Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dry coating solid dosage forms. The method includes the steps of placing solid dosage forms in a rotatable, electrically grounded housing, and spraying a film forming polymer powder composition into the housing during rotation thereof to form a polymer coating on the solid dosage forms, the polymer powder composition being sprayed using an electrostatic spray gun, and curing the coated solid dosage forms.

Abstract: There is provided a composition for controlling formation and/or stabilization of a blood vessel comprising a first isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a FGF-9 polypeptide and optionally one or more isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes another angiogenic polypeptide. There is provided a composition for controlling formation and/or stabilization of a blood vessel comprising an isolated. The compositions provided herein may be useful for controlling angiogenesis and/or vasculogenesis.

Abstract: An oral device for use with a person in which at least one non-toxic gas pulse is delivered to a predetermined location in the mouth via a device conduit. The oral device may be provided as a kit with at least one device for measuring the subject's responses and representing them as feedback to the subject/clinician. A method of creating a gas bolus pulse train, delivering it to a predetermined mouth area, and monitoring the subject's responses to it, is also shown. The oral device and method may be used as a diagnostic tool, or a therapeutic tool, in swallowing or speech rehabilitation of children and adults who have swallowing, speech, salivary, and/or oral sensorimotor impairments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to supramolecular polymers containing sequence-selective hydrogen bonding subunits in their backbone which form double helices. The invention allows for tuning of the numbers and sequences of donor/acceptor units incorporated in any one crosslinking hydrogen bonding subunit and hence tuning of the interaction strength not only through the amount of crosslinking material incorporated but also through modulation of the strength of the crosslinking interactions. It also allows for the incorporation of more than one type of crosslinking agent in the material allowing for multiple strengths of crosslinking which are each tunable with regard to disruption from solvent, temperature and stress. Hydrogen bond strength between oligomeric chains can be tailored through modification of the numbers and sequences of the donors/acceptors in the oligomers.

Abstract: The present invention provides phosphonium ionic liquids (11) and coatings made therefrom. Highly fluorinated phosphonium ionic liquids based on (11) having been produced exhibiting high thermal stabilities, low melting points and temperature dependent solvent miscibilities. These salts and derivatives of (11) have also been employed in the preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces, indicating that ionic liquids are not only new alternative solvents, but also viable functional materials. All derivatives of (11) form biphasic systems with common laboratory solvents of ranging polarity at room temperature. Based on the solvent miscibility experiments with water and the high fluorine loading, the PILs showed obvious evidence of being hydrophobic. Coatings made with these phosphonium ionic liquids (11), salts and derivatives thereof were superhydrophobic with water contact angles were measured and all of the surfaces were determined to be superhydrophobic with contact angles >150°.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensorized medical instrument that is suitable for application to, and training and skills assessment for, a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic, surgical and medical procedures. It is comprised of a sterilizable sensorized instrument capable of measuring forces in five degrees of freedom and tip position in six degrees of freedom. The instrument can be used to perform a variety of tasks through the integration of interchangeable instrument tips and handles. The system is capable of providing feedback to the user regarding critical forces/torques acting on the tissue, position and orientation of the instrument and its tip near critical areas within the body, or user performance during training and skills evaluation.

Abstract: Blending methods for adding and uniformly mixing a small fraction of relatively small particles (additives) to a bulk particulate powder of larger size than the additives. In particular, the present invention provides blending methods for adding and uniformly mixing a small percentage of flow/fluidization additives into fine powders, especially fine paint powders. The fine powder and additives are first pre-mixed for macro-scale homogeneity and then further mixed at a micro-scale (such as with a screen mixing process) for micro-scale homogeneity. With these methods, optimum dispersions and maximum functionalities of additives can be obtained and the disadvantages caused by severe agglomerates of additives can be avoided.

Abstract: A calibration cage for use in Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis (RSA), comprising a biplanar configuration of two compartments, each with a fiducial plate at the bottom and a control plate at the top and parallel thereto, the fiducial and control plates of one compartment being oriented at approximately 90° to fiducial and control plates of the other compartment such that a region of interest is positioned on one side of the fiducial and control plates of both compartments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dry coating solid dosage forms. The method includes the steps of placing solid dosage forms in a rotatable, electrically grounded housing, and spraying a film forming polymer powder composition into the housing during rotation thereof to form a polymer coating on the solid dosage forms, the polymer powder composition being sprayed using an electrostatic spray gun, and curing the coated solid dosage forms.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for generating music in real time are provided. A pipeline for coordinating generation of a musical piece is created. At least one producer is loaded into the pipeline, the at least one producer for producing at least one high level musical element of the musical piece, independent of other producers in the pipeline. At least one generator is called by the at least one producer, the at least one generator for generating at least one low level music element of the musical piece. The at least one low level musical element and the at least one high level musical element are integrated, such that the musical piece is generated in real time.

