Abstract: According to a first aspect of the disclosure, methods are discussed in which a station (STA) sends a message to an access point, for example an associated access point, about a change in multi-AP coordination parameters. A STA, which may be a mobile STA, can be in a better position than the APs themselves, for detecting changes in conditions which can affect the effectiveness, or even the desirability of the multi-AP coordination. Accordingly the STA can send a message reporting detected conditions related to multi-AP coordination. In some embodiments, such a message can request for initializing multi-AP coordination, such a message can be in response to a triggering event detected by the STA. In response to such a triggering event, the STA can analyze the STA's service needs, and send the message about a change in multi-AP coordination parameters. A second aspect of the disclosure provides an AP-to-AP negotiation process for multi-AP coordination.

Abstract: Antibodies to human CD11d, compositions comprising such CD11d antibodies, and methods of using such CD11d antibodies for the treatment of central nervous system trauma including spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury, as well as systemic inflammatory response following central nervous system trauma.

Abstract: A device including a base sized to be hand-held, the base defining a longitudinal axis between first and second opposing longitudinal ends, a cover reversibly fastened to the base in a closed position; a sheath clamp coupled to the base, the sheath clamp capturing a sheath handle of a sheath to immobilize the sheath handle relative to the base, wherein the sheath clamp is an aperture formed in corresponding abutting edges of the cover and the base, the aperture being formed when the cover and the base are in the closed position; a catheter clamp capturing a catheter, a remote end of the catheter configured to deliver a catheterized medical procedure; the catheter clamp aligned to be substantially co-axial with the sheath clamp; and a linear actuator effecting back-and-forth linear motion of the catheter clamp relative to the sheath clamp.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for improved channel information gathering mechanism. An aspect of the disclosure provides a method. The method includes sending, to one or more stations (STAs), a request for channel information. The channel information being related to one or more channels between an access point (AP) and the one or more STAs. The method further includes receiving, from the one or more (STA), one or more physical layer (PHY) protocol data units (PPDUs). The PPDUs includes channel feature information (CFI) associated with the one or more channels. In some embodiments, the request includes a beamforming report poll (BFRP) trigger frame having a user information field. The user information subfield indicating one or more thresholds associated with one or more parameters of the channel feature information.

Abstract: Method of identifying a subject as having an increased likelihood of progressing to end-organ damage due to diabetes comprising comparing the amount of a lncRNA in a sample from the subject with a reference value, and if the amount of the lncRNA in the sample is increased relative to the reference value, identifying the subject as having an increased probability of progressing to end-organ damage due to diabetes. The lncRNA is one or more of HOTAIR, H19, WISPER, ZFAS1, HULC, ANRIL, MALAT1, MIAT, and MEG3. Also methods of treating chronic diabetic complications and other conditions comprising administering a HOTAIR inhibitor.

Abstract: A catheter force control system including: a hand-held catheter force control device including: a base sized to be hand-held; a cover reversibly fastened to the base in a closed position; a sheath clamp coupled to the base, the sheath clamp capturing a sheath handle to immobilize the sheath handle relative to the base, the sheath clamp is an aperture formed in corresponding abutting edges of the cover and the base, the aperture being formed when the cover and the base are in the closed position; a catheter clamp capturing a catheter, a remote end of the catheter configured to deliver an ablation therapy; the catheter clamp aligned to be substantially co-axial with the sheath clamp; and a linear actuator effecting linear motion of the catheter clamp relative to the sheath clamp; a force sensor located at the remote end of the catheter, the remote end configured for contact with a target tissue, the force sensor detecting real-time contact force data; a controller for receiving the real-time contact force data

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent that increases the expression of a purR gene in a bacterium and a method of attenuating, preventing or treating a bacterial infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject an agent that increases the expression of a purR gene.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for the synthesis of bio-based formaldehyde-free wood adhesive with lignin and cellulose derived bio-oil which can be generated from the fractionation/liquefaction of lignocellulose biomass such as agricultural and forestry wastes. Curable groups are introduced onto the bio oil through functionalization reaction with cyclic anhydrides such as maleic anhydride, citric anhydride, phthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, methyl succinic anhydride. Wood adhesives are formulated with the functionalized bio oil by addition of water and curing agents. Two-ply plywood samples were prepared following the ASTM International Standard 2017, D2339-98 and cured on a hot press between 190-200° C. for 3-4 min under 3 MPa pressure. The plywood samples have dry and wet strengths in the range of up to 3.5 MPa with over 80% wood failure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cost-effective process for catalytic conversion of simple C6-based sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from starch (such as different grades of High Fructose Corn Syrup) and cellulosic biomass to 5-HydroxyMethylFurfural (5-HMF) in a continuous-flow tubular reactor in bi-phasic media using inexpensive heterogeneous solid catalysts. Commercial and synthesized heterogeneous solid catalysts were used and their activities in terms of sugar conversion and HMF selectivity and yield were compared. Continuous dehydration of fructose, glucose and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from corn and wood to HMF was achieved and the stability of selected catalysts and feasibility of catalyst recycling and regeneration were demonstrated.

