Abstract: A method of forming functionalized fly ash particles includes contacting a plurality of fly ash particles with a hydroxide compound under conditions to directly bond oxygen (O) onto a surface portion of the plurality of fly ash particles. The plurality of fly ash particles having O directly bound to their surface portion are reacted with an organic alcohol or an organic acid to covalently bond hydrophobic groups in the form of condensation residue from the organic alcohol or organic acid to the O to form the plurality of functionalized fly ash particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process to facilitate osteochondral bone remodeling in a subject by inducing regeneration of this bone to a healthy, vascularized state capable of supporting the underlying hyaline cartilage of articular joints and spinal discs, both biomechanically and metabolically and to deliver a bioactive agent. This process involves the steps of: administering an effective amount of an injectable in situ curing biomaterial composite to a site. The biomaterial composite product is prepared by a process involving the steps: admixing an alginate solution with a nonporous aggregate of ?-tricalcium phosphate, in a sufficient amount to initiate polymerization of the alginate solution, to form a hydrogel having from between 10 to 20 percent by volume of ?-tricalcium phosphate.

Abstract: This invention provides novel peptides that ameliorate one or more symptoms of atherosclerosis. The peptides are highly stable and readily administered via an oral route. The peptides are effective to stimulate the formation and cycling of pre-beta high density lipoprotein-like particles and/or to promote lipid transport and detoxification. This invention also provides a method of tracking a peptide in a mammal. In addition, the peptides inhibit osteoporosis. When administered with a statin, the peptides enhance the activity of the statin permitting the statin to be used at significantly lower dosages and/or cause the statins to be significantly more anti-inflammatory at any given dose.

Abstract: A method of routing data in a mesh communication network including a plurality of network devices and operating in a process control environment, including assigning one of a plurality of priority levels associated with the communication network to a data packet, sending the data packet from a source network device included in the plurality of network devices to a destination network device included in the plurality of network devices, and routing the data packet to a destination network device via at least one intermediate network device included in the plurality of network devices. The act of routing includes comparing, at each intermediate network device, the priority level of the data packet to a priority mask of the intermediate network device, and modifying at least one of scheduling or routing of the data packet if the priority level of the data packet is not associated with the priority mask of the intermediate network device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing or preventing mitochondrial permeability transitioning. The method comprises administering an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide having at least one net positive charge; a minimum of four amino acids; a maximum of about twenty amino acids; a relationship between the minimum number of net positive charges (pm) and the total number of amino acid residues (r) wherein 3pm is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+1; and a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) and the total number of net positive charges (pt) wherein 2 a is the largest number that is less than or equal to pt+1, except that when a is 1, pt may also be 1.

Abstract: The disclosure includes methods and systems for treating cardiac arrhythmias. Some methods for treating an abnormal heart rhythm include determining a change in a sinus node cycle length of a heart of a patient between a time prior to the abnormal heart rhythm and a time during the abnormal heart rhythm; when the change is within a first range, delivering a first therapy to the patient for treating the abnormal heart rhythm; and when the change is within a second range, delivering a second therapy to the patient for treating the abnormal heart rhythm, wherein the first therapy is different from the second therapy. In some embodiments, the first therapy may include shock therapy and the second therapy may include anti-tachycardia pacing.

Abstract: Oral and topical pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods of treatment thereof for treating various skin disorder including acne, psoriasis, ichthyosis, photoaging, photodamaged skin, and, skin cancer.

Abstract: A variety of article and systems including wound care systems, methods for making the wound care systems, bactericidal, and methods for treating wounds using these systems are disclosed. The wound care systems may include a first material comprising one or more fibers or porous media. The one or more fibers or porous media may be coated with a second material that is capable of inhibiting the growth of bacteria and killing the bacteria to render the wound care system sterile, increasing the absorbency of the first material, or both upon exposure to light. The first material may be cotton, or any suitable fibrous material, the second material may be TiO2, and the light may be UV or visible light. A variety of methods including ALD may be used to coat the first material.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel polynucleotides and polypeptides encoding a methyltransferase. The subject invention provides novel plants that express the methyltrasferase disclosed herein and are resistant to auxin-based herbicides. The subject invention also provides transgenic plants have been transformed with one or more other herbicide resistance genes such that the plants are resistant to the application of auxin-based herbicides and one or more other herbicides.