Abstract: A region-based push-relabel formulation is disclosed that removes the requirement that the entire graph should fit into the computer memory and yields an implementation that can reduce the required size and redundancy of accesses to the data memory, thus improving speed performance, while allowing for an efficient parallel processing implementation. The algorithm assigns all vertices that are not part of the sources or sinks with a value of 1. Sinks are assigned with zeros and sources are assigned a label equal to the number of their vertices. The preflow is then pushed from the sources to their neighbors, if any. When the preflow has all reached the boundaries, an adjacent region of the neighboring set is selected and preflow is pushed within this region. When the values of the preflow have been exhausted, region relabeling is done to update the label values. This is repeated within the region until all preflow has exited to the boundary of this region.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system for minimizing the alloreactivity of tissue transplants. The patient is administered with undifferentiated embryonic stem cells or early progenitor cells. This induces a state of inflammatory quiescence or immune unresponsiveness, which in turn enhances engraftment of cells derived from the same stem cell line given for purposes of regenerative medicine.

Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.

Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.

Abstract: Rare earth element(s) doped alumina nanowires are formed by a thermal evaporation method in which vapor from aluminum powder and vapor from a rare earth element compound (such as an halide) are reacted in an oxygen-containing inert gas stream to form alumina which deposits as alumina nanowires and as a rare earth element and oxygen-containing material that deposits with and/or on the alumina nanowires. Where the RE-doped alumina nanowires are to be used as catalyst supports, a catalyst material, such as platinum, may be deposited as small particles on the nanowires.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of generating electricity which uses a new type of biofuel cell. The method is based on the microbial regeneration of the oxidant, ferric ions. The bio-fuel cell is based on the cathodic reduction of ferric to ferrous ions, coupled with the microbial regeneration of ferric ions by the oxidation of ferrous ions, with fuel (such as hydrogen) oxidation on the anode. The microbial regeneration of ferric ions is achieved by chemolithotrophic microorganisms such as Acidithiobacillus ferroxidans. Electrical generation is coupled with the consumption of carbon dioxide from atmosphere and its transformation into microbial cells, which can be used as a single-cell protein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of bio-fuel cell, based on the microbial regeneration of the oxidant, ferric ions. The bio-fuel cell is based on the cathodic reduction of ferric to ferrous ions, coupled with the microbial regeneration of ferric ions by the oxidation of ferrous ions, at a pH less than about 1.0, with fuel (such as hydrogen) oxidation on the anode electrode. The microbial regeneration of ferric ions is achieved by microorganisms such as Leptospirillum ferriphilum. Electrical generation is coupled with the consumption of carbon dioxide from atmosphere and its transformation into microbial cells, which can be used as a single-cell protein.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, a process is disclosed for the preparation of radiolabelled haloaromatic compounds. According to a second aspect of the invention, intermediate precursor insoluble polymer compounds used in the preparation of the radiolabelled haloaromatics are disclosed, as well as processes for the preparation of the intermediate precursor insoluble polymer compounds.

Abstract: A method of treating a pathophysiological condition caused by the production of growth-inhibiting proteoglycans is provided. It is based on the finding that down-regulation of SOX9 results in decreased production of growth-inhibiting factors such as proteoglycans, and increased production of growth-promoting factors such as a laminin and fibronectin. The method of the present invention comprises the inhibition of SOX9 expression and function with an inhibitor such as an antisense oligonucleotide or a siRNA.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel cell bioreactor, based on the microbial regeneration of the oxidant, ferric ions and on the cathodic reduction of ferric to ferrous ions, coupled with the microbial regeneration of ferric ions by the oxidation of ferrous ions, with fuel (such as hydrogen) oxidation on the anode. The microbial regeneration of ferric ions is achieved by iron-oxidizing microorganisms such as Leptospirillum. Electrical generation is coupled with the consumption of carbon dioxide from atmosphere and its transformation into microbial cells, which can be used as a single-cell protein.