Abstract: A zwitterionic phosphonium salt of Formula I: wherein n is 0 or 1; R is H or SO3; R? is selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl and C1-C10 alkoxy-carbonyl; R? is CX3 when n is O; and X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I. The zwitterionic phosphonium salts are useful reagents for the preparation of alkenes and acetals from the corresponding aldehyde.

Abstract: Current methods of delivering drug usually require a certain degree of human intervention. For example, a doctor, a paramedic or a patient is required to inject insulin manually when the blood sugar level becomes low. This invention provides a medical device for use with a patient for performing at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy to the patient. The device of this invention includes a sensor for measuring at least one parameter from the patient, an analyzer for analyzing the parameter to determine appropriate function to be carried out on the patient by said medical device, and at least one actuator to perform at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand sensory assessment device capable of point localization, two-point discrimination, vibration, and texture discrimination for assessing and training patients. The device possesses multiples of pins serving as contacting points that are capable of treating multiples points on a patients hand.

Abstract: A fog lamp may include a Lambertian LED, a collimating lens encompassing the Lambertian LED, a collimating surface including a total internal reflective surface and encompassing the collimating lens, and a corrugated surface attached to the collimating surface at an acute angle with respect to an optic axis of the corrugated surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a noise attenuating window comprised of two panes of glass separated by a spacer tube. The spacer tube contains T-shaped acoustic resonator capable of targeting a single mode or multiple-mode to be attenuated.

Abstract: A new multi-function shunt active filter has been successfully implemented. The proposed decoupler and cascade controller provide a simple solution to power factor correction, reduction of harmonics loads and load balancing. The mathematical burden of resolving the load current to fundamental and harmonics is not required. The decoupler and controller can easily be implemented using low-cost analogue devices.

Abstract: Current methods of delivering drug usually require a certain degree of human intervention. For example, a doctor, a paramedic or a patient is required to inject insulin manually when the blood sugar level becomes low. This invention provides a medical device for use with a patient for performing at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy to the patient. The device of this invention includes a sensor for measuring at least one parameter from the patient, an analyzer for analyzing the parameter to determine appropriate function to be carried out on the patient by said medical device, and at least one actuator to perform at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy.

Abstract: A method of fabricating Fiber Bragg gratings in a micro/nanofiber using ultrashort pulse irradiation, the method includes elongating and flame-brushing a single mode optical fiber to create a micro/nanofiber, and generating the ultrashort pulse irradiation to induce a plurality of refractive index changes at predetermined intervals within the micro/nanofiber, wherein the ultrashort pulse propagates through a focusing element and a diffractive element prior to propagating on the micro/nanofiber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward biomarkers that identify characteristics of algae. The invention is further directed toward biomarkers that serve to identify algae species and strains of algae species as well as detect the presence of algal toxins. Additional embodiments feature methods utilizing algal biomarkers and polypeptides that can serve as biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention relates methods for the biosynthesis of tetrodotoxin (TTX) involving the steps of obtaining a culture possessing one or more of a Vibrio species, such as through a seed culture, inoculating the culture and tissue extract from a textrodotoxin-bearing organism in a fermenter medium, and isolating and purifying tetrodotoxin from said fermenter, resulting in a yield of TTX of about 0.5 g TTX/L in about 3 to 5 days, such TTX being at least 90% pure.

Abstract: A temperature-regulating fiber may include a spun phase change polymeric material that may include a plurality of phase change polymer blocks. The fiber may have a fixity ratio of at least 80% and a recovery ratio of at least 74%.

Abstract: This invention provides a deodorant capable of releasing deodorant agents at certain temperatures and having improved adherence to textiles. The deodorant of this invention includes polymer particles formed by reacting a main monomer of (N-substituted alkyl)acrylamide, a functional monomer for bonding the polymer particles to a fibrous substrate, and a cross-linking agent. A deodorant agent is loaded to the polymer particles.

Abstract: Synthetic polyphenolic compounds of formula (I), their modes of synthesis, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are provided herein. Use of the compounds and compositions described herein for inhibiting proteasomal activity and for treating cancer is also provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber with long period fiber gratings includes an optical fiber axis, a core region extending along the fiber axis, the core region having a core refractive index, a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding having a cladding refractive index, and a plurality of microholes perpendicular to the fiber axis with a portion of the core region removed, the plurality of microholes are spaced apart by a grating period.

Abstract: A thermal storage system includes a thermal storage device that includes an aqueous slurry of micro-encapsulated phase change material, a thermal collector in a heat exchange relationship with the thermal storage device through a first heat exchanger, and a thermal service device in a heat exchange relationship with the thermal storage device through a second heat exchanger. The aqueous slurry of micro-encapsulated phase change material is configured to convert between solid and liquid states.

Abstract: A single fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises an optical fiber having a core region and a cladding surrounding the core region, and a micro-cavity having part of the cladding and the core region removed, wherein the micro-cavity is adapted to receive a light beam and separate the light beam into a first light beam that propagates through the micro-cavity in an unguided mode, and a second light beam that propagates through the core region in a guided mode.

Abstract: A method of fabricating silicone composite with a layer of antimicrobial coating, the method includes forming an antimicrobial mixture by adding a calculated amount of antimicrobial agent to a solution of water and alcohol, depositing the antimicrobial mixture in a container with a thickness of 0.1 ?m to 10 ?m, evaporating the water and alcohol of the antimicrobial mixture to form the layer of antimicrobial coating, adding silicone resin on top of the layer of antimicrobial coating and allow the silicone resin to permeate and crosslink with the layer of antimicrobial coating and removing the silicone composite with the layer of antimicrobial coating from the container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward biomarkers that identify characteristics of algae. The invention is further directed toward biomarkers that serve to identify algae species and strains of algae species as well as detect the presence of algal toxins. Additional embodiments feature methods utilizing algal biomarkers and polypeptides that can serve as biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of making a coated cellulosic textile, whereby a silk peptide is polymerized with a building block to develop a silk peptide/building block nanoparticle, said nanoparticle then being used to coat the textile. The resultant textile exhibits a high level of wrinkle recovery angle and/or tear strength, all without the use of N-methylol compounds, including ureas and formaldehydes.

Abstract: A method for encoding data, the method comprising: creating m parity bits from k data bits based on a parity-check matrix (40), the parity-check matrix (40) including a data portion (41) and a parity portion (42), the parity portion (42) includes sub-block matrices, each sub-block matrix being any one from the group consisting of: zero matrix, identity matrix and permutation matrix; and forming a codeword containing the k data bits and the created m parity bits; wherein an upper diagonal is defined in the parity portion (42) starting from the first sub-block matrix in the second column extending to the second last sub-block matrix in the last column, and each sub-block matrix on the upper diagonal is an identity matrix or a permutation matrix, and the sub-block matrices (44) above the upper diagonal are zero matrices; each column from the second column to the third last column of the parity portion (42) contains one or more identity matrices or permutation matrices below the upper diagonal (45) and the remain