Abstract: A method for ultrasonic debulking a composite laminate includes the steps of defining a path across the laminate, the path having a starting location and an ending location and applying a force to and transmitting ultrasonic vibration into the laminate along the path, beginning at the starting location and ending at the ending location. The method further includes determining a temperature of a surface of the laminate proximate to the path and varying at least one of an amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration, the applied force, a feed rate at which the force and the ultrasonic vibration are applied along the path, an angle at which the ultrasonic vibration is applied to the laminate, and an interval at which plies of the laminate are processed, based upon the determined temperature of the surface of the laminate.

Abstract: The described technology relates to a suture device for a surgical operation that makes it easy to suture a wound or an incision. A suture device for a surgical operation includes: a suture needle that is curved with a needle eye at one end to be threaded with a first suture, and swings at an incision; a holder that supplies a second suture, rotates in one direction, and stops, corresponding to the swing of the suture needle to weave the first suture and the second suture and suture the incision; a first rotary member that is connected to a first shaft of the suture needle; a second rotary member that is connected to a second shaft of the holder; and a third rotary member that is provided between the first rotary member and the second rotary member, and connected to a third shaft to transmit torque to the second rotary member.

Abstract: Fatty acid ester derivatives and a process for their production from unsaturated fatty acids are disclosed. The process comprises: a) reacting an unsaturated fatty acid or an ester thereof having one or more sites of unsaturation, with an epoxidation reagent to form a fatty acid epoxide wherein at least one of the sites of unsaturation of the fatty acid or fatty acid ester is converted to an oxirane ring; and b) reacting the fatty acid epoxide produced in a) with a carboxylic acid to form a hydroxy fatty acid ester derivative wherein the oxirane ring is opened and converted to a hydroxy ester comprising a hydroxyl group at one carbon of the opened oxirane ring and an ester of the carboxylic acid at the other carbon of the opened oxirane ring.

Abstract: The present invention features additions of nano-structures to interconnect conductor fine particles (spheres) to: (1) reduce thermal interface resistance by using thermal interposers that have high thermal conductivity nano-structures at their surfaces; (2) improve the anisotropic conductive adhesive interconnection conductivity with microcircuit contact pads; and (3) allow lower compression forces to be applied during the microcircuit fabrication processes which then results in reduced deflection or circuit damage. When pressure is applied during fabrication to spread and compress anisotropic conductive adhesive and the matrix of interconnect particles and circuit conductors, the nano-structures mesh and compress into a more uniform connection than current technology provides, thereby eliminating voids, moisture and other contaminants, increasing the contact surfaces for better electrical and thermal conduction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new therapeutic compounds isolated from spider venom and methods of using these new compounds. The compounds are sulfated nucleoside derivatives including ribonucleoside mono- and disulfates derived from guanine, adenosine, and cytidine. Some of these compounds are glycosylated or fucosylated bearing one or more sugar residues.

Abstract: An image reconstruction method includes reconstructing an initial composite image of a subject using a conventional reconstruction method. The initial composite image employs the best information available regarding the subject of the scan and this information is used to constrain the reconstruction of a highly undersampled or low SNR image frames. This highly constrained image reconstruction is repeated a plurality of iterations with the reconstructed image frame for one iteration being used as the composite image for the next iteration. The reconstructed image frame rapidly converges to a final image frame.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for regulating blood pressure in a subject which include administering a first induction stimulus effective to sensitize brainstem baroreflex neurons of a subject for a period of time in the range of about 10-15 hours thereby producing an enhanced baroreflex in the subject, wherein the enhanced baroreflex is characterized in that a threshold blood pressure for generating a depressor response is lower than prior to induction stimulus administration, the depressor response in the subject is larger than prior to induction stimulus administration or both the threshold blood pressure for generating a depressor response is lower than prior to induction stimulus administration and the depressor response in the subject is larger than prior to induction stimulus administration. An induction stimulus has diminished effectiveness to sensitize neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the subject in the presence of an NMDA receptor antagonist.

