Abstract: A method for recycling metals is provided by using extracellular proteins excreted by a specific thermophilic bacteria strain, Tepidimonas fonticaldi sp. nov., in which the extracellular proteins show excellent metal-ion binding ability, being useful in recycling rare earth metal ions and precious metal ions from geothermal fluids, boiler solutions, industrial wastewater or hard water.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and other pelvic defects or dysfunctions, in both males and females, using one or more lateral implants to reinforce the supportive tissue of the urethra. The implants are configured to engage and pull (e.g., pull up) pelvic tissue to cause the lateral sub-urethral tissue, such as the endopelvic fascia, to tighten and provide slack reduction for improved support. As such, certain embodiments of the implants can be utilized to eliminate the need for mesh or other supportive structures under the urethra that is common with other incontinence slings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a CDMA signal s(t) comprising N components involves assigning to each of the N components one unique spreading sequence an selected from a set of M spreading sequences with M?N, modulating the symbols dn of each component on the assigned unique spreading sequence an, and combining the N symbols dn each being spread with its own unique spreading sequence an to a CDMA signal s(t). The assigned spreading sequences an are selected such that all selected pairs within the set of N spreading sequences are orthogonal or very close to be orthogonal so that cross-correlation components between all spreading sequences an are close to zero or zero.

Abstract: Organic dyes and photoelectric conversion devices are provided. The Organic dye has the structure represented by formula (I), wherein, n is an integral of 2-11; the plurality of X is independent and elected from the group consisting of and combinations thereof; R, R1, and R2 comprise hydrogen, halogen, C1-18 alkyl group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C3-18 heteroalkyl group, C3-20 aryl group, C3-20 heteroaryl group, C3-20 cycloaliphatic group or C3-20 cycloalkyl group, or R1 is connected to R2 to form a ring having 5-14 members; R3 comprise hydrogen, halogen, nitro group, amino group, C1-18 alkyl group, C1-18 alkoxy group, C1-18 sulfanyl group, C3-18 heteroalkyl group, C3-20 aryl group, C3-20 heteroaryl group, C3-20 cycloaliphatic group or C3-20 cycloalkyl group; and Z is hydrogen, alkali metal, or quaternary ammonium salt.

Abstract: An RF receiver/transmitter apparatus for carrier aggregation is disclosed, to provide a routing circuitry formed by a plurality of mixer modules for achieving both the function of carrier aggregation and the mixing frequency process of signals. This architecture allows sharing an RF front-end, improving degree of integration, and reducing hardware cost and circuitry power consumption. In addition, in the process of reception and transmission, the apparatus may perform different processing and configuration for each sub-channel to increase circuit design flexibility. The receiver apparatus includes at least one antenna, a first signal processing unit, a routing mixer device, a second signal processing unit and a digital signal processor (DSP); and the routing mixer device includes a plurality of mixer module and a plurality of current/voltage adders to achieve signal routing control through opening or closing of the mixer, switching the signal transmission path or switching the signal synthesizer.

Abstract: A sound-proofed helicocentrifugal fan includes a helicocentrifugal propeller associated with a motor, housed in a casing formed by a central piece and respective end pieces, which pieces are perforated with holes distributed over the entire surface except for the area around the propeller. A sound-absorbing blanket surrounds the casing, and an outer casing is disposed around the entire assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising a person's balance control, the apparatus comprising: a motion stage operable to displace an object mounted thereto; a treadmill mounted to the stage and comprising a belt having a runway surface on which a person using the treadmill stands, walks and/or runs; and a controller that controls the motion stage to provide a displacement of the treadmill and thereby the treadmill runway surface.

Abstract: Antibodies, and particularly human antibodies, are disclosed that demonstrate activity in the treatment of demyelinating diseases as well as other diseases of the central nervous system that are of viral, bacterial or idiopathic origin, including neural dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neuromodulatory agents are set forth that include and comprise a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, a hapten, active fragments thereof, agonists thereof, mimics thereof, monomers thereof and combinations thereof. Methods are described for treating demyelinating diseases, and diseases of the central nervous system of humans and domestic animals, using polyclonal IgM antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies sHIgm22(LYM 22), sHIgm46(LYM46) ebvHIgM MSI19D10, CB2bG8, AKJR4, CB2iE12, CB2iE7, MSI19E5 and MSI10E10, active fragments thereof and the like.

Abstract: An instrument for performing thorascopic repair of heart valves includes a shaft for extending through the chest cavity and into a heart chamber providing access to a valve needing repair. A movable tip on the shaft is operable to capture a valve leaflet and a needle is operable to penetrate a captured valve leaflet and draw the suture through the leaflet. Proper leaflet capture can be confirmed with a fiber optic imaging system.

