Abstract: A magnetically enhanced micro-cathode thruster assembly provides long-lasting thrust. The micro-cathode thruster assembly includes a tubular housing, a tubular cathode, an insulator, an anode and a magnetic field. The tubular housing includes an open distal end. The tubular cathode is housed within the housing and includes a distal end positioned proximate the open distal end of the housing. The insulator is in contact with the cathode forming an external cathode-insulator interface. The anode is housed within the housing, proximate the open distal end of the housing. The magnetic field is positioned at or about the external cathode-insulator interface and has magnetic field lines with an incidence angle of about 20 to about 30 degrees and preferably about 30 degrees relative to the external cathode-insulator interface.

Abstract: The production and use of semiconducting nanopost arrays made by nanofabrication is described herein. These nanopost arrays (NAPA) provide improved laser ionization yields and controllable fragmentation with switching or modulation capabilities for mass spectrometric detection and identification of samples deposited on them.

Abstract: A nanostructure sensing device comprises a semiconductor nanostructure having an outer surface, and at least one of metal or metal-oxide nanoparticle clusters functionalizing the outer surface of the nanostructure and forming a photoconductive nanostructure/nanocluster hybrid sensor enabling light-assisted sensing of a target analyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for alleviating or preventing the negative physiological side effects associated with the administration of EGFR blocking therapeutics. The disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for treating or preventing: hypomagnesemia, cardiac dysfunction, and skin lesions, which are induced by EGFR blocking drugs, by administering an NK-1 receptor antagonist.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel splicing variants of the genes associated with prostate cancer risk and survival, particularly splicing variants of PIK3CD, FGFR3, TSC2, RASGRP2, ITGA4, MET, NF1 and BAK1. The disclosure also relates risk assessment, detection, diagnosis, or prognosis of prostate cancer. More specifically, this disclosure relates to the detection of certain splicing variants of PIK3CD, FGFR3, TSC2, RASGRP2, ITGA4, MET, NF1 and BAK1.

Abstract: A pancreatic beta cell stimulation system for stimulating release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells can include an ultrasonic transducer configured to be acoustically coupled to a body of a user; and an ultrasound controller configured to be in communication with the ultrasonic transducer so as to provide control signals to the ultrasonic transducer during operation. The ultrasound controller can be further configured to generate the control signals based on a planned amount of stimulation of pancreatic beta cells within the body of the user such that the control signals instruct the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasound waves having selected intensity and frequency calculated to cause stimulation of the pancreatic beta cells.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a device may generally comprise a remote ablation chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet, a laser to deposit energy into a sample in the chamber to ablate the sample and generate ablation products in the chamber, a transport device in fluid communication with the outlet, an ionization source to ionize the ablation products to produce ions, and a mass spectrometer having an ion transfer inlet to capture the ions. The ablation products or the ions may be transported in a fluid stream from the ablation chamber through the transport device. The distance from the outlet of the ablation chamber to the ion transfer inlet may be from 1 cm to 10 m. Methods of making and using the same are also described.

Abstract: A battery and methods of forming vanadium boride nanoparticles of an anode within a battery, and a method for recharging an air battery. The battery comprises an anode and a cathode in electrochemical contact with each other through an electrically neutral ionic conductor (an electrolyte). The cathode may comprise a catalyst effective for the reduction of dissolved oxygen. An electrical discharge of the anode is performed via multiple electron oxidation of vanadium boride.

Abstract: A method of predicting of chemical properties from spectroscopic data is described. The chemical property can be, for example, octanol-water partition coefficient (logP), skin permeability (log K,), or other biologically or ecologically relevant property, such as oral bioavailability, skin sensitization, acute aquatic toxicity, chronic aquatic toxicity, aquatic bioaccumulation, or mutagenicity. The spectroscopic data can be experimental or predicted NMR data, e.g., experimental or predicted 1H-NMR or 13C-NMR data.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a Myocyte-based Flow Assist Device (MFAD) for treating a subject in need of increased flow of a biological fluid, such as venous blood or lymph, comprising a sheath which comprises rhythmically contracting myocytes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making calcium oxide electrolytically using calcium carbonate as a starting material. In a direct process, the present invention involves heating calcium carbonate to a temperature greater than its melting point or heating a molten mixture containing calcium carbonate; and subjecting the molten calcium carbonate or molten mixture to electrolysis to generate calcium oxide and oxygen, and a reduced carbon product. In an indirect process, the present invention involves heating solid calcium carbonate in a closed container to cause thermal decomposition to calcium oxide, and directing the evolved hot carbon dioxide byproduct into a molten carbonate solution, and subjecting the hot carbon dioxide molten mixture to electrolysis to generate solid carbon and oxygen, and a reduced carbon product.

