Abstract: An optical amplifier suitable for coherently amplifying surface plasmon-polariton waves with high gain and low noise over visible and infrared wavelengths. The optical amplifier is comprised of a thin strip of material having a complex permittivity with a negative real part, in contact on at least one side with an optical gain medium, where the strip has finite width and thickness such that optical radiation couples to the strip and propagates along its length as a surface plasmon-polariton wave. The surface plasmon-polariton amplifier can also be incorporated into a resonant cavity to form a plasmon-polariton laser.

Abstract: A method for a multi microphone noise reduction in a complex noisy environment is proposed. A left and a right noise power spectral density for a left and a right noise input frame is estimated for computing a diffuse noise gain. A target speech power spectral density is extracted from the noise input frame. A directional noise gain is calculated from the target speech power spectral density and the noise power spectral density. The noisy input frame is filtered by Kalman filtering method. A Kalman based gain is generated from the Kalman filtered noisy frame and the noise power spectral density. A spectral enhancement gain is computed by combining the diffuse noise gain, the directional noise gain, and the Kalman based gain. The method reduces different combinations of diverse background noise and increases speech intelligibility, while guaranteeing to preserve the interaural cues of the target speech and directional background noises.

Abstract: Safety head wear for use for example in high risk activities such as sports and industrial purposes where protection from head injuries is required. Components are provided inserted between the liner and outer shell and consists of two parts; a pod and a foam or foam like surrogate or structure. The foam or foam like material is contained in the chamber and is positioned in such a way to create constant force between the surface of the shell and head. The device provides a method of managing compression force characteristics of the helmet around the head designed to decrease brain trauma resulting from high linear acceleration during impacts to the helmet.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions for preventing or treating anxiety, comprising betulinic acid or derivatives thereof are provided. Methods for preventing or treating anxiety with betulinic acid or derivatives thereof are also provided. The invention further provides betulinic-acid containing preparations of plants of the family Marcgraviaceae having anxiolytic activity and methods for making such extracts and using them to prevent or treat anxiety in a subject.

Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Described is a method of forming a textile perform for a mold having a complex curvature.

Abstract: A parameter-free method to analyze sensor signals incorporates two or more of frequency demodulation, amplitude demodulation and phase demodulation of the raw signal data. The resulting signal is transformed to a frequency domain, and target fault characteristics from the demodulated signal are identified. The method is used to detect faults in bearings, gears and other mechanical components.

Abstract: Safety head wear for use for example in high risk activities such as sports and industrial purposes where protection from head injuries is required. Components are provided inserted between the liner and outer shell and consists of two parts; a chamber or bladder and a fluid or gel like material. The fluid or gel material is contained in the chamber or bladder and is positioned in such a way to create low friction between the surface of the shell and liner or liner and head. It can also be used on the outer surface of the shell or placed within two layers of the liner. The device provides a method of independently managing both compression and shear force characteristics of the helmet around the head designed to decrease brain trauma resulting from high linear and angular acceleration during impacts to the helmet.

Abstract: The present technology provides a latex comprising: a mixture of microgels and sol polymers of an acrylic copolymer, wherein the Mc of the acrylic copolymer is greater than or equal to the Me thereof; the Mw of the sol polymers is greater than or equal to twice the Me of the acrylic copolymer; the amount of sol polymer having a Mw less than twice the Me of the acrylic copolymer is about 20 wt % or less than 20 wt %. Such lattices may be used to form films for use as adhesives such as pressure sensitive adhesives. Also provided are methods for manufacturing the films and adhesives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cell-based production of bacterial nonulosonates and their biosynthetic precursors. Specifically, the present invention provides recombinant cells for the production of pseudaminic acid, legionaminic acid, UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-L-altropyranose, and UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-D-glucopyranose. Methods for producing the sugars are also provided.

Abstract: An innovative micro-size photonic switch is presented. The photonic switch is comprised of: a mirror having a reflecting surface; an input waveguide; and an output tapered waveguide structure. The photonic switch further includes a switching mechanism disposed adjacent to the reflecting surface and operable to change the refractive index along the reflective surface and thereby shift the angle at which the optical signal reflects from the mirror. More specifically, the switching mechanism may operate to change concentration of free carrier distribution along the reflective surface and thereby displace the effective reflecting interface of the mirror. In this way, the optical signal can be directed to one of two or more output ports of the output tapered waveguide structure and finally exited by one output waveguide channel that is connected to the selected port of the output tapered waveguide structure.

