Abstract: A “one-step”, single-handed device for obtaining small, precise volumes of fluid from animals is able to quickly and easily draw a fluid sample. The device comprises an extraction component and a collection component that are coupled together and disposed along a grip handle. The user manipulates the device so as to initiate the extraction of the fluid, and then collect the fluid in a component that can quickly and easily be removed from the grip handle—allowing the handle to be re-loaded and used again and again. The extraction component may comprise a hypodermic needle and the collection component may comprise a pre-calibrated pipette, where the pipette is positioned directly behind the needle and will thus draw the extracted fluid into a pre-sized chamber within the pipette.

Abstract: Disclosed is a triblock copolymer including two terminal blocks derived from a block copolymer and a middle block incorporated between the terminal blocks. The middle block has a higher surface energy than the terminal blocks. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the triblock copolymer. The preparation method provides a generalized approach that is highly applicable to processes for the mass production of block copolymers and can be applied to various combinations of block copolymers as well as to specific combinations of copolymers. Also disclosed is a method for nanopatterning using the triblock copolymer. The nanopatterning method enables the formation of nanopatterns with sub-10 nm feature size with simple process and reduced cost. Therefore, the nanopatterning method can be widely used in various industrial fields such as semiconductor lithography and memory devices.

Abstract: Logic gates are made from first and second resistive elements connected together to form a voltage divider. One or both of the resistive elements is a unipolar memristor. OR and NOT gates may be constructed to make a digital logic system.

Abstract: A stimulator for a digestive organ includes a case, a substrate member disposed in the case, and an electrode member connected to the substrate member and extending to protrude outwardly from the case. The electrode member may have a shape of a wire and may be configured to provide an electrical stimulation in a state of being inserted and fixed at a predetermined location within a digestive organ.

Abstract: A device for inducing by thermal poling a spatially controlled refractive index gradient inside at least one amorphous inorganic material to be treated, includes a structured electrode arranged on the surface or in proximity to the surface of the material to be treated; and at least one dielectric material. The structured electrode includes at least one conductive zone and at least one non-conductive zone and it is confined between the amorphous inorganic material to be treated and the dielectric material.

Abstract: Method of making interconnected layered porous carbon sheets with porosity within the carbon sheets and in-between the carbon sheets for use as an electrode. Method of making a metal-nanoparticle carbon composite, wherein metal particles are surrounded by shells made of amorphous carbon. Electrodes containing an amorphous carbon structure comprising a plurality of interconnected layered porous carbon sheets. Electrodes containing graphitic carbon structure with a surface area in the range of 5-200 m2/g. Electrodes containing a metal-nanoparticle carbon composite comprising metal core-carbon shell like architecture and an amorphous structure, wherein metal particles are surrounded by shells made of amorphous carbon.

Abstract: This document provides materials and methods for treating regional pain. For example, compositions including one or more analgesics can be selectively administered (e.g., by image-guided injection) to one or more nerves to treat a mammal having regional pain.

Abstract: A system for determining a travel path, including a network of at least one camera, a communication hub coupled to the network of at least one camera, at least one electronic communication device, and a data processing system coupled to the communication hub, the data processing system comprising one or more processors configured to calculate a travel path based on user-specified criteria including maximum camera coverage, where the system is adapted to dynamically identify a plurality of cameras.

Abstract: A method for profiling energy usage of invoking an application programming interface (API) by an application in a computing device. The method includes obtaining source code for the API, modifying each class by adding a callback function identifier field that is initiated to a unique value upon instantiation of each object that belongs to the class, identifying each location in the source code that posts the callback function for asynchronous execution by enqueueing each object instantiated from the class containing the callback function into the system callback queue, modifying the source code to log the callback function identifier of object at the location that dequeues objects from the system callback queue, modifying source code by adding two system logging function calls to log the callback function identifier of the dequeued object before and after executing the callback function, executing the application, and performing energy accounting of the asynchronous API calls.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition containing an inorganic nano-particle structure absorbing blue light and then emitting light and a siloxane compound; a light-conversion thin-film made of the composition; and a display panel using the film. When using the composition, the light-conversion thin-film as an optical member may have high stability. Further, when using the film, a display panel with excellent stability even under high-temperature and high-water conditions may be realized.