Abstract: A head mount personal computer (HMPC) and an interactive system using the same are provided. The provided HMPC includes a microprocessing unit, an output unit and an image capture unit with a distance detection function (ICWDD). The microprocessing unit is served as an operation core of the HMPC. The output unit is coupled to and controlled by the microprocessing unit, and configured to project an optical image onto a space. The ICWDD is coupled to and controlled by the microprocessing unit, and configured to capture operation gestures on the projected optical image from a user wearing the HMPC, such that the microprocessing unit correspondingly controls operations of the HMPC in response to the operation gestures on the projected optical image from the user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to crystalline organic polymer nanoparticles comprising a conductive organic polymer; wherein the crystalline organic polymer nanoparticles have a size of from 10 nm to 200 nm and exhibits two current-voltage states: (1) a high resistance current-voltage state, and (2) a low resistance current-voltage state, wherein when a first positive threshold voltage (Vth1) or higher positive voltage, or a second negative threshold voltage (Vth2) or higher negative voltage is applied to the nanoparticle, the nanoparticle exhibits the low-resistance current-voltage state, and when a voltage less positive than the first positive threshold voltage or a voltage less negative than the second negative threshold voltage is applied to the nanoparticle, the nanoparticle exhibits the high-resistance current-voltage state. The present invention is also directed methods of manufacturing the nanoparticles using novel interfacial oxidative polymerization techniques.

Abstract: Described are surgical articles, implants, and components suitable for surgical implant procedures including transobturator surgical procedures.

Abstract: Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems, methods, and apparatus for carrier-embedded optical radio-over-fiber (RoF) communications. Example embodiments of the method may include modulating a baseband signal with and an intermediate frequency (IF) and a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to produce a RF modulated optical signal, transmitting the RF modulated optical signal to a remote access point with an optical fiber, and detecting the transmitted RF modulated optical signal. The method may also include receiving a RF uplink signal and mixing a harmonic of the RF carrier signal with the received RF uplink signal to down-convert the received RF uplink signal to an IF uplink signal. The method may include modulating a second optical source with the IF uplink signal to produce an IF uplink optical signal, transmitting the IF uplink optical signal via an optical fiber, and detecting the IF uplink optical signal.

Abstract: A specimen kit having a tiny chamber is disclosed for a specimen preparation for TEM. The space height of the chamber is far smaller than dimensions of blood cells and therefore is adapted to sort nanoparticles from the blood cells. The specimen prepared under this invention is suitable for TEM observation over a true distribution status of nanoparticles in blood. The extremely tiny space height in Z direction eliminates the possibility of aggregation of the nanoparticles and/or agglomeration in Z direction during drying; therefore, a specimen prepared under this invention is suitable for TEM observation over the dispersion and/or agglomeration of nanoparticles in a blood.

Abstract: An illuminated surgical instrument is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an illuminated vitrectomy probe. The vitrectomy probe has a cutting port disposed at a distal end of a cannula. An array of optical fibers terminates near the cutting port. The array of optical fibers is located adjacent to the cannula and encircling the cannula. The array of optical fibers can comprise two sets of fibers, one for providing illumination in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the vitrectomy probe and another for providing illumination in a direction at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the vitrectomy probe. The light source providing light to each set of fibers can be independently controlled so as to provide illumination cooperatively or singly.

Abstract: PAD4 inhibitory compositions and methods for their use in treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease are provided according to embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for reporting uplink control information and a wireless communication device using the same are disclosed. The wireless communication device supports multiple component carriers (CC), and the proposed method includes following steps. When a base station requests the wireless communication device to transmit aperiodic channel state information (CSI) report of one or more downlink CC to the base station, but the CSI of the downlink CCs may be invalid, following steps are executed on the downlink CC. Full payloads of channel quality indicator (CQI)/precoding matrix indicator (PMI) corresponding to a plurality of selectable RI values of the downlink CC are respectively calculated. Additionally, an RI value of the downlink CC is selected according to the full payloads of the CQI/PMI corresponding to the selectable RI values.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a light source, an optical imaging unit, a photo-sensor and a focusing regulation unit. The optical imaging unit includes an object lens and a beam splitter. The beam splitter divides a reflecting beam into a first sub-beam and a second sub-beam. The optical imaging unit has a first imaging optical path and a second imaging optical path with different imaging precisions corresponding to the first sub-beam and the second sub-beam, respectively. The photo-sensor detects a defocus position of the object. The focusing regulation unit adjusts the distance between the object and the object lens and selects an imaging precision, so that the defocus position of the object is placed within the imaging precision of the first optical path and the imaging precision of the second optical path in sequence.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for radiation system collimation and design. A plurality of channel waveguide assemblies are provided to be operatively associated with respective beam collimators having varying longitudinal bore diameters. The plurality of channel waveguide assemblies includes a plurality of guides and concentric spacers. The plurality of guides and concentric spacers include varying inner diameters that are configured to be securably nested together by decreasing inner diameters and secured within the longitudinal bores of the respective beam collimators.

Abstract: Process for starting an SCR system intended for transporting urea from a tank to the exhaust gases of an engine using a feed line, this system comprising a rotary pump controlled by a controller and driven by a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor that comprises a rotor equipped with at least one permanent magnet and with a stator comprising at least 3 electromagnetic coils in which the direct current can flow according to a given sequence to make the rotor rotate, according to which, before starting the pump, a temperature is measured using a sensor and if this temperature is below a setpoint temperature, before making the rotor rotate, the current is passed through at least one of the coils in a way such that it preheats the pump without making the rotor rotate.