Abstract: A method for producing a fuel or fuel additive comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising oil and an alcohol in an oil-in-alcohol emulsion and a catalyst for converting the oil to the fuel or the fuel additive. The oil and the alcohol are reacted in the presence of the catalyst, at a concentration below that used in a conventional batch process, to produce the fuel or fuel additive. This low level of catalyst reduces the formation of diols and oxidation products that can diminish the quality of the fuel or fuel additive. The fuel or fuel additive produced is continuously removed during the reaction, effectively de-coupling the concentration of catalyst used from the rate of the two phase reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides new estrogenic compounds of the general formula in which the substituents have the meanings that are explained in more detail in the description, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The compounds of the invention are useful, for example, in hormone replacement therapies (HRT/ERT) and as contraceptives and estrogenic hormone therapies. Also provided is a process for synthesizing the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosures of databases for secondary purposes is increasing rapidly and any identification of personal data may from a dataset of database can be detrimental. A re-identification risk metric is determined for the scenario where an intruder wishes to re-identify as many records as possible in a disclosed database, known as a marketer risk. The dataset can be analyzed to determine equivalence classes for variables in the dataset and one or more equivalence class sizes. The re-identification risk metric associated with the dataset can be determined using a modified log-linear model by measuring a goodness of fit measure generalized for each of the one or more equivalence class sizes.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions for preventing or treating anxiety, comprising betulinic acid or derivatives thereof are provided. Methods for preventing or treating anxiety with betulinic acid or derivatives thereof are also provided. The invention further provides betulinic-acid containing preparations of plants of the family Marcgraviaceae having anxiolytic activity and methods for making such extracts and using them to prevent or treat anxiety in a subject.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for conducting a hearing assessment of a patient. The method includes: presenting a plurality of objects on a display of a computing device, where each object produces an audio output in response to a stimuli from the patient and the audio output by the objects varies in frequency and intensity amongst the plurality of objects; prompting a patient with a visual cue to classify objects producing sound; receiving an input from the patient for each object in the plurality of objects, where the input indicates whether the audio output by a given object was perceptible to the patient; and generating an audiogram for the patient using the input received from the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive from plant-derived oils, animal fats or a mixture thereof, suitable for use in a diesel engine is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a porous membrane for separating a reaction mixture from a permeate, the reaction mixture comprising an alcohol, a feedstock comprising plant-derived oils, animal fats or mixture thereof, and a catalyst for converting said feedstock to a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive, wherein said porous membrane is substantially impermeable to the feedstock and substantially permeable to said bio-fuel or bio-fuel additive. A method using said porous membrane in the production of a bio-fuel or a bio-fuel additive is also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-loss waveguide that can be curved aggressively, that is, curved with a radius of curvature that is substantially zero, in the plane of propagation, without radiating, is formed by a slab of dielectric material having four metal plates, two on each opposite surface of the slab and mutually spaced to define in the dielectric slab between the four metal plates a confinement zone. In use, electromagnetic radiation injected in one end of the zone by suitable input means will propagate throughout the zone to an extraction means. Lower loss and better confinement of the radiation may be obtained by providing plugs of dielectric material adjacent the inwardly-facing edge of each of the metal plates. Embodiments of the invention can be used to implement integrated optical devices and circuits for routing or processing light signals.

Abstract: Derivatives of dillapiol, sesamol and related monolignans having the following general formula: These compounds have synergistic properties, inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes such as human CYP3A4, and can be used as pesticide synergists or pharmaco-enhancers. Accordingly, methods for increasing the efficacy and/or bioavailability of a pharmaceutically active agent and for increasing the potency of a pesticide are described, as are synergistic pesticidal and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a hydrogel comprising the step of crosslinking a biopolymer using a carbodiimide crosslinker of Formula I wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is a functional group that is a bulky organic functional group. R1 and R2 can each independently be an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated functional group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a heterocyclic, and an aryl. The bulky organic functional group will slow down the crosslinking reaction of carbodiimide due to the steric effects and/or electronic effects, in comparison to a crosslinking reaction using EDC. Also provided are the hydrogels and ophthalmic devices prepared using the method of the invention and uses thereof.