Abstract: A diffractive optical element (DOE) is designed to implement both a collimation function with respect to an input divergent beam and a beam shaping function with respect to an output divergent beam. The phase designs of the collimation function and the beam shaping function are independently produced in the phase domain. These phase designs are then combined using a phase angle addition of the individual functions and wrapped between 0 and 2? radians. The diffractive surface of the DOE is then defined from the wrapped phase angle addition of the individual functions.

Abstract: Provided is a device for iontophoretic delivery of a drug to or into a tissue, including an arrangement that prevents operation of the device at a current density that is higher than a predetermined value, the arrangement including first means responsive to a first data item, indicative of the surface area through which the current is to pass, as to set the maximal current allowed at the surface area indicated by the data item. Also provided is a method for iontophorectivally administering drug to or into a tissue, including determining a maximal allowed level of current density and preventing application of current density above the maximal allowed level.

Abstract: Dominant negative (DN) variants of transcriptional enhancer factor 1-related (RTEF-1) are described. DN RTEF-1 polypeptides may be directly targeted to cells or delivered in nucleic acid expression vectors to alter cellular transcription. Methods for inhibiting VEGF production and thereby treating angiogenic disorders such as cancer are described. For example, in certain aspects, DN RTEF-1 may be used to treat angiogenic disorders of the eye such as age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Abstract: Provided are Pt (IV) lipophilic derivatives for improved drug performance in cancer therapy, as well as nanocarriers including the same.

Abstract: A drilling fluid lubricant includes a crude tall oil product and a derivative of ricinoleic acid that is at least partially transesterified product. A modified drilling fluid includes a water-based drilling fluid in a range of from about 95 vol. % to about 99 vol. % and a drilling fluid lubricant in a range of from about 0.1 vol. % to about 5 vol. % of the fluid. The drilling fluid lubricant includes a crude tall oil product selected from the group consisting of crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, acid tall oil, fractionated tall oil, and combinations thereof. The drilling fluid lubricant also includes at least partially transesterified derivative of ricinoleic acid product. The product comprises at least partially transesterified derivatives of ricinoleic acid that combined are in a range of from about 88 mole % to about 99 mole % of the product.

Abstract: This invention provides a fully automatic method and a system for detecting and classifying cardiac arrhythmias from a surface ECG record. The method defines four relevant parameters whose values are extracted from said ECG record. Clinically relevant conclusions are assigned to various combinations of the obtained values of said parameters. The method can be employed for detecting fetal QRS complexes from abdomen ECG of a pregnant woman.

Abstract: A method, data structure and computer program are provided. A file is stored in a first memory. A duplicate of at least a part of the file is stored in the first memory. A processor is reset based on the duplicate of at least a part of the file.

Abstract: The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise promoters active to promote expression specific to cell types or tissues. Further, promoters are providing that are amenable to control by activators, enhancers, or repressors. These vectors are in a self-inactivating configuration for biosaftey. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element, without any decrease in the specificity or control exerted by the promoters.

Abstract: An optical pulse emitter includes a light emitting device having a first node coupled to an intermediate node via a first switch. The intermediate node is coupled to a supply voltage node via a second switch. A capacitor is coupled to the intermediate node. The first, second and third switches are controlled by a control circuit. During a first phase, the second switch is actuated to couple the capacitor to the supply voltage node. During a second phase, the second switch is deactuated and the first switch is actuated to at least partially discharge the capacitor through the light emitting device. During a third phase, discharge current from the capacitor bypasses around the light emitting device.

Abstract: Provided is a spectrally selective solar thermal coating, formed as a continuous uniform layer, combining a light-absorbing coating and an infrared (IR) reflecting layer positioned on top of the absorber coating. The coating is adapted for use in a plurality of applications, including amongst many control of stray light and absorptivity in thermosolar devices.

Abstract: In some aspects, mutant or variant Fc domains are provided that can exhibit increased affinity or selectivity for Fc?RIIB. The variant Fc domain may be a mutant IgG1 Fc domain. In some embodiments, a mutant or variant Fc domain may be present in a therapeutic antibody such as, e.g., an agonistic antibody. Additional methods for using and identifying mutant Fc domains are also provided.

