Abstract: The present invention relates to the separation of gases, and more specifically to an inventive process for the removal of carbon dioxide gas using carefully selected ionic liquid absorbents together with water in a carefully selected ratio.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of analyzing an ultrasound signal. The method comprises obtaining a time series of sequential data frames associated with an ultrasound signal reflected from and/or backscattered from a fixed location of a material under investigation, each data frame comprising a plurality of samples of the ultrasound signal, and subjecting to an analysis a sequence of one or more samples of the ultrasound signal, or a sequence of at least one parameter derived from one or more samples of the ultrasound signal, wherein a result of the analysis is related to one or properties or characteristics of the material. In one embodiment the method may be used for detecting, diagnosing, and/or assessing cancer and/or abnormalities in biological tissue.

Abstract: A composite material is described that is an effective filter to separate oil from an oil and water emulsion or other mixtures of oil and water. The composite material has a permeable substrate, such as fabric, that is coated with a selectively-permeable coating. The composite material allows only oil to pass through, while water is prevented from passing through. The composite material has two main components, a hydrophobic component and an emulsion-destabilizing component.

Abstract: Compounds described herein are inhibitors of retinoic acid inducible P450 (CYP26) enzymes, and are useful for treating diseases that are responsive to retinoids. Certain compounds have retinoid activity, are resistant to CYP26-mediated catabolism, and are used for treating diseases that are responsive to retinoids.

Abstract: The invention provides a wellbore fluid which comprises an aqueous continuous phase and, dissolved in said aqueous continuous phase, at least one salt which exists in a liquid state at a temperature below 150° C. and which has an ammonium, phosphonium or sulfonium cation containing at least 5 carbon atoms, or a quaternised nitrogen-containing heterocyclic cation containing at least 6 carbon atoms; provided that said salt is not 2-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyl ethanaminium acetate; and a method of carrying out a wellbore operation, which comprises introducing into a wellbore in a clay-containing formation, a wellbore fluid according to the invention. The described salts are effective shale inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preparing nicotinamide riboside and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to dispersions of porous solids in liquids selected from deep eutectic solvents, liquid oligomers, bulky liquids, liquid polymers, silicone oils, halogenated oils, paraffin oils or triglyceride oils, as well as to their methods of preparation. In embodiments of the invention, the porous solids are metal organic framework materials (MOFs), zeolites, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), porous inorganic materials, Mobil Compositions of Matter (MCMs) or a porous carbon. The invention also relates to the use of porous materials to form dispersions, and to assemblages of such dispersions with a gas or gases. The dispersions can exhibit high gas capacities and selectivities.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for non-invasive monitoring and measuring of intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject. Embodiments include a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye, a microstructure disposed in or on the lens, the microstructure having at least one feature that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens. When the curvature of the lens changes in response to a change in IOP, a corresponding change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the feature may be used to determine the change in IOP. The change in the feature is detectable in digital images of the lens taken with a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an enhanced molecular-targeted approach that targets treatment-induced or native hypoxia present within cancers, specifically, but not limited to the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy, such as anti-androgens. The disclosure describes the utility of combined inhibition of IL-8 and VEGF signalling to effect a combined therapeutic response of malignant disease, which is magnified under conditions of hypoxia. Thus, provided is a pharmaceutical combination for use in the treatment of cancer, the pharmaceutical combination comprising: a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling inhibitor; and an interleukin-8 (IL-8) signalling inhibitor; wherein said use comprises administration of the pharmaceutical combination to a patient receiving an anti-cancer therapy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of making nicotinoyl riboside compounds or derivatives of formula (I): wherein X?, Z1, Z2, n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are described herein, reduced analogs thereof, modified derivatives thereof, phosphorylated analogs thereof, and adenylyl dinucleotide conjugates thereof, or salts, solvates, or prodrugs thereof; and novel crystalline forms thereof.

Abstract: An autorotating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a data acquisition system and a rotor assembly including a hub that couples the rotor assembly to the UAV. Although not limited thereto, the UAV is suitable for collecting data about the inside of a cavity. The data acquisition system includes a processor and one or more sensors that obtain data about motion of the UAV and at least one parameter of the cavity as the UAV descends though the cavity. Features of the cavity may be mapped by generating a 3D point cloud from the data. The cavity may be natural or man-made, such as a mine.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a chemical spectrum to a human user in an audible and/or tactile format comprises an input that receives at least one chemical spectrum, a processor, and at least one transducer that produces the audible and/or tactile output. The processor identifies a first component and a second component of at least one value of the at least one chemical spectrum, selects at least one periodic function for each first component, and modulates the at least one periodic function according to the second component. Modulated periodic functions are composed into at least one complex function which is output to the at least one transducer to produce the audible and/or tactile output. The chemical spectrum may comprise data obtained from a sample using mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, or the like.

