Abstract: A process for characterizing micro, meso, and/or macro porous materials is provided. The process includes providing a volumetric and/or gravimetric adsorption system, the adsorption system having an adsorption chamber and a probe gas at a first temperature. In addition, a porous material to be characterized is provided and placed within the adsorption chamber. Thereafter, a porosimetry run is conducted on the porous material. The porosimetry run includes: (a) selecting an uptake target value; (b) selecting a target interval bounding the target uptake target value; (c) adjusting pressure within the adsorption chamber in order for the porous sample to reach the target uptake value; (d) adjusting pressure within the adsorption chamber until the pressure within the adsorption chamber is within the target interval for a predetermined amount of time; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until the porosimetry run is complete.

Abstract: Described herein is the synthesis of adhesive complex coacervates. The adhesive complex coacervates are composed of a mixture of one or more polycations, one or more polyanions, and one of more multivalent cations. The polycations and polyanions in the adhesice complex coacervate are crosslinked with one another by covalent bonds upon curing. The adhesive complex coacervates have several desirable features when compared to conventional bioadhesives, which are effective in water-based applicatgions. The adhesive complex coacervates described herein exhibit good interfacial tension in water when applied to a substrate (i.e., they spread over the interface rather than being beaded up). Additionally, the ability of the complex coacervate to crosslink intermolecularly increases the cohesive strength of the adhesive complex coacervate. The adhesive complex coacervates have numerous biological applications as bioadhesives and drug delivery devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a stack used for a tree traversal (TRV) may include a processing unit that may manage a short stack for a tree TRV, and a storage unit that may store data of the short stack. The processing unit may perform a restart of the tree TRV from an intermediate node of a tree to fill the short stack when the short stack is empty.

Abstract: In some illustrative embodiments, an incoming signal from a transducer in an ultrasound imaging beam-former apparatus is applied to an in-phase sample-and-hold and a quadrature sample-and-hold. The quadrature sample-and-hold may be clocked a quarter period behind the in-phase sample-and-hold. The output of the sample-and-holds are applied to in-phase and quadrature analog-to-digital converters. A magnitude calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a magnitude. A phase calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a phase. An apodizer applies a difference between an amplitude of the outgoing signal and the magnitude and applies a first illumination to a image point in substantial proportion to the difference, and a phase rotator applies a second illumination to the image point in substantial proportion to the phase.

Abstract: A method of determining hand features information using both two dimensional (2D) image data and three dimensional (3D) image data is described. In one implementation, a method includes: receiving a 2D image frame; receiving 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame; using the 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame, transforming the 2D image frame; and using the 3D image data corresponding to the 2D image frame, scaling the 2D image frame, where the transforming and scaling results in a normalized 2D image frame, where the normalized 2D image frame is a scaled and transformed version of the 2D image frame, and where the scaling and transforming is performed using a computer.

Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a radial cone k-space trajectory is provided. The radial cone k-space trajectory is defined by the application of a radial magnetic field gradient and one or more oscillating magnetic field gradients. The amplitude of the radial magnetic field gradient increases with time before decreasing with time. While the amplitude of the radial magnetic field gradient is decreasing, the one or more oscillating magnetic field gradients are applied. As a result, the radial cone k-space trajectory is one that is oriented along an axis and that extends outward from an origin along a substantially radial trajectory before extending outward from the origin while circumscribing a conical volume having a radius that increases nonlinearly with distance from the origin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a micro Base Station (BS) to provide a terminal with communication service in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes forwarding, in the micro BS, an attach request message received from the terminal to a local Mobility Management Entity (MME), determining, at the local MME, whether the terminal has performed at least one of authentication and registration processes, transmitting, at the MME, to a local registration processor a service provision check request message asking for whether the terminal is registered with the communication service to a local registration processor, and providing the terminal with the communication service in response to a service provision check acknowledge message accepting the attach request which is received from the local registration processor and no communication service in response to the service provision check acknowledge message rejecting the attach request which is received from the local registration processor.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing biobased carriers for dispersal of biological and chemical molecules includes a premixer having a first inlet, a first outlet, a cavity configured for receiving a wet coproduct and a binder through the first inlet, and a stirring apparatus within the cavity for premixing the wet coproduct and binder into a substantially homogeneous mixture; a high shear mixer having a housing, a drive apparatus and a high shear apparatus, the housing defining an opening, the drive apparatus being within the housing and for forcing the substantially homogeneous mixture from the premixer into the high shear apparatus, and the high shear apparatus including a rotor, a stator and a screen covering the opening and being for shear mixing the mixture including forcing the mixture through the screen and out of the housing in the form of nucleation enhanced particles; and an agglomerator having an interior chamber sized and configured to receive the nucleation enhanced particles from the high shear mixer and

