Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering neurostimulation therapies to patients for treating chronic heart failure. A neural fulcrum zone is identified and ongoing neurostimulation therapy is delivered within the neural fulcrum zone. The implanted stimulation device includes a physiological sensor for monitoring the patient's response to the neurostimulation therapy on an ambulatory basis over extended periods of time and a control system for adjusting stimulation parameters to maintain stimulation in the neural fulcrum zone based on detected changes in the physiological response to stimulation.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions, devices, and methods for analyzing a polymer and/or polymer unit. The polymer may be a homo or hetero-polymer such as DNA, RNA, a polysaccharide, or a peptide. The device includes electrodes that form a tunnel gap through which the polymer can pass. The electrodes are functionalized with a reagent attached thereto, and the reagent is capable of forming a transient bond to a polymer unit. When the transient bond forms between the reagent and the unit, a detectable signal is generated and used to analyze the polymer.

Abstract: An operator impairment detection system comprising a wearable mobile device including a frame for supporting the wearable mobile device on an operator's face, an accelerometer for sensing acceleration of the wearable mobile device, a proximity sensor configured to be aimed at an eye area of the operator when the operator is wearing the wearable mobile device for sensing the operator's eye closing and opening, and a processor configured to receive acceleration vector data and proximity vector data and run an application for determining when the operator's head nods or rotates and when the operator's eye blinks and for determining when the nod, rotation, and/or blink or combination of nods, rotations, and/or blinks constitutes an operator impairment event, the processor being configured to instruct the wearable mobile device to alert the operator when an impairment event is detected.

Abstract: Compositions and methods related to anti-cancer terpenoid compounds isolated from plants in the Salviniaceae family, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of treating cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula (I): and salts thereof, wherein X and Y have any of the values defined herein. The compounds inhibit bacterial RNA polymerase, inhibit bacterial growth, and have applications in, analysis of RNA polymerase structure and function, control of bacterial gene expression, control of bacterial growth, antibacterial chemistry, antibacterial therapy, and drug discovery.

Abstract: Techniques to improve efficiencies of power amplifiers in wireless communication devices are described herein. In one embodiment, an envelope tracking supply modulator includes a pre-amplifier having an input coupled to an envelope signal and another input coupled to a threshold voltage signal, a de-multiplexer coupled to an output of the pre-amplifier, a pulse frequency modulator having an input coupled to an output of the de-multiplexer, and a pulse width modulator having an input coupled to the output of the de-multiplexer. The de-multiplexer is configured to allow the pulse frequency modulator to modulate a switching frequency to generate a switched signal according to a slew rate of the envelope signal or allow the pulse width modulator to provide the switched signal as a current source with a constant frequency, based on a comparison result between the envelope signal and the threshold voltage signal at the pre-amplifier.

Abstract: A self-balancing optical position sensitive detector includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending doped regions on a first surface on a front side of a substrate 16 of opposite doping type with contact pads on the front side at respective ends of a first doped region of the pair. A voltage source applies a potential difference between the contact pads of the first doped region. On the front side, a contact pad of the second doped region of the pair provides an analog output signal representative of a longitudinal position of a center of gravity of an incident light pattern along the doped regions without external circuitry processing the output signal to obtain a readout of the longitudinal position. A resistive line may directly overly, abut and be in contact with at least a portion of the first doped region. A conductive line may directly overly, abut and be in contact with at least a portion of the second doped region.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates to materials and methods for diagnosing a chronic inflammatory disease in a patient comprising testing a biological sample from the patient for a level of a first neurovascular biomarker of lymphatic activation and diagnosing the patient as having the chronic inflammatory disease if the tested level of the first neurovascular biomarker of lymphatic activation is less than a first normal level.

