Abstract: A method for cleaning patch-clamp glass pipette electrodes that enables their re-use. By immersing pipette tips or planar patch clamp chips into a detergent, followed by rinsing, pipettes and planar patch clamp chips were re-usable at least ten times with little to no degradation in signal fidelity, in experimental preparations ranging from human embryonic kidney cells to neurons in culture, slices, and in vivo.

Abstract: Training neural networks by constructing a neural network model having neurons each associated with a quantized activation function adapted to output a quantized activation value. The neurons are arranged in layers and connected by connections associated quantized connection weight functions adapted to output quantized connection weight values. During a training process a plurality of weight gradients are calculated during backpropagation sub-processes by computing neuron gradients, each of an output of a respective the quantized activation function in one layer with respect to an input of the respective quantized activation function. Each neuron gradient is calculated such that when an absolute value of the input is smaller than a positive constant threshold value, the respective neuron gradient is set as a positive constant output value and when the absolute value of the input is smaller than the positive constant threshold value the neuron gradient is set to zero.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for interfacing with common memory. The apparatus for interfacing with common memory includes a computer-input/output (I/O)-interface-protocol-processing unit for receiving a packet for accessing common memory from a computer; a direct memory access unit for transforming the packet into an instruction for performing any one of reading from and writing to the common memory; and a common memory interface unit for transmitting the instruction to the common memory and receiving information about whether execution of the instruction is completed from the common memory.

Abstract: Dielectric capacitors including dielectric compositions with high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and high thermal stability are disclosed. The dielectric compositions can include a dipolar polymer having a high glass transition temperature (e.g., Tg>150° C.) in combination with either (i) another dipolar polymer having a high glass transition temperature (e.g., Tg?150° C.) in the form of a blend, or (ii) the dipolar polymer with an inorganic interfacial agent volume content less than 2 vol % in the dielectric composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are chimeric polypeptides, including compositions thereof, expression vectors, and methods of use thereof, for the generation of transgenic cells, tissues, plants, and animals. The compositions, vectors, and methods of the present invention are also useful in gene therapy techniques.

Abstract: It is often desirable to apply graphic output to surfaces that are large, irregular, and/or contoured. Application of graphic output on large or complex surfaces may be accomplished by projecting a pattern onto the surface using a projector disposed at a fixed location with respect to the surface. The graphic output is mapped to the projected pattern, by precisely positioning the print head with respect to the projected pattern using a robotic or similar actuated articulated positioning device, graphic output portions may be disposed in each of a plurality of defined locations to form a seamless, large scale graphic output.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula (I): and salts thereof wherein ring A, R2, HET, X, n, and R3 have any of the meanings described in the specification, as well as compositions comprising such compounds and salts, and methods for treating cancer using such compounds and salts.

Abstract: Methods of treating patients suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), including those also suffering from type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with a delayed release pharmaceutical composition comprising 6-mercaptopurine are disclosed.

Abstract: A support for use with tissue or bone is described, the support having one or more spaced apart brace members, and at least one elongated linking member for linking to the one or more spaced apart brace members. The support may be provided in use in combination with a biologic glue, the biologic glue comprising a first portion containing stabilized blood product, and a second portion containing a growth factor, the first portion and the second portion comingled when or after the support is introduced to the tissue or bone in a subject in need thereof. The support is fabricated by actively producing the support through an additive manufacturing process, in which the support is customized specifically to the tissue or bone by creating a computer-generated construct of the support on a three-dimensional volume rendering of the tissue or bone, and the computer generated construct is interpretable via software directing the additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments for publishing a service offer set to a device agent on an end-user device and for on-device selection of a service. In some embodiments, a network system publishes a service offer set to an end-user device over a wireless access network, receives an offer set user selection from the end-user device, and provisions one or more network functions based on the offer set user selection.

Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating a fluid like a non-azeotrope solvent such as water, wherein a transport gas is maintained at a temperature between the freezing point and boiling point at atmospheric pressure of the solvent and continuously circulated between an evaporation chamber and a condensation chamber, a contaminated solvent is introduced into the transport gas in the evaporation chamber under process heat and contaminant precipitates out, and the cleaned solvent cools in the condensation chamber releasing heat to be used in the evaporation chamber. A heat pump is used to promote evaporation and condensation within the system.