Abstract: A method for profiling energy usage in graphics user interface (UI) update in handheld mobile devices is disclosed. The method includes mapping the pixel changes of each frame to a responsible UI update, identifying method invocations at all layers of the UI rendering stack, tracking asynchronous dependence across all layers of the UI rendering stack corresponding to each UI update by assigning a unique frame identification (ID) per frame refresh to track asynchronous dependence between UI updates and corresponding callbacks across all layers of the UI rendering stack, tracking information flow across a corresponding graphics processing unit (GPU) by using an OpenGL record-and-replay method, reconstructing the frames by replaying the OpenGL calls on the GPU during post processing, comparing frames to account for pixel changes, and tracking and attributing the energy usage during UI operations to individual UI updates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying and generating quadrilateral meshes for computer graphic structures include obtaining a polygon mesh representing a computer graphic structure, the polygon mesh comprising a plurality of polygonal faces and a plurality of singularities, determining, based on a first singularity of the plurality of vertices, selecting, based on one or more characteristics of the patch, a first minimum singularity template (MST) of a plurality of MSTs each representing a corresponding quadmesh that has three or fewer singularities, and replacing, within the polygon mesh, the patch with the first MST.

Abstract: Mixed halide scintillation materials of the general formula AB(1?y)MyX?wX?(3?w), where 0?y?1, 0.05?w?1, A may be an alkali metal, B may be an alkali earth metal, and X? and X? may be two different halogen atoms, and of the general formula A(1?y)BMyX?wX?(3?w), where 0?y?1, 0.05?w?1, A maybe an alkali metal, B may be an alkali earth metal, and X? and X? are two different halogen atoms. The scintillation materials of formula (1) include a divalent external activator, M, such as Eu2+ or Yb2+. The scintillation materials of formula (2) include a monovalent external activator, M, such as Tl+, Na+ and In+.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

Abstract: Methods of recovery of pristine polymers and hydrocarbon mixtures from a sorted waste feedstock or mixtures of waste feedstock, which are with or without organic additives are disclosed. The methods include Sequential Selective Extraction and Adsorption (SSEA), Hydrothermal Processing (HTP), and a combination of SSEA and HTP. Exemplarily, SSEA includes selecting a first solvent (S1), inputting the S1 and a sorted feedstock free of organic additives into an extractor, heating, waiting, and separating insolubles forming a pristine polymer solution. Exemplarily, HTP includes inputting a hydrothermal solvent and a sorted feedstock free of organic additives into a reactor, heating to form subcritical or supercritical H2O, waiting, causing thermal depolymerization to produce a slurry, cooling, venting formed gases and separating the hydrocarbon mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of post-treating a zeolite membrane, comprising treating a defective zeolite membrane with a chemical material such as a dye molecule, which has a size larger than that of the pores of the zeolite membranes and smaller than defects in the membrane, thereby healing the defects in the membrane. The post-treatment method performs post-treatment of the zeolite membrane under mild conditions (room temperature and normal pressure), thereby selectively healing the defects in the zeolite membrane and improving the performance of the zeolite membrane. In addition, the method may provide a high-performance membrane having a high separation factor, particularly under dry conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to methods of adhering in an aqueous environment. More specifically, embodiments of this invention relate to use of a copolymer mimics of mussel adhesive proteins as a high-strength adhesive in aqueous environments.

Abstract: A method of fabricating titanium oxide having a hexagonal column shape is provided. The fabricating method includes preparing a first mixture solution containing oxalic acid and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), and adding a second mixture solution including titanium to the first mixture solution to fabricate titanium oxide having a hexagonal column shape.

Abstract: Methods of pre-densifying a metal wire containing superconductor materials are provided. Superconductor materials containing the pre-densified wires also are provided. The wires may be pre-densified by subjecting a metal wire that includes one or more filament cavities in which a superconductor precursor powder is disposed to a temperature and a first pressure for a time sufficient to densify the superconductor precursor powder to form a pre-densified metal wire, wherein the temperature is less than the melting point of the superconductor precursor powder, and the first pressure is sufficient, at the temperature, to compress at least a portion of the metal wire.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a radiation therapy device including: a main body; a gantry coupled to a side of the main part and rotatable relative to the main part in at least one direction; a radiation head provided on a side of the gantry to emit radiation; an image acquisition unit facing the radiation head to detect radiation emitted from the radiation head and obtain images by converting the detected radiation into electric signals; and a reference image acquisition frame provided on a side of the radiation head and including a plurality of markers formed thereon.