Abstract: A oxygen transfer agent useful for the oxidative dehydrogenation of saturated hydrocarbons includes at least one mixed oxide derived from manganese or compounds thereof, as well as a promoter, such as tungsten and/or phosphorus. The oxygen transfer agent may also include an alkali metal or compounds thereof, boron or compounds thereof, an oxide of an alkaline earth metal, and an oxide containing one or more of one or more of manganese, lithium, boron, and magnesium. A reactor is at least partially filled with the oxygen transfer agent in the form of a fixed or circulating bed and provides an unsaturated hydrocarbon product, such as ethylene and/or propylene. The oxygen transfer agent may be regenerated using oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic graphene-like nanoparticle or graphitic nano- or microparticle. The magnetic graphene-like nanoparticle or graphitic nano- or microparticle of the invention exhibits a high relaxivity, and is useful as a MRI contrast agent. The present invention also provides a composition for use with MRI imaging, comprising a sufficient amount of the magnetic graphene-like nanoparticles or graphitic nano- or microparticles and one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients. The present invention also provides methods of using the magnetic graphene-like nanoparticles or graphitic nano- or microparticles as MRI contrast agents. The present invention further provides methods of producing the magnetic graphene-like nanoparticle or graphitic nano- or microparticle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of binder compositions, electrodes incorporating the binder compositions, fabrication methods for the binder compositions, and energy storage devices having the electrodes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a binder composition includes an electrolyte solution that is ionically conductive, a polymeric material having a plurality of molecules mixed with the electrolyte solution, and a filler having a plurality of electrically conductive particles suspended in the adhesive matrix. The electrolyte solution plasticizing the polymeric material forming an adhesive matrix having the molecules of the polymeric material in an amorphous state.

Abstract: A method to form a lipid-containing aminoglycoside-based polymer, where the method includes reacting an aminoglycoside with a diepoxide to form an aminoglycoside-based polymeric material, and then reacting the aminoglycoside-based polymeric material with an acyl chloride to form the lipid-containing aminoglycoside-based polymer.

Abstract: A crop stand analyzer includes a first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors, the reflective laser proximity sensors arranged in a vertical row and perpendicularly to a ground surface to detect plant objects, a distance sensor, and a processor operatively connected to the first plurality of reflective laser proximity sensors and the distance sensor. The crop stand analyzer is configured to generate side-view profiles for the plant objects and then extract plant stand information via these profiles.

Abstract: The present invention provides novels genes encoding methyl butenol (MBO) synthase, methy butenol synthases and their use in methyl butenol production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for dehydrogenation of an alkane to an alkene using an iridium pincer complex. In the dehydrogenation reactions, hydrogen that is co-formed during the process must be removed for the chemical reaction to proceed and to prevent the excess hydrogen from poisoning the catalyst. In one embodiment the process comprises providing an alkane feedstock comprising at least one alkane and contacting the alkane with an iridium pincer complex in the presence of a hydrogen acceptor selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propene, or mixtures to form an alkene product. The processes disclosed herein can accomplish facile, low-temperature transfer dehydrogenation of alkanes with unprecedented selectivities and TONs at a reasonable rate of conversion.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of polymers and olefin polymerization, and more specifically olefin metathesis polymerization. The invention provides regioregular alternating polymers and methods of synthesizing such polymers. To demonstrate, polymers were synthesized and modified with a FRET pair (Trp/Dansyl) post-polymerization.

Abstract: A system for use in rehabilitation of a target patient is provided. The system includes at least two bicycle devices for use by the target patient and a second operator other than the target patient. The at least two bicycle devices each include pedals. At least one of the pedals may have at least one sensor mounted thereon for monitoring operation of the first bicycle device and the target's condition. A servomotor is coupled to the pedals for providing gear-like resistance or pedal assistance for the at least two bicycle devices. A controller is programmed to electrically couple the at least two bicycle devices to each other.

Abstract: Tricyclic pyrone compounds having high oral bioavailability, excellent blood-brain barrier permeability, and low toxicity are presented. Administration of the compounds to Alzheimer's Disease transgenic models resulted in substantially reduced soluble and insoluble A? species in the brain without affecting general behavior and motor coordination. Furthermore, in addition to blocking the toxicity and formation of both intraneuronal and extracellular A? aggregates, the compounds also increase cellular cholesterol efflux, restore axonal trafficking, and enhance hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for predicting the optimal amounts of radiopharmaceutical and/or chemotherapy agents to administer to a patient, by determining the level of saturation of the therapeutic agents in the patient's cells. The method comprises measuring cellular incorporation of the candidate therapeutic agents in a target cell population on a cell-by-cell basis. The method is able to identify an optimal cocktail of therapeutic agents for treatment of a disease. A method of high-throughput drug discovery incorporating this method, and a 2-stage targeting method of treating a disease using this method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes.