Abstract: Described herein are compositions, methods and/or kits for determining the likelihood of a pregnant subject delivering at term, or developing a disorder associated with pregnancy. These compositions, methods and/or kits feature the measurement of the chemotactic activity of peripheral leukocytes, the measurement of ccl2 mRNA expression or the measurement of Fp or Otr protein expression.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of heating a wafer for bonding, the method comprising adding a patterned susceptor close to a wafer interface, and applying microwave energy to the patterned susceptor. There is also disclosed an electrically conductive film, in direct contact with a relatively non-conductive substrate (preferably a thermoplastic) and made of individual electrically isolated elements (features) with a maximum dimension less than ¼ the wavelength used in the microwave, and minimum dimension greater than 100 um in the plane of the film. The film and substrate is selectively heated by resistive loss caused by dissipated energy from microwave radiation.

Abstract: Methods for preparing nc-Ge/GeO2 composites by under reductive thermal processing conditions are described. Also described are methods of preparing freestanding nc-Ge via release from the nc-Ge/GeO2 composites.

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: Anode catalysts for conversion of hydrocarbon feeds in solid oxide fuel cell membrane reactors. An anode catalyst may be a mixture of a metal with a metal oxide, for example a mixture of copper or copper-nickel alloy or copper-cobalt alloy with Cr2O3. Mixed oxides can be prepared by dissolving into water soluble salts of the different metals, chelating the metal ions with a chelating agent, neutralizing the solution, removing water by evaporation to form a gel which then is dried, and finally heating the dried gel to form a mixed oxide of the different metals. The chelating agent can be citrate ions, and ammonia can be added to the solution until the pH of the solution is about 8. The mixed oxide so formed then is reduced, for example by hydrogen, to form a composite comprising the metal (Cu, Cu—Co, Cu—Ni) and metal oxide, here Cr2O3.

Abstract: There is described herein compounds, compositions and methods for inducing synthetic lethality in a cancer cell(s).

Abstract: A functionalized conjugated polymer comprising alternating copolymer donor and acceptor units in which at least one of the donor and acceptor units comprises a linking group and a functional group attached to the linking group. The linking group may comprise an alkyl group. The functional group may comprise one or more carboxyl, halogen (such as fluorine and chlorine), hydroxyl, carbonate, imino, cyano, nitro, amine, and amide functional groups. More than one functional group may be present for each linking group. Not every copolymer unit need have a linked functional group. The linking group may be attached to either or both of the donor and acceptor units. The functional group may terminate the linking group.

Abstract: A method of preparing activated carbon, is disclosed, comprising: exposing carbonaceous material to microwave radiation in the presence of water to produce activated carbon.

Abstract: A method for preparing polyols from fatty acid substrates such as free fatty acids, alkyl esters of fatty acids, mono-glycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides. The method comprises the steps of (a) epoxidizing an unsaturated fatty acid substrate and (b) hydroxylating the epoxidized fatty acid substrate with at least one diol to produce a polyol or a blend of polyols. The method may be varied to produce polyols with desired functionality, molecular weights, or viscosity.

Abstract: A close-proximity thermoacoustic sensor that can determine radiated ultrasound intensities by directly coupling a transducer via a coupling medium. The sensor captures the beam, converts the ultrasound power into heat, and indirectly measures the spatial average time average ultrasound intensity (Isata) by dividing the calculated power by the beam-cross-section (or the nominal area of the transducers).

Abstract: ETS-10 titanosilicate materials selectively adsorb carbon dioxide from gaseous mixtures containing carbon dioxide and light paraffins such as methane and ethane.

Abstract: Embodiments of crystalline, titanium silicate molecular sieves are described having a formula representing mole ratios of oxides of nM1O:TiO2:ySiO2:zH2O:wX where M1 refers to a metal cation or mixture of metal cations; n is from about 1 to about 2; y is from about 1 to about 10; z is from 0 to about 100; X is a halide anion other than fluorine, or combination of halide anions that excludes fluorine; and w is greater than 0. The pore size of the sieves can be adjusted by ion exchanging M1 cations with a suitable amount of another species. Embodiments of the invention are useful for various adsorptive fluid separation processes, including pressure swing adsorption processes. For example, disclosed embodiments are useful for separating methane from air.