Abstract: A method for modulating a target organism in a microbiome, comprising contacting the microbiome with a cis-conjugative plasmid that can replicate and conjugate with organisms in the microbiome including the target organism, the conjugative plasmid comprising conjugation genes and a gene or a combination of genes capable of being expressed in the target organism and that only modulates the target organism in the microbiome. Also the isolated cis-conjugative plasmid comprising conjugation genes and a gene or a combination of genes capable of being expressed in a target bacteria within a microbiome or biofilm and that modulates the target bacteria in the microbiome or biofilm.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a process for liquefaction of hydrolysis residue of lignocellulosic biomass, original lignocellulosic biomass or municipal solid waste in alcohol-water media at alkaline conditions, for the production of low-Mw bio-oils. The disclosed process is characterized in that it works for the direct liquefaction of the biomass, and operates under mild conditions (<300° C. and <10 MPa) employing alkali compounds as catalysts (NaOH, KOH, CaO, Na2CO3, K2CO3, Ca(OH)2 or Ba(OH)2). The process is further characterized in that it employs mixed solvents (glycerol-water, ethylene-glycol, water, glycerol-alcohol-water or ethylene-glycol-alcohol water), where all solvents are recyclable and reusable. The low-Mw bio-oils from hydrolysis residue of lignocellulosic biomass, original lignocellulosic biomass or municipal solid waste can be utilized as a liquid bio-fuel or bio-based chemicals for the production of various bio-based materials.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for producing a water permeable molecular sieve in which a porous substrate having micron-size pores has deposited on a surface thereof non-porous 2D platelets to seal, at the substrate surface, pores in the porous substrate to form a layer of 2D platelets. A curable sealing material is deposited onto the layer of 2D platelets and any remaining exposed areas of the surface of the porous substrate and curing the curable sealing material in order to form a sealed layer on the surface of the porous substrate to prevent water by-passing the non-porous 2D platelets and passing through the porous substrate. An array of sub-nanopores are then produced through the sealed layer with the array of sub-nanopores having a size to allow water to pass therethrough but not metal ions to give a water permeable molecular sieve characterized by water permeability at low di?erential pressures.

Abstract: Functionalized copolymers of isoolefins and conjugated diolefins, methods of preparing the copolymers, and their use as compatibilizers are disclosed. The diolefin monomer units of the co-polymer are modified at the C—C double bond along the backbone of the copolymer to include an oxygen containing functional group such as epoxide, ester or alcohol. The functionalized copolymers improve the wettability of a non-hydrophilic surface towards hydrophilic polymer and allows for the formation of homogenous layers of the hydrophilic polymers. In particular, the spreading of a hydrophilic polymer on a non-hydrophilic substrate is facilitated by applying the co-polymers as an interfacial layer between the two incompatible materials. The resulting coated substrates exhibit resistance to protein adsorption and cell growth after grafting. The co-polymers are especially suited in the coating of biomedical devices where a high degree of uniformity of the coated surface is required.

Abstract: A one-step react-on-demand (RoD) method for fabricating flexible circuits with ultra-low sheet resistance, enhanced safety and durability. With the special functionalized substrate, a real-time three-dimensional synthesize of silver plates in micro scale was triggered on-demand right beneath the tip in the water-swelled PVA coating, forming a three-dimensional metal-polymer (3DMP) hybrid structure of ˜7 ?m with one single stroke. The as-fabricated silver traces show an enhanced durability and ultralow sheet resistance down to 4 m?/sq which is by far the lowest sheet resistance reported in literatures achieved by direct writing. Meanwhile, PVA seal small particles inside the film, adding additional safety to this technology. Since neither nanomaterials nor a harsh fabrication environment are required, the proposed method remains low-cost, user friendly and accessible to end-users.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a process based on hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) treatment for co-processing of high-water-content wastewater sludge and other lignocellulosic biomass for co-production of biogas and bio-crude oil. The mixture of waste activated sludge and lignocellulosic biomass such as birchwood sawdust/cornstalk/MSW was converted under HTL conditions in presence of KOH as the homogeneous catalyst. The operating conditions including reaction temperature, reaction time and solids concentration were optimized based on the response surface methodology for the maximum bio-crude oil production. The highest bio-crude oil yield of around 34 wt % was obtained by co-feeding waste activated sludge with lignocellulosic biomass at an optimum temperature of 310° C., reaction time of 10 min, and solids concentration of 10 wt %. The two by-products from this process (bio-char and water-soluble products) can be used to produce energy as well.

Abstract: A hand-held catheter force control device includes an elongate base sized to be hand-held. The base defines a longitudinal axis between first and second opposing longitudinal ends. A linear actuator is mounted to the base to provide linear motion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base. A sheath clamp is coupled to the base. The sheath clamp is sized to fixedly capture a sheath handle. A catheter clamp is coupled to the linear actuator. The catheter clamp is sized to fixedly capture a catheter, and is aligned to be substantially co-axial with the sheath clamp. Systems and methods can incorporate the catheter force control device.

Abstract: A method for contrast agent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a target sample, comprising generating a magnetic field shift in a polarizing magnetic field during a relaxation portion of an MRI pulse sequence and thereafter acquiring an MR image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are redox-active 6-oxoverdazyl polymers having structures (S1) and (S2) synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and their solution, bulk, and thin-film properties investigated. Detailed studies of the ROMP method employed confirmed that stable radical polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (Ð<1.2) were produced. Thermal gravimetric analysis of a representative example of the title polymers demonstrated stability up to 190° C., while differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed a glass transition temperature of 152° C. An ultrathin memristor device was produced using these polymers, namely a 10 nm homogeneous thin film of poly-[1,5-diisopropyl-3-(cis-5-norbornene-exo-2,3-dicarboxiimide)-6-oxoverdazyl] (P6OV), a poly-radical with three tunable charge states per each radical monomer: positive, neutral and negative.

Abstract: Three dimensional printed objects having surface coatings, such as a hydrophobic coating or metalized surface, 3D printed substrates having an outer surface that can be tuned by application of such a coating, and methods for the fabrication of such objects and substrates are described. A surface initiator is incorporated into the 3D substrate during layer-by-layer printing, and the surface coated by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP).