Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for preventing and/or treating infection by disrupting interactions at or near the surface of mannosylated pathogens or other pathogens exhibiting carbohydrate-carbohydrate self-interaction, thus enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy such pathogens. In some forms, carrier molecules are provided to delivering polymers or other molecules capable of disrupting intra-cellular interaction and/or self-interaction of surface markers on cells.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for sensing pressure. In some embodiments, miniature housings are manufactured at ends of optical fibers. In some embodiments, a diamond diaphragm is provided on a hollow housing that receives a fiber optic cable and is sealed to form a Fabry-Perot cavity. In some forms, a plurality of sensors may be manufactured in batch.

Abstract: Non-viral delivery platforms are provided for facilitating transport of molecules across cell membranes. In some forms, DNA nanoshells capable of transporting cargo molecules are formed, and may be formed in order to surround a variety of materials for a variety of purposes.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing PLA/apatite composites with improved mechanical strength. In one aspect, a calcium-phosphate/phosphonate hybrid shell is developed to incorporate more reactive hydroxyl groups onto hydroxyapatite (HA) particles. PLA is covalently bonded to HA calcium phosphate hybrid shell, creating a strong interphase between HA and PLA, thus significantly improve the mechanical strength in comparison to that of non-modified HA.

Abstract: Covalently linked linear polyethylenimine (PEI) clusters are provided that change conformation depending upon changes in counterion concentrations. The structures may be used for the storage, delivery, and/or transport of substances.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the identification of salivary biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring of type 2 diabetes in a subject. Also provided are methods for noninvasively diagnosing and monitoring type 2 diabetes in a subject. More particularly, the expression of salivary biomarkers, including MUC-1, MUC-2, MUC-4, and MUC-5B, are highly associated with A1C level in African American patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and kit have been discovered which regenerate with the use of odorants the connections of the neurons of the brain and central nervous system in the treatment of such person afflicted neuro-disorders caused by disease or trauma.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for reducing transmission and/or infection of HIV in a subject by increasing the bioavailability of a drug in the subject. The methods and compositions provided herein include an efflux transporter inhibitor and a drug effective for reducing the transmission and/or infection of HIV in a subject. The efflux transporter inhibitor is effective to reduce the efflux of the drug through at least one of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP), and multidrug resistant associated protein 1-9 (MRP1-9).

Abstract: An airport lighting system includes one or more lighting elements, a transient protection apparatus, and one or more electrical control cabinets. The transient protection apparatus is coupled to the one or more lighting elements. One or more electrical control cabinets are coupled to the transient protection apparatus. Each of the control cabinets produces one or more of control and power signals that are effective to operate the one or more lighting elements. The transient protection apparatus is configured to provide protection for one or more of the electrical control cabinets and the one or more lighting elements from electrical surges.

Abstract: Disclosed are bruceolides for the treatment of cancer, and other diseases, selectively targeting unwanted cells. The disclosed bruceolides may include a site specific cleavable moiety inhibiting the chemotoxic activity until cleaved, i.e., removed, within and/or near a cancer to be treated. As to facilitate selective delivery to cancer tumors, the disclosed bruceolides may be loaded into, attached to or otherwise carried by nanoparticles.

Abstract: A redundant and diverse secondary control system mirrors a primary control system but has some fundamental structural difference as compared to the primary control system to prevent a spread of a security breach from the primary control system to the secondary control system. The secondary control system may operate on different hardware built on different software written with different programming language as compared to the primary control system while performing the same function as that of the primary system. By hardware coding the algorithm to produce actuation signals, software based viruses and worms cannot interfere with the secondary control system's operation. A monitor device receives actuation signals from both the primary and secondary controls signals to determine whether an error occurred and to provide correct actuation signals to the controlled system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and kit have been discovered which utilize pulsed odorants, drugs, medicaments, and combinations thereof to treat diseases, symptoms of diseases and the like. In one form, the pulsed odorants, drugs, medicaments, and combinations thereof can be used to regenerate the connections of the neurons of the brain and central nervous system in the treatment of symptoms of such person afflicted with neuro-disorders, such as caused by disease or trauma.

Abstract: Covalently cross-linked copolymers are described herein. More specifically, polysaccharide-polyamine copolymeric matrices or structures and cationic copolymeric matrices are described herein. The polysaccharide-polyamine copolymers, when protonated, can form cationic copolymeric matrices having exceptionally high densities of cationic sites. In one form, the covalently cross-linked copolymers provide a three-dimensional structure, especially when hydrated.

Abstract: Microcarriers, matrices and scaffolds for growing mammalian cells are provided which include copolymer particles and matrices comprising of polysaccharide-polyamine copolymers. The copolymeric particles and matrices have a pore size of at least 50 microns and permit the mammalian cells to grow both on an exterior surface of the particles and matrices and within an interior of the particles and matrices. Methods for making such microcarriers, matrices and scaffolds, and compositions are also provided. Methods for growing mammalian cells utilizing such microcarriers, matrices and scaffolds and compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The context of a first electronic device is automatically determined, and the first electronic device has a display unit. Information is displayed at the display unit based upon the context. The context is transmitted from the first electronic device to a second electronic device, and from the first electronic device and to a third electronic device. A first consistency of information is maintained between the first electronic device and a second electronic device based at least upon the context, and a second consistency is maintained between the first electronic device and a third electronic device based at least upon the context. The first consistency is greater than the second consistency.

Abstract: A majorize-minimize (MM) mathematical principle is applied to least squares regularization estimation problems to effect efficient processing of image data sets to provide good quality images. In a ground penetrating radar application, these approaches can reduce processing time and memory use by accounting for a symmetric nature of a given radar pulse, accounting for similar discrete time delays between transmission of a given radar pulse and reception of reflections from the given radar pulse, and accounting for a short duration of the given radar pulse.

Abstract: The mathematical majorize-minimize principle is applied in various ways to process the image data to provide a more reliable image from the backscatter data using a reduced amount of memory and processing resources. A processing device processes the data set by creating an estimated image value for each voxel in the image by iteratively deriving the estimated image value through application of a majorize-minimize principle to solve a maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation problem associated with a mathematical model of image data from the data. A prior probability density function for the unknown reflection coefficients is used to apply an assumption that a majority of the reflection coefficients are small. The described prior probability density functions promote sparse solutions automatically estimated from the observed data.

Abstract: A gelling nanofluid and methods for manufacture are provided. The composition and methods for manufacture produce nanofluid gels so that the settlement of nanoparticles in a base fluid is improved due to the inhibition of particle movement in the gel. The nanofluid gel is produced by using a gelling agent which is either coated on the nanoparticles prior to dispersion in the base fluid or directly introduced in the base fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a crosslinked or non-crosslinked polymer particle, wherein the crosslinked polymer particle comprises a copolymer of poly(alkylene glycol-graft-lactate) that is crosslinked by at least one hydrolysable monomer. Another embodiment of the present invention is a polymer particle comprising a crosslinked polymer particle that is a product of starting materials comprising (a) a hydrophilic monomer, (b) a hydrophobic monomer, and (c) a hydrolysable crosslinking agent. Another embodiment of the present invention is a polymer particle comprising, a crosslinked copolymer comprising structures represented by Formulas (I), (II), and (III), where Formulas (I), (II) and (III) are defined in the specification. Yet other embodiments of the present invention include a method of preparing a methacrylate terminated macromonomer, a method of preparing a crosslinking agent, and a method of preparing a therapeutic agent loaded nanosphere by dispersion polymerization.

Abstract: A distance from a measurement point to a fault in a three-phase circuit is determined. The measurement point is located at an output of a power sub-station and the three phase circuit has a loop circuit having an associated net fault line current and a ground current. A derivative of the net fault line current of the loop circuit as measured from the measurement point is calculated. An uncompensated distance to the sub-cycle fault using at least the derivative of the net fault current is determined, and configured, to compensate for the ground current of the loop circuit. The compensation is applied to the uncompensated distance to produce a compensated distance to the sub-cycle fault.