Abstract: This disclosure relates a composition and method for promoting the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells, the composition comprising gelatin and laminin. The disclosure further relates to a method of preparing somatic cells for producing induced pluripotent stem cells and a method for producing induced pluripotent stem cells, and thus provides method useful for the production of expanded somatic cells and induced pluripotent stem cells for use in research and therapy.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes a rectifier circuit having first and second input terminals that receive an AC input voltage and first and second output terminals that output a DC bus voltage, and a series circuit comprising a switch connected in series with an input capacitor connected across the first and second output terminals. A controller controls the switch so that the switch is on at least during a period when a magnitude of the AC input voltage is less than a selected DC bus voltage, and the switch is off during a period when the magnitude of the AC input voltage is greater than the selected DC bus voltage and less than a peak value of the AC input voltage. Power adapters incorporating these features benefit from low component count, reduced component current stress, reduced size and weight, and low cost, making then suitable for a range of portable devices such as laptop computers and cellphones.

Abstract: Described are compounds for targeting proteases, e.g. serine proteases and their use in the diagnostic methods and methods for treatment of respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The compounds have the structure [H]—[B]-[A]; wherein [H] is a hydrophilic group, [B] is a subsite recognition group and [A] is a binding group; wherein A has the formula: —C(0)—CH2—NR1—COOR2 and wherein [B] has the structure: (i) —[CO—CH2—NR3]m-, or (ii) -[AA1-AA2]- or (iii) -(AA1-C0-CH2NR3)— or (iv) —(CO—CH2—NR3-AA1)- or (v) —(C0—CH2—NR4-AA1-AA3)-.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of free fatty acids from glyceride oils, especially palm oil. In particular, the present invention is directed to a process wherein specific ionic liquids are utilised for removing free fatty acids contained in glyceride oils, preferably palm oil, such that a glyceride oil, having a reduced content of free fatty acids may be obtained. The invention also relates to treated glyceride oil compositions, preferably treated palm oil compositions, comprising certain ionic liquids to prevent build-up of free fatty acids in stored oil.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an amphipathic peptide and methods of using the amphipathic peptide for delivering small molecule agents to a cell. Ideally, the amphipathic cell penetrating peptide comprises less than approximately 50 amino acid residues with at least 6 arginine residues, at least 12 Alanine Residues, at least 6 leucine residues, optionally at least one cysteine residue, and at least two but no greater than three glutamic acids wherein the arginine residues are evenly distributed along the length of the peptide; and the peptide has a defined ratio of arginine to negatively charged amino acid residues and a defined ratio of hydrophilic amino acid residues to hydrophobic amino acid residues. The present invention is also directed to a nanoparticle and cell delivery system comprising the amphipathic cell penetrating peptide of the invention. The peptide, nanoparticle or cell delivery system of the invention may be used in therapy.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for decellularizing adipose tissue, comprising subjecting the adipose tissue to one or more incubations in an enzymatic digestion solution containing one or more enzymes, and one or more solvent extractions, wherein decellularized adipose tissue comprising an extracellular matrix with well-preserved three-dimensional structure is obtained. The invention also provides a decellularized adipose tissue comprising an extracellular matrix with well-preserved three-dimensional architecture, and bioscaffolds, microcarrier beads, and coatings comprising the decellularized adipose tissue.

Abstract: Described herein is an excitation emission matrix (EEM) spectrometer and method, comprising a multiplexer that encodes excitation light produced by at least one excitation light source; and a demultiplexer that decodes encoded light emitted from a sample, and produces an output indicative of a characteristic of the sample. Embodiments are described wherein the multiplexer and the demultiplexer may comprise FDM or OFDM, and wherein both the excitation light and the emitted light may be encoded using a DMA or a SLM. In some embodiments the same DMA or SLM may be used to encode the excitation light and the emitted light. In some embodiments excitation light may be encoded using a Walsh function, or the excitation light may be encoded using a Walsh function and the emitted light may be decoded using an inverse Hadamard transformation.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-stage multilevel DC-DC step-down converters. Stages may include three or four switches, and switches of each stage are operated at selected duty cycles such that each stage reduces an input voltage by one-half and voltage stress on switches is reduced. In some embodiments only a single output inductor is used in an LC filter, and the inductor may be very small as compared with a conventional Buck converter. Thus, embodiments provide DC-DC step-down converters with high power density and efficiency.