Abstract: Nanoparticle catalyst compositions and methods for preparation of same are described. The nanoparticle catalysts are platinum-free and are useful in effecting selective ring-opening reactions, for example in upgrading heavy oil. The catalyst may be of monometallic composition, or may comprise an alloyed or core-shell bimetallic composition. The nanoparticles are of controlled size and shape.

Abstract: A three-axis load sensor utilizing four piezoresistive devices on a flexible silicon membrane is provided. The load sensor further includes a mesa disposed on the membrane substantially equidistant from the piezoresistive devices. A six-axis load cell is provided by placing a plurality of load sensors disposed on a substrate, the substrate configured to attach to an object wherein forces applied to the object can be measured and/or determined. The load sensors can be manufactured using bulk microfabrication techniques on a single crystal silicon wafer, and can detect normal and shear loading applied to the membrane.

Abstract: A Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthoses (KAFO) brace mechanically generates a knee extensor moment and allows for a flexed knee during STS, allowing for reduced upper body demand to be placed on the patient. An orthosis comprises a femoral brace and a tibial brace connected together with a pivot to form a knee joint between the femoral brace and the tibial brace, and a knee extension moment generator at the knee joint. Also, a foot brace may be connected to the tibial brace to form an ankle joint with an ankle plantar flexion moment generator disposed about the ankle joint.

Abstract: A flocculating agent that comprises a complex of a metal salt and multiple strands of a temperature sensitive polymer. A process for separating coal fines from an aqueous liquid using a flocculent having a critical flocculation temperature, said critical flocculation temperature being the temperature below which flocculent is hydrophilic and forms floccules with fines and above which the flocculent is hydrophobic, which comprises adding to the aqueous liquid an effective amount of the flocculent at a temperature below the critical flocculent flocculation temperature of the flocculent to cause generation of floccules, said comprising at least a metal complex including a metal salt and a water soluble polymer, separating (for example filtering) floccules from the aqueous liquid, then heating the floccules to a temperature above the critical flocculation temperature of the flocculent to expel water from the floccules to create a solids and expelled water, and separating the expelled water from the solids.

Abstract: Provided in the following specification are precursors or synthons that are useful for the synthesis of various arabinose based chemical and radiochemical derivatives of nitroimidazole-containing azomycin arabinosides, such as radioiodinated 1-#-D-(5-deoxy-5-[I*]-iodoarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (*IAZA), and radiofluorinated 1-#-D-(5-deoxy-5-[18F]-iodoarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (18FAZA). Such compounds are useful in imaging, therapy, or radiotherapy. Further, various syntheses of said precursors/synthons and the incorporation of said precursors/synthons into kits is provided. The precursors/synthons provided herein allow for an improved and facile manufacturing process for nitroimidazole-containing azomycin arabinosides.

Abstract: A new approach for building a stress-sensing rosette capable of extracting the six stress components and the temperature is provided, and its feasibility is verified both analytically and experimentally. The approach can include varying the doping concentration of the sensing elements and utilizing the unique behaviour of the shear piezoresistive coefficient (?44) in n-Si.

Abstract: A hydrogen absorbing and desorbing material formed by co-deposition of magnesium with a catalyst for the kinetic absorption and desorption of hydrogen. A hydrogen absorbing and desorbing material formed of an alloy of magnesium with a catalyst for the kinetic absorption and desorption of hydrogen in which the catalyst for the kinetic absorption and desorption of hydrogen forms a dispersed amorphous or nanocrystalline phase in the magnesium. A hydrogen absorbing and desorbing material having a catalytic surface formed by a process comprising the steps of depositing a layer of tantalum on the hydrogen absorbing and desorbing material and depositing a layer of palladium on the layer of tantalum. A hydrogen absorbing and desorbing material comprises a multilayer film having at least two layers of magnesium and at least two layers of catalyst for the kinetic absorption and desorption of hydrogen, in which the multilayer film comprises alternating layers of magnesium and catalyst.

Abstract: The invention is directed to aptamers, methods and kits comprising same for detecting Streptococcus pyogenes. The method of screening a subject for Streptococcus pyogenes involves obtaining a body sample from the subject; contacting the sample or a bacterial culture of the sample with an aptamer or a panel of aptamers specific to S. pyogenes; and detecting the presence or absence of S. pyogenes in the sample or the bacterial culture, wherein binding of the aptamer is indicative of the presence of S. pyogenes.