Abstract: A just-in-time sampling-based system can, after consuming a small number of disk accesses or queries, produce extremely accurate answers for a broad class of aggregate and top-k queries over a file system or database without the requirement of prior knowledge. The system is efficient, accurate, and scalable. The system performs aggregate estimations of a hidden database through its web interface by employing techniques that use a small number of queries to produce unbiased estimates with small variance. It conducts domain discovery over a hidden database through its web interface by employing techniques which provide effective guarantees on the effectiveness of domain discovery. Systems and methods enhance forms used by mobile devices to access hidden databases. It employs data analytics to improve the usage of form fields, including providing context-sensitive auto-completion suggestions, highlighting selections in drop-down boxes and eliminating suggestions in drop-down boxes.

Abstract: As file systems reach the petabytes scale, users and administrators are increasingly interested in acquiring high-level analytical information for file management and analysis. Two particularly important tasks are the processing of aggregate and top-k queries which, unfortunately, cannot be quickly answered by hierarchical file systems such as ext3 and NTFS. Existing pre-processing based solutions, e.g., file system crawling and index building, consume a significant amount of time and space (for generating and maintaining the indexes) which in many cases cannot be justified by the infrequent usage of such solutions. User interests can often be sufficiently satisfied by approximate (i.e., statistically accurate) answers. A just-in-time sampling-based system can, after consuming a small number of disk accesses, produce extremely accurate answers for a broad class of aggregate and top-k queries over a file system without the requirement of any prior knowledge. The system is efficient, accurate and scalable.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to rechargeable electrochemical battery cells (molten air batteries). The cells use air and a molten electrolyte, are quasi-reversible (rechargeable) and have the capacity for multiple electrons stored per molecule and have high intrinsic electric energy storage capacities. The present disclosure also relates to the use of such in a range of electronic, transportation and power generation devices, such as greenhouse gas reduction applications, electric car batteries and increased capacity energy storage systems for the electric grid.

Abstract: The present invention relates, inter alia, to a method comprising administering to a subject having high output shock and undergoing treatment with a catecholamine at a dose equivalent to at least about 0.2 mcg/kg/min of norepinephrine a dose of angiotensin II which is effective to raise the blood pressure of the subject to a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of about 65 mm Hg or above, and which is effective to reduce the dose of the catecholamine required to maintain a MAP of about 65 mm Hg to the equivalent of about 0.05-0.2 mcg/kg/min norepinephrine or less, or to the equivalent of about 0.05 mcg/kg/min norepinephrine or less.

Abstract: A system and method are provided of a node for use in a network having a plurality of nodes. The node is configured to identify neighboring node(s) within a predetermined closeness of said node, measured by any of physical, logical, network hops, network link, or vertices analysis closeness. The node determines a level of nervousness of itself and sends and/or receives communication as to the level of nervousness to the neighboring node(s).

Abstract: A flexible IC/microfluidic hybrid integration and packaging method and resulting device. A single flexible elastomer substrate, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), has dedicated microchannels filled with liquid metals (or low melting point solders) to provide electrical interconnects to a solid-state IC die, such as CMOS, and additional microchannels for hybrid integration with microfluidics without performing any post-processing on the IC die. The liquid metal used can be a gallium-indium-tin eutectic alloy (also called Galinstan).

Abstract: An electro-optical switch or router includes a semiconductor oxide substrate and first, second, and third semiconductor waveguides disposed on the semiconductor oxide substrate. The third waveguide includes a transparent conducting oxide layer, an oxide layer, a metal layer, and first and second electrodes coupled to the third waveguide. The electrodes are configured to bias and unbiased the third waveguide to effect optical switching in the electro-optical switch. The oxide layer is disposed between the transparent conducting oxide layer and the metal layer. The switch may further include a semiconductor layer disposed under the transparent conducting oxide layer between the transparent conducting oxide layer and the semiconductor oxide substrate. The first electrode may be coupled to the transparent conducting oxide layer. and the second electrode may be coupled to the metal layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for visualizing ablated tissue are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for imaging tissue comprising: a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the catheter; and an optical housing extending from the distal end of the catheter into the balloon, the optical housing being configured to position inside the balloon a light source for illuminating a tissue outside the balloon and a camera for imaging the illuminated tissue.

Abstract: A method of producing iron by: solubilizing iron oxide as a lithiated iron oxide in a molten carbonate having lithium carbonate; and subjecting the lithiated iron oxide to electrolysis to obtain iron and oxygen. The molten alkali metal carbonate salt may further include lithium oxide. Additionally the lithium carbonate may be simultaneously subjected to electrolysis to produce steel instead of iron.