Abstract: A photoactive coumarin monomer includes a substituted coumarin molecule that has at least two functional groups may be used to produce a polymer with a coumarin unit or a coumarin derivative unit as part of the polymer backbone. The polymer with a coumarin unit or a coumarin derivative unit as part of the polymer backbone may be photoresponsive and/or bioabsorbable. Photoresponsive polymers with a coumarin unit or a coumarin derivative unit as part of the polymer backbone may crosslink when irradiated at a wavelength of about 320 nm to about 420 nm. The crosslink may be separated when the polymers are irradiated at a wavelength of about 230 nm to about 300. The polymers may also photocleave when irradiated with light at a wavelength of about 230 nm to about 300.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine and an engine. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to operate the powertrain according to a predicted vehicle speed profile for a predetermined route segmented according to a group of driving zone types, wherein each driving zone type is associated with a different characteristic speed profile shape and vehicle location. The controller is further programmed to update the predicted segment speed profile in response to deviation between the predicted speed profile and a measured speed profile.

Abstract: An MRI system acquires a susceptibility-weighted image by acquiring a first RF echo signal in a first echo time for providing an image exclusive of susceptibility-weighting and acquiring a second RF echo signal in a second echo time longer than the first echo time for providing an image including susceptibility-weighting. A compensation gradient field is applied for compensating for field inhomogeneity and in response, a third RF echo signal is acquired in a third echo time longer than the second echo time. First, second and third images are generated in response to data derived from the first, second and third RF echo signals respectively and data of the first, second and third images is combined to provide image data representing an image compensating for magnetic resonance signal attenuation in the second image.

Abstract: A system and method identify a set of rules for determining a commonality of attributes across different behavior changes for a network. The system performs the method by receiving a set of data correlating network triggers to performance changes of one or more network devices. The set of data further includes an indication of a sign of the performance change for each of the network devices based on the triggers. The method further includes extracting a set of rules relating to a set of relationships between the triggers and the performance changes. The rules identify a commonality of the performance changes for multiple network devices based on the triggers.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for quantitative immunoassays are provided, in which ligand-conjugated probes are used to label samples and ligand-surfaced microspheres are used as quantitative reference standards. Certain embodiments provide a method of quantitative flow cytometry where ligands are oligonucleotides, and a sample comprising one or more cells is contacted with a hybridized antibody::fluorophore labeled targeting construct to label the cells, and the labeled cells are analyzed. In some embodiments, a population of quantitative labeled oligospheres labeled with the same fluorescent label as the cells is analyzed using the flow cytometer and used to create a quantitative standard curve of cytometer intensity versus molecules fluorescent label per oligosphere event. A standard curve trendline is established and used to determine the molecules of fluorescent label per cellular event for the antigen-positive cell populations.

Abstract: It was found that bacteria belonging to the genus Clostridium induce accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the colon. Moreover, the present inventors found that regulatory T cells (Treg cells) induced by from these bacteria suppressed proliferation of effector T-cells. From these findings, the present inventors found that the use of bacteria belonging to the genus Clostridium or a physiologically active substance derived therefrom made it possible to induce proliferation or accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg cells), and further to suppress immune functions.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable medium, and method of visualizing memory utilization by a computing device are provided. In the method, a user interface window is presented in a display. The user interface window includes a first indicator representing a first datum stored in a first memory and a second indicator representing a second datum stored in a second memory. A first access speed for accessing the first memory is faster than a second access speed for accessing the second memory. A determination is made that the second datum is not stored in the first memory, but is ready for access by the processor from the first memory. In response, an update to the user interface window is presented in the display including a line connecting a first location of the first indicator with a second location of the second indicator.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to salts of heterocyclic compounds and methods that inhibit HIF pathway activity. The compounds are designed to treat or prevent cancer and other hypoxia-mediated diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods for generating biodegradable chitosan compositions, and therapeutic methods of using such compositions to deliver therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A low power long range transceiver is presented. The transceiver includes: an antenna configured to receive an RF signal; an analog front-end circuit configured to receive the RF signal from the antenna and pre-condition the RF signal by at least one of amplify the RF signal, shift frequency of the RF signal and filter the RF signal; and a demodulator configured to receive the preconditioned signal from the front-end circuit and an assertion trigger signal signifying an end of a predefined time period, where the demodulator, in response to the assertion trigger signal, outputs a data value for a given data bit in the RF signal. A controller is also configured to receive the assertion trigger signal and, in response to the assertion trigger signal, disables at least one component of the transceiver, thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A method for regulating Src and its downstream signaling pathway which includes binding between Src and Na+/K+-ATPase is disclosed. The Na+/K+-ATPase/Src complex is a functional receptor for cardiotonic steroids such as ouabain. Also disclosed are Src inhibitors or activators which include either Na+/K+-ATPase or Src that interfere with the interaction between the Na/K-ATPase and Src, act via a different mechanism from ATP analogues, and is pathway (Na+/K+-ATPase) specific. Also disclosed is use of said Src-modulating peptides for treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A biocompatible membrane comprised of alginate and hyaluronate. The membrane may be used to prevent unwanted scarring after surgery. The tissue adherence and the rate of bioresorption of the membrane may be modified through an external stimulus comprising a sequestering agent and a viscosity modifier.

