signal using the estimated PSD of the diffuse noise; obtaining the interference signal for each channel by removing the diffuse noise from the noise signal for each channel using the estimated PSD of the diffuse noise; and removing the interference signal from the target signal and the interference signal for each channel.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for cyclization of polymers such as peptides.