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 invention generally concerns inhibition of a molecule that has a role in post-translational modification of a receptor for antiproliferative factor (APF) of bladder epithelial cells, thereby modulating the APF. In particular, inhibition of DHHC2 activity and/or ZDHHC2 expression results in modulation of APF receptor activity, and in specific aspects such modulation is therapeutic and/or preventative for a bladder condition, such as interstitial cystitis. In addition, inhibition of CKAP4 palmitoylation in certain cases also decreases its activity as a tPA receptor on smooth muscle cells or surfactant A on type II pneumocytes, and/or generally inhibits its function as a cell membrane receptor, cell chaperone molecule, and/or membrane trafficking agent.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I, II or III are provided where X1, X2 and X3 are independently selected from H and hydroxy protecting groups and R1 and R2 are independently selected from H or straight or branched chain alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, straight or branched chain alkenyl groups having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, straight or branched chain hydroxy-substituted alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or straight and branched chain hydroxy-substituted alkenyl groups having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and R3 is independently selected from straight or branched chain alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, straight or branched chain alkenyl groups having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, straight or branched chain hydroxy-substituted alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or straight and branched chain hydroxy-substituted alkenyl groups having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A lens shading correction method and apparatus are provided for removing vignetting occurring in digital images due to lens shading. A white image captured by an image pickup device and an image pickup unit is separated into reference white images corresponding to color channels. A vignetting center having a maximum light intensity is estimated in each of the reference white images. Multiple reference segments on each of the reference white images are defined. A lens shading correction value corresponding to each pixel constituting the reference segments are calculated using a corresponding light intensity. A lens shading correction function corresponding to each reference segment is derived using a corresponding lens shading correction value. Vignetting of a general image received in a general image processing mode is removed, using the derived multiple lens shading correction functions.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating diagnostic content of x-ray images from non-diagnostic content in order to achieve an optimum image reproduction and windowing. In particular, a method is provided for displaying a plurality of radiological density images in a single viewing window by overlaying gray scale images of each radiological density image in a single display window.

Abstract: Briefly described, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a computer control system and an environmental light source that is controlled by the computer control system such that an amount of light provided by the environmental light source is adjusted by the computer control so that ocular parameters of an examinee are within a targeted range. Further, the system includes an irradiation system that provides multiple angle and axial eccentricity illuminations and selective wavelength irradiation based upon instructions received from the computer control system, wherein the computer control system instructs the irradiation system to provide different irradiation characteristics for different screening procedures. Also, the system includes an image detection system that captures ocular images of the examinee, wherein the computer control system analyzes captured images and provides results of in-situ analysis.

Abstract: Described is a method of making sorbic acid, pentadiene, or 3-penten-2-one. The method includes partially hydrogenating 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone (HMP) to yield 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (4-DHMMP). Then, if 3-penten-2-one is desired, thermally decomposing the 4-DHMMP to yield 3-penten-2-one. If sorbic acid or pentadiene are desired, the 4-DHMMP is hydrogenated to yield 4-hydroxy-6-methyltetrahydro-2-pyrone (4-HMTHP). The 4-HMTHP is then dehydrated by contacting it with a solid acid catalyst to yield parasorbic acid (PSA). The PSA can then be ring-opened by contacting it with a solid acid catalyst. The reaction conditions of the ring-opening reaction can be controlled to yield sorbic acid and/or pentadiene.

Abstract: An iron composition having a plurality of elemental components is disclosed. The major component is an iron component of at least about 68% to about 92% iron by weight. Other components by weight include manganese; cerium; carbon; phosphorous; sulfur; aluminum; silicon; chromium; copper; and zinc. Combined with layers of sand, brick chips and/or charcoal, the iron composition can be used to create a water filter for filtering inorganic arsenic species and soluble metal ions out of water. To enhance hydrous ferric oxide complexation and precipitation, the iron composition may be treated with food grade acids or a water mixture.

Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a microfluidic assembly, can include or can include using a channel including a valve seat, a valve film configured to adjust position with respect to the valve seat, and a first electrode configured to actuate the valve film electrostatically to adjust the position of the valve film to control a flow of a fluid in the channel laterally across the valve seat, the flow in a direction substantially parallel to the film.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to materials and methods for inhibiting Botulinum neurotoxin, and more particularly to materials and methods for inhibiting the zinc endopeptidase of Botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, D and/or E (BoNTA, BoNTD and/or BoNTE).

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of crapemyrtle, ‘GAMAD VIII’, is provided. ‘GAMAD VIII’ is a Lagerstroemia indica×Lagerstroemia fauriei hybrid. The new variety is characterized by intermediate-size, upright growth habit, good mildew resistance, and earlier flowering with abundant pale pink flowers.