Abstract: Citral, cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, and allspice oil were found to be highly effective antimicrobials, producing statistically significant reductions in Escherichia coli populations within minutes. In addition, synergy was observed between silver ions and these essential oils, thereby lessening the amount of the plant antimicrobial required to produce the same effect. Based on these observations, compositions including these agents and there use as an antimicrobial treatment that is safe for human consumption, are active in the presence of organic matter, are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for providing a biopolymer from a biomass or source of chitin using ionic liquids. The processes involve contacting a biomass or source of chitin with an ionic liquid to produce a biopolymer comprising solution and precipitating the biopolymer from the solution with supercritical CO2, gaseous CO2, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An electric-field sensor is provided that includes a voltage-controlled capacitor and generator circuitry. The voltage-controlled capacitor is influenceable by an electric field created by a target located a distance from the solid-state electric-field sensor. The generator circuitry is configured to generate a modulated voltage for driving the voltage-controlled capacitor to produce a modulated capacitance as the voltage-controlled capacitor is influenced by the electric field to enable measurement of the electric field. In this regard, the voltage-controlled capacitor and generator circuitry are configured such that, in operation, an electric field of the target causes a change in the modulated capacitance and a current flow through the voltage-controlled capacitor. An electric potential of the target, then, is measurable as a function of the change in magnitude of the current flow through the voltage-controlled capacitor.

Abstract: A tactile sensor includes a flexible medium having electrically conductive strips embedded therein and extending in a first direction, said electrically conductive strips including conductive nanostructures dispersed in a flexible support material, said nanostructures selected from conductive nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, wherein each electrically conductive strip is connected at each end to an impedance measuring device that measures the impedance across each electrically conductive strip. The electrically conductive strips may be formed on a first layer of the flexible medium by using direct-write technology.

Abstract: A composition for influencing carnitine retention in biological tissue is disclosed. The composition comprises a carnitine substance and an agent to increase sodium potassium ATPase pump activity in the tissue, and/or to increase the activity of a carnitine transport protein, and/or increase blood/plasma insulin concentration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separator for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collector for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A microbiopsy device for taking biological samples, comprising a body including two or more cutting elements for cutting tissue to form a biological sample; and a chamber inside the body for receiving and retaining the biological sample, the chamber having an opening between the cutting elements, wherein the cutting elements are arranged to cut a section of tissue having a width of less than 1 mm.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube composite material (1) includes a metal base material (10) and carbon nanotube electrically-conductive path portions (20). The metal base material (10) is made from a polycrystalline substance in which a plurality of rod-shaped metal crystal grains (11) are oriented in a direction. The carbon nanotube electrically-conductive path portions (20) are made from doped carbon nanotubes having a dopant, existing in parts of grain boundaries (15) between the rod-shaped metal crystal grains (11) in a cross section of the metal base material (10), and forming an electrically-conductive path which is electrically conductive in a longitudinal direction of the metal base material (10), by existing along the longitudinal direction (L).