Abstract: Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts are disclosed. The catalysts comprise first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt or iron. The hydrocarbon-soluble catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1, have no inactive bulk phase and no dative ancillary ligands, and are active for a range of commercially important reductive transformations. A method of synthesis of these catalysts by reduction of a precursor of these catalysts is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods and compositions for the cryopreservation and/or vitrification of tissue including articular cartilage and the preparation of said tissue for clinical or research use, including but not limited to joint replacement and the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis.

Abstract: An isolated or purified compound is provided, comprising A-GlcNAc[GlcNAc]-GalNAc-GalNAc-QuiNAc4NAc, wherein A is GlcNAc or Glc. There is further provided a vaccine based on such compound, having particular use to treat or prevent an infection caused by a Campylobacter organism. There is also provided an antibody or antisera against the compound, having particular use to diagnose the presence of an infection caused by a Campylobacter organism.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the reduction of one or more amide moieties in a compound comprising contacting the compound with hydrogen gas and a transition metal catalyst in the presence or absence of a base under conditions for the reduction an amide bond. The presently described processes can be performed at low catalyst loading using relatively mild temperature and pressures, and optionally, in the presence or absence of a base or high catalyst loadings using low temperatures and pressures and high loadings of base to effect dynamic kinetic resolution of achiral amides.

Abstract: The invention is directed to adhesives derived from animal or plant proteins, particularly canola and spent hen proteins. The adhesives are prepared by extracting the proteins by pH shifting; and either treating the extracted proteins with urea or sodium dodecyl sulfate, or polymerizing the proteins to form a protein-polymer conjugate. The invention is also directed to a wood based product comprising pieces of wood based material joined or consolidated with the adhesives.

Abstract: There is described a pixel sensor converter for an image sensor array. In particular, a pixel sensor converter comprising: a delta-sigma converter comprising a modulator and a decimator. In some examples, the modulator is configured to be in communication with a detector, such as a photo-detector, and is configured to sample an analogue signal received from a detector at a particular sampling rate. The modulator is further configured to provide a bit stream of a particular bit rate. The provided bit stream corresponds to a sampled analogue signal. The decimator is in communication with the modulator, and is configured to receive and modify a bit stream provided from the modulator in order to provide a digital output signal. The provided digital output signal is representative of an analogue signal received at the modulator, but having a reduced bit rate than a corresponding bit stream provided by the modulator.

Abstract: A method for single-cycle selection of aptamers is provided. More specifically, a method comprising single-cycle selection of aptamers for proteins blotted on a membrane is provided. In some embodiments, the present methods can comprise a deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) mediated aptamers selection strategy that may be capable of isolating strong binding aptamers for target proteins from a crude protein extract. Aptamers selected using the present method are further provided. More specifically, the presently selected aptamers may be thermally stable, modifiable and easily produced through single-cycle synthesis process. The present aptamers may provide unique affinity reagents for use in diagnosing and detecting infectious disease (for example Hepatitis B), for research and biochemical studies (e.g. into molecular mechanisms). Further, the present aptamers may be utilized to develop unique assays or kits for clinical application, such as monitoring disease treatment and outcome.

Abstract: This invention provides monoclonal antibodies that recognize hENT1. The invention further provides methods of using such monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or prophylactic in disorders associated with aberrant hENT1 expression and/or activity.

Abstract: Novel CMUT architectures are provided permitting independent addressability of both top and bottom CMUT electrodes. CMUT top electrodes are connected in strips along the x-direction, while CMUT bottom electrodes are connected in strips along the y-direction. In an embodiment, 3D imaging can be performed with an N×N 2D array using only N transmit channels and N receive channels.

Abstract: The disclosure provides mutant ribonucleotide reductase strains of poxviruses including for example vaccinia viruses. The disclosure also provides methods and for the use of these mutant ribonucleotide reductase strains of vaccinia viruses in oncolytic virotherapy.

Abstract: This disclosure presents an advanced design of an energy harvester that utilizes a piezoelectric element to convert vibration to electricity. The advanced design is based on a fixed-fixed folded beam. An aqua regia wet etching and PZT sol-gel deposition/patterning processes can be used to manufacture the energy harvester.