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of reducing a level of a target mRNA in a well-differentiated airway epithelial cell by contacting the cell with a sensitizing agent followed by contacting the cell with a therapeutic RNAi agent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for infrared (IR) detection. Organic layers can be utilized to produce a phototransistor for the detection of IR radiation. The wavelength range of the IR detector can be modified by incorporating materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths. Quantum dots of materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths than the host organic material of the absorbing layer of the phototransistor can be incorporated into the absorbing layer so as to enhance the absorption of photons having wavelengths associated with the material of the quantum dots. A photoconductor structure can be used instead of a phototransistor. The photoconductor can incorporate PbSe or PbS quantum dots. The photoconductor can incorporate organic materials and part of an OLED structure. A detected IR image can be displayed to a user. Organic materials can be used to create an organic light-emitting device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system. The system contains multiple power electronics based converters which convert the local direct current (DC) distributed sources (DRs) to the alternating current (AC) of the grid. The converters also provide the capability of limiting the current in the system when a fault occurs. The converters also protect the power distribution system equipment against high fault currents.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a fluorine-containing acid amplifier.

Abstract: Techniques herein prepare an alloy catalyst using a protective conductive polymer coating. More particularly, an alloy catalyst is prepared by: preparing a platinum catalyst supported on carbon; coating the surface of the platinum catalyst with a conductive polymer; supporting a transition metal salt on the coated catalyst; and heat treating the catalyst on which the transition metal salt is supported. Also, an alloy catalyst may be prepared by: preparing a platinum-transition metal catalyst supported on carbon; coating the surface of the platinum-transition metal catalyst with a conductive polymer; and heat treating the coated catalyst. Accordingly an alloy catalyst with superior dispersity can be prepared by increasing the degree of alloying of the catalyst through heat treatment while preventing the increase of catalyst particle size through carbonization of the conductive polymer. The prepared catalyst may be useful, for example, for a fuel cell electrode.

Abstract: A nutritional or dietary supplement composition that strengthens and promotes a general eye health benefit for aging adults, including retinal health through the prevention, stabilization, reversal and/or treatment of visual acuity loss by reducing the risk of developing late stage or advanced age-related macular degeneration in persons with early age-related macular degeneration. The nutritional or dietary supplement composition may likewise reduce the risk of vision loss associated with the development of cataracts.

Abstract: Nanomaterials are incorporated within a material, such as within a metal-based material. As may be implemented in accordance with various embodiments, nanomaterials are introduced to a metal-based material in a liquid state, and the metal-based material and nanomaterials are cooled from the liquid state to a viscous state. The metal-based material is stirred in the viscous state to disperse the nanomaterials therein, and the metal-based material is used in the viscous state to maintain dispersion of the nanomaterials as the metal-based material cools.

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. The aqueous extract in embodiments including a water extract step is separated into acetic acid and hemicellulose sugar aqueous solutions.

Abstract: NMR probe coils designed to operate at two different frequencies, producing a strong and homogenous magnetic field at both the frequencies. This single coil, placed close to the sample, provides a method to optimize the NMR detection sensitivity of two different channels. In addition, the present invention describes a coil that generates a magnetic field that is parallel to the substrate of the coil as opposed to perpendicular as seen in the prior art. The present invention isolates coils from each other even when placed in close proximity to each other. A method to reduce the presence of electric field within the sample region is also considered. Further, the invention describes a method to adjust the radio-frequency tuning and coupling of the NMR probe coils.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product automatically generate a grayscale lithography mask file (76) from a three dimensional (3D) model (72) of a desired topography, e.g., as generated by a three dimensional computer aided design (CAD) tool (70).

Abstract: A device for marking a treatment isocenter on a patient's body includes a base including alignment indicia; a marker disposed over the base and positioned relative to the indicia for marking the isocenter on the patient's body; and an actuator for actuating the marker and causing a mark indicating the isocenter to be made on the patient's body. The actuator can include a button and a spring coupled to the marker. Compressing the actuator causes the marker to travel through an ink well prior to piercing the patient's skin. The device is disposable as intended for a single use.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus for testing to assess the cone photoreceptor pathway by determining the sensitivity of the cone photoreceptors. The test may be used to determine of a subject is suffering from, or is likely to suffer from, a disease state involving the fovea, parafovea, macula, neurological pathways used by these area to communicate with the visual processing centers in the brain and cone photoreceptors and/or ganglion cells. Using the novel cone photoreceptor sensitivity test and apparatus, the present disclosure shows that cone photoreceptor sensitivity in subjects with primary open angle glaucoma was decreased as compared to a control group (p=0.04). This cone photoreceptor sensitivity test is shown to have excellent repeatability, can be administered in a short time, does not require extensive subject instruction and meets other limitations required for application in a clinical setting.