Abstract: A radiation dosimetry quality assurance system is disclosed that includes a three-dimensional (3D) phantom extending along a longitudinal axis to form an exterior surface and an interior volume and a passage formed to extend into the interior volume of the 3D phantom to removeably receive a detector array therein. The system also includes an angular-compensation system coupled to the exterior surface of the 3D phantom and having a physical contour extending from the exterior surface of the 3D phantom and configured to control an angular dependence of the detector array during measurement of the actual radiation dose delivered by the radiation delivery system. The system further includes a detector-angle adjustment system configured to allow selection of a relative position of the detector array with respect to a radiation source of the radiation delivery system during measurement of the actual radiation dose delivered during the planned medical process.

Abstract: The present invention provides cysteine and cystine prodrugs for the treatment of schizophrenia and drug addiction. The invention further encompasses pharmaceutical compositions containing prodrugs and methods of using the prodrugs and compositions for treatment of schizophrenia and drug addiction. Exemplary prodrugs include the cysteine compound having the formula as well as cystine dimers thereof.

Abstract: Compounds that have agonist activity at one or more of the S1P receptors are provided. The compounds are sphingosine analogs that, after phosphorylation, can behave as agonists at S1P receptors.

Abstract: A Factor X (hereinafter referred to as “FX”) with a high activity is provided. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently preparing a recombinant, two-chain FX which comprises intervening glycosylation at such an amino acid sequence that is essential for glycosylation in FX to thereby allow for expression of a recombinant FX with no glycosylation, and the recombinant FX with no glycosylation obtained by said method.

Abstract: A videoconferencing system which encodes different streams of information. The information may include video, audio, speech recognized versions of the audio, and language translated versions of the audio. Text may be sent as part of the videoconference.

Abstract: A beamforming apparatus is provided for improving beamforming accuracy by employing fractional delay filters in an interpolation process and reducing hardware complexity by using post-filtering technique. The beamforming apparatus of the present invention includes a post-filtering means implemented with fractional delay filters that combines block data, on the respective channels, supposed to be fractionally delayed and obtains a delay value of fractional part from the combined data. The post-filtering means collects the block data of the channels assigned identical coefficients and performs a filtering process simultaneously.

Abstract: A bioherbicide and method of use utilizing the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria for controlling Salvinia molesta. In typical applications, the fungus is applied with an adjuvant to Salvinia molesta in amounts effective to kill or suppress the Salvinia molesta. A strain of Myrothecium verrucaria is on deposit with the Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., and with the patent collection of the International Mycological Institute in Surrey, United Kingdom, where it has been assigned deposit number IMI 368023.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a channel in a communication system using a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code. The encoding method includes determining a modulation scheme for transmitting a symbol; determining a shortening pattern in consideration of the determined modulation scheme; grouping columns corresponding to an information word in a parity-check matrix of the LDPC code into a plurality of column groups; ordering the column groups; determining a range of a resulting information word desired to be obtained by shortening the information word; based on the range of the resulting information word, performing column group-by-column group shortening on the ordered column groups of the information word, according to the determined shortening pattern; and LDPC-encoding the shortened information word.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating cardiovascular tissue. For example, stem cells, compositions containing stem cells, methods for obtaining stem cells, compositions for generating stem cells expressing particular markers (e.g., compositions comprising TGF-?1, BMP-2, FGF-4, and leukemia inhibitory factor), and methods for repairing cardiovascular tissue are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioadhesive derived from mussel. In particular, it relates to a novel Mytilus galloprovincialis foot protein type 5 (MGFP-5) and a recombinant protein that is a hybrid of MGFP-5 and foot protein type 1 (FP-1), where an adhesive protein with adhesive activity can be economically mass-produced to be used in place of chemical adhesives through the present invention.

Abstract: Provided are a novel photopolymerizable monomer having at least one unsaturated double bond and epoxide, and a photocurable composition comprising the photopolymerizable monomer and an initiator, which is polymerizable with good efficiency using light and/or heat, provides reduced shrinkage, and has superior mechanical strength including adhesion and transparency.

Abstract: Caps can be used to cover and sterilize the male luer of a medical connector. Some caps can create a seal with the male luer to prevent antiseptic from entering a lumen of the male luer. A biasing element can aid in creating or maintaining the seal.

Abstract: Single-dose controlled-release immunogenic formulations, such as vaccines, based on bioerodible polyanhydride copolymer or homopolymer microparticles for the control of immune response mechanisms are provided. The copolymer or homopolymer microparticles degrade by surface-erosion from in vivo hydrolysis of anhydride linkages at the surface of the microparticle, which results in controlled release of immunogen(s) to a patient.