Abstract: The invention is directed to thermoplastics derived from feathers. The thermoplastics are prepared by blending whole feathers or portions thereof with a plasticizer in an amount ranging from about 20 wt to about 40 wt % and a reducing agent in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 5 wt % to form a mixture; and either extruding the mixture to form an article, or pressing the mixture into a film at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A novel metric, termed cluster resolution, which compares the separation of clusters of data points while simultaneously considering the shapes of the clusters and their relative orientations. This metric, in conjunction with an objective variable ranking metric, allows for the fully-automated determination of the optimal number of variables to be included in a chemometric model of a system. Cluster resolution is based upon considering the minimum distance between (or the extent of overlap of) confidence ellipses constructed around clusters of points representing different classes of objects. This approach can be generally applied to feature selection for a variety of applications and represents a significant step towards the development of fully-automated, objective construction of chemometric models.

Abstract: A method of upgrading coal is disclosed, the method comprising: subjecting the coal to a hydrothermal dewatering process at a temperature and a pressure above ambient conditions to produce dewatered coal; removing ash tailings from the dewatered coal to produced reduced ash dewatered coal; and producing a coal water slurry with the reduced ash dewatered coal. An apparatus for upgrading coal is also disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a hydrothermal dewatering reactor connected to receive coal and output dewatered coal; an ash separator connected to receive dewatered coal from the hydrothermal dewatering reactor and output reduced ash dewatered coal; a slurrifier connected to receive reduced ash dewatered coal from the ash separator and output a coal water slurry.

Abstract: Pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) techniques for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels are derived. Previous techniques implement PSAM signal detectors as an ad-hoc design, using pilot symbols to first estimate channel gain, and then using channel gain estimates in a conventional coherent detector to make data decisions. Although this structure may be effective for binary phase shift keying in Rayleigh fading, it is suboptimal for Rician fading and for 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation in Rayleigh fading. According to techniques disclosed herein, a PSAM signal detector jointly processes pilot symbols and data symbols. The performance of signal detectors according to embodiments of the invention is analyzed and compared with that of conventional detectors. Numerical results are presented to show that the performance gain of a proposed new PSAM signal detector over conventional PSAM detectors can be as much as 2 or 3 dB for Rician fading in some cases.

Abstract: The present invention provides non-naturally occurring polypeptides that specifically bind hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA; and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The present invention further provides methods of detecting HBV DNA; methods of detecting a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) form of HBV; and methods for treating HBV infection.

Abstract: Recycling of isotopically enriched molybdenum metal targets that are suitable for the large scale cyclotron production of 99mTc or 94mTc includes the charged particle irradiation of an enriched molybdenum metal target to produce a technetium isotope, separation of the technetium isotope following irradiation of the molybdenum, re-claiming the molybdenum metal and reformation of the molybdenum target for a further irradiation step. This process may then be repeated. Separation of the technetium isotope preferably is achieved by oxidative dissolution of the molybdenum thereby removing it from a target support plate, and forming molybdate and pertechnetate. The technetium isotope is isolated by various means, such as the ABEC process. To reuse the molybdenum, additional steps of isolating the molybdate and reducing it back to molybdenum metal are required.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds and methods that prevent the viral infection of cells. The compounds and methods described herein minimize viral resistance and maximize the number of targeted viruses. Additionally, the compounds and methods minimize the toxicity toward uninfected cells.

Abstract: The invention is directed to microcapsules, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical compositions comprising same, and methods for preparing and using same for delivery of nanoparticle coated emulsions comprising biologically active ingredients. The microcapsule comprises barley protein, oil, and a biologically active ingredient. The microcapsule is degradable to generate a nanoparticle comprising an oil droplet coated with a barley protein.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to determining differences between XML documents. Two XML documents to be compared are first each decomposed into ordered labelled trees. Sets of operations which convert one tree into the other tree are then determined and a cost function is applied to each set of operations. The set of operations with the lowest cost is then selected. The cost function uses an affine-cost policy which adjusts a cost of each operation based a context in which the operation is applied.