Abstract: A method for packet loss concealment, that includes: continuously receiving a digital audio stream; extracting audio features from the digital audio stream while the digital audio stream is unharmed; and upon detecting a gap in the digital audio stream, filling the gap with one or more previous segments of the digital audio stream, wherein the filling is based on a matching of the one or more of the extracted audio features with one or more audio features adjacent to the gap.

Abstract: A method of representing visual images by alternative senses is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: obtaining an image of an environment having a background and physical objects distinguishable from the background; slicing the image into a plurality of slices; identifying, for each slice at a time, and slice by slice in a specified order, if at least a portion of the physical objects being contained within the slice; applying, in the specified order, a conversion function to each identified portion of the physical objects for generating a sound or tactile object-dependent signal; associating a sound or tactile location-dependent signal unique for each slice; superpositioning, in the specified order, each object-dependent signal with a respective location-dependent signal for creating a combined object-location signal; and outputting the combined object-location signal to a user via an interface in a form usable for a blind or visually impaired person.

Abstract: Provided is a composition-of-matter comprising a microcapsule encapsulating mesenchymal stem cells, wherein at least 97% of cells in said microcapsule are said mesenchymal stem cells. Also provided are methods of generating and using the composition-of-matter.

Abstract: A novel method of manufacturing and applications of a composition of matter comprising of a cross-linked form of a polysaccharide, at least one cross-linking agent comprised of divalent ions for effecting said cross-linked form of said polysaccharide, and at least one synthetically prepared phloroglucinol compound selected from the group comprising of phloroglucinol, a derivative of phloroglucinol, and a polymer synthetically prepared from phloroglucinol or a derivative of phloroglucinol, as an adhesive in procedures for reattaching or repairing body parts or components thereof, such as tissue, of (human or animal) subjects, especially under wet conditions, for example, involving adhesion of wet surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed are polypeptides that are analogs of urocortin 2 that have pharmacological activity similar to urocortin 2 but have improved water solubility compared to urocortin 2, and pharmaceutical compositions of the polypeptides of the present invention. Also disclosed are polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods of treating pathophysiological states employing pharmaceutical compositions of the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention. In addition, disclosed are vectors and host cells that include a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of the present invention, and kits that include pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for cross-modal signal denoising, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: providing a first multi-modal signal comprising at least two relatively clear modalities; correlating features exhibited simultaneously in the at least two relatively clear modalities of the first multi-modal signal; providing a second multi-modal signal comprising at least one relatively noisy modality and at least one relatively clear modality; and denoising the at least one relatively noisy modality of the second multi-modal signal by associating between (a) features exhibited in the at least one relatively noisy modality of the second multi-modal signal and (b) the features of the first multi-modal signal.

Abstract: Peptides for the treatment of cancer and angiogenic disorders are provided. In some aspects, the peptides may be used to decrease angiogenesis or VEGF expression or function in a cancer such as, e.g., an ocular cancer. In some embodiments, a peptide of the present invention may be used to treat an angiogenic eye disorder such as, e.g., diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract: A method for reducing the transmittance of ultraviolet radiation through an intraocular lens to 10% or less at 370 mm Additionally, a method for preventing the transmittance of at least 90% of ultraviolet radiation at 370 nm through a foldable intraocular lens comprising: (a) incorporating a monomer comprising a 4-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-3-hydroxyphenoxy moiety into at least one polymer and (b) forming the polymer into a material suitable for use as an intraocular lens, wherein the monomer comprising a 4-(4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-3-hydroxyphenoxy moiety comprises 0.10 to 0.15 weight percent of the overall dry polymer.

Abstract: System and method for converting energy; the system comprising: an acoustic resonator; a phase-exchange device configured for forming across a section of said resonator a concentration gradient of a first substance in a gaseous medium contained by said resonator, to thereby generate a pressure wave within said resonator; and a conversion device for converting mechanical energy constituted by said pressure wave to non-mechanical energy.