Abstract: A microneedle array is provided for administrating a drug or other substance into a biological tissue. The array includes a base substrate; a primary funnel portion extending from one side of the base substrate; and two or more solid microneedles extending from the primary funnel portion, wherein the two or more microneedles comprise the substance of interest. Methods for making an array of microneedles are also provided. The method may include providing a non-porous and gas-permeable mold having a two or more cavities each of which defines a microneedle; filling the cavities with a fluid material which includes a substance of interest and a liquid vehicle; drying the fluid material to remove at least a portion of the liquid vehicle and form a plurality of microneedles that include the substance of interest, wherein the filling is conducted with a pressure differential applied between opposed surfaces of the mold.

Abstract: Systems, techniques, and apparatuses facilitate selecting, defining, controlling, verifying, and auditing privacy-impacting behaviors of devices in alignment with the privacy behavior expectations of individuals and other entities. Techniques and systems, including apparatuses, are presented to facilitate controlling and verifying the privacy behaviors of privacy-impacting devices. “Privacy enunciator” apparatuses announce the presence of entities in a device's range of action or influence. Techniques and systems for defining and sharing individualized privacy behavior preferences are described. Techniques and systems are disclosed for privacy preference resolution protocols that allow for the automated or interactive resolution of conflicts that arise between individuals in multi-actor environments or ambiguous contexts. Accountability and audit mechanisms verify the control state of devices with respect to their privacy behavior preference inputs.

Abstract: A biometric device includes an illuminating unit and an imaging module. The imaging module includes an optical angular selective structure and a sensing layer. The light selecting structure includes a micro lens array, a refractive layer and a light shielding layer. The refractive layer is disposed between the micro lens array and the light shielding layer. The micro lens array includes a plurality of lens unit units, and the light shielding layer has a plurality of light passing portions. The sensing layer defines multiple sensing regions which are spaced apart from each other. The light shielding layer is disposed between the refractive layer and the sensing layer. The sensing regions correspond to the light passing portions, respectively. An optical angular selective distance is defined between the light shielding layer and the sensing layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for providing oxygen doped silicon carbide. A layer of oxygen doped silicon carbide can be provided under process conditions that employ one or more silicon-containing precursors that have one or more silicon-hydrogen bonds and/or silicon-silicon bonds. The silicon-containing precursors may also have one or more silicon-oxygen bonds and/or silicon-carbon bonds. One or more radical species in a substantially low energy state can react with the silicon-containing precursors to form the oxygen doped silicon carbide film. The one or more radical species can be formed in a remote plasma source.

Abstract: A wireless optical communication apparatus for performing bi-directional optical transmission in a free space includes a first optical system configured to transmit data through a downlink scheme and a second optical system configured to receive the data from the first optical system and transmit a control signal to the first optical system through an uplink scheme, wherein each of the first optical system and the second optical system transmits and receives the data and the control signal through a single port.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring proprioceptive and/or sensory information from a prosthesis or from a sensing system disposed at a body part having poor or no sensation, to the skin of a user wearing the prosthesis or the sensing system, includes: a device for providing electrotactile feedback in the form of an electrical stimulation pattern with coding scheme for at least one input signal; and at least one multi-pad electrode configured to be positioned on a part of the body of the user. The multi-pad electrode includes a plurality of pads configured to be selectively and discretely activated/deactivated according to the predefined stimulation pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a functionalized eyewear device that is adapted for collecting and analyzing disease biomarkers. Specifically, exemplified is a contact lens that has aptamer molecules associated therewith for binding to a specific biomarker (or biomarkers). The eyewear device is useful for detecting and diagnosing medical conditions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions comprising and methods of identification and use of imaging agents. The imaging agents comprise a growth hormone secretagogues having a conjugated fluoride. The imaging agents of the present invention may be used for detection, diagnosis and/or staging of prostate or other forms of cancer, and may also be used for cardiac disease.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide a compact spectrometer using static Fourier transform interferometer (SFTI) cube configurations, such as are suitable for use with respect to mobile and portable electronic devices, are described. A SFTI cube of embodiments comprises a monolithic dual mirrored wedge beam splitter structure wherein mirrored wedge surfaces provide two reflective mirrors that are slightly tilted away from the orthogonal directions so that the resultant beams of light cross over one another and form an interference pattern. SFTI cube implementations of embodiments facilitate highly compact spectrometer configurations having a wide wavelength range, high resolution, high throughput, and low cost.