Abstract: Methods and compositions for controlled release of amine, alcohol and thiol drugs, e.g., narcotic analgesics, and tricyclic amine antidepressants, are provided. The drug is releasably covalently bonded to a polymer or other activity-blocking moiety. Release is by an unmasking reaction resulting in the formation of a chemical group that undergoes a second reaction releasing the drug. For example, the narcotic analgesic fentanyl covalently attached to an inert polymer by way of its nitrogen through formation of a quaternary vinylammonium salt is released by hydrolysis of an acetal exposing an alcohol that undergoes an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction involving displacement of the fentanyl nitrogen. Process rate is controlled by controlling the rate of the intramolecular substitution reaction through varying the number of atoms in the chain connecting the alcohol group and the vinylic carbon and/or by the addition of substituents on that chain, and/or by the acetal hydrolysis rate.

Abstract: A method is provided for taking electrical impedance tomography measurements using multiple electrodes located at selected positions external to a volume of a subject body. Multiple orthogonal or near-orthogonal signals are introduced simultaneously by way of selected different electrodes and resultant predetermined responses (if any) at receiving electrodes are recorded or determined. The signals are encoded using the technique of code division multiplexing and received signals at each receiving electrode are cross-correlated with original signals to determine the contribution of each original signal to a composite received signal. The invention also relates to apparatus suitable for use in applying a method.

Abstract: There are provided titanium oxide particles capable of manifesting an unprecedented property, a manufacturing method thereof and a magnetic memory as well as a charge storage type memory employing the titanium oxide particles. Unlike-conventional bulk bodies phase-transited between nonmagnetic semiconductors and paramagnetic metals around about 460K, provided are titanium oxide particles 3 capable of manifesting an unprecedented property that Ti3O5 particles do not undergo phase transitions at room temperature and allow a paramagnetic metal property thereof to be consistently maintained in any temperature range.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of modelling propagation of a wave through a first space. In one embodiment, the instructions store data in the memory representing a first space and a second space, the first space being within the second space, wherein the second space comprises a plurality of calculation blocks, each calculation block that generates a value representing propagation of a wave at a point in the second space, each calculation block carrying out a calculation to determine a value for the point in the second space represented by the calculation block based upon a value generated by at least one other calculation block, and store data in the memory defining at least one boundary defining the first space within the second space, the at least one boundary further dividing the second space into at least two spaces outside of the first space.

Abstract: An autonomous navigation system for a tracked or skid-steer vehicle is described. The system includes a path planner (54) that computes a series of waypoint locations specifying a path to follow and vehicle location sensors (82). A tramming controller (60) includes a waypoint controller (62) that computes vehicle speed and yaw rate setpoints based on vehicle location information from the vehicle location sensor and the locations of a plurality of neighboring waypoints, and a rate controller (64) that generates left and right track speed setpoints from the speed and yaw rate setpoints. A vehicle control interface actuates the vehicle controls in accordance with the left and right track speed setpoints.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods and compositions for the use of ultrasound for detection of cells and nanoparticles.

Abstract: Pluripotent cells are derived and maintained in a self-renewing state in serum-free culture medium comprising a MEK inhibitor, a GSK3 inhibitor and an antagonist of an FGF receptor.

Abstract: Stable aqueous solutions comprising concentrations of baclofen in the range of greater than 2.0 mg/mL up to about 10 mg/mL are disclosed. These solutions can be used as pharmaceuticals for parenteral or oral administration. The invention also provides methods of preparing said stable aqueous baclofen solutions.

Abstract: Estimating focus error in an image involves a training phase and an application phase. In the training phase, an optical system is represented by a point-spread function. An image sensor array is represented by one or more wavelength sensitivity functions, one or more noise functions, and one or more spatial sampling functions. The point-spread function is applied to image patches for each of multiple defocus levels within a specified range to produce training data. Each of the images for each defocus level (i.e. focus error) is sampled using the wavelength sensitivity and spatial sampling functions. Noise is added using the noise functions. The responses from the sensor array to the training data are used to generate defocus filters for estimating focus error within the specified range. The defocus filters are then applied to the image patches of the training data and joint probability distributions of filter responses to each defocus level are characterized.

Abstract: A fluidics apparatus for manipulation of at least one fluid sample is disclosed. A manipulation surface locates the fluid sample. A surface acoustic wave (SAW) generation material layer is provided. This is a polycrystalline material, textured polycrystalline material, biaxially textured polycrystalline material, microcrystalline material, nanocrystalline material, amorphous material or composite material. A transducer electrode structure arranged at the SAW generation material layer provides SAWs at the manipulation surface for interaction with the fluid sample. The manipulation surface has a phononic structure, for affecting the transmission, distribution and/or behaviour of SAWs at the manipulation surface. The apparatus is typically manufactured by reel-to-reel processes, to reduce the unit cost to a level at which the apparatus can be considered to be disposable after a single use.

Abstract: Anti-wear and/or friction reducing formulations that include a mixture of at least one first ionic liquid and at least one ashless antiwear compound. The ashless antiwear compound can be a second ionic liquid or an ashless thiophosphate compound. The formulation desirably provides synergistic anti-wear and/or friction reducing properties. The first IL can be a monocationie ionic liquid or a dicationic ionic liquid. The second IL is a dicationic ionic liquid. The ashless thiophosphate is desirably a thiophosphate, such as a fluorothiophosphate (FTP), an alkylphosphorofluoridothiolate, or an alkylthioperoxydithiophosphate. Antiwear and/or friction reduction formulations comprising the above mixtures diluted up to 25% by weight in a base oil.

Abstract: A polyurea or polyurea-urethane elastomer comprises a soft polymer segment and a hard polymer segment, wherein the hard polymer segment includes polyurea groups in combination with H-bond accepting chain extenders (HACEs) to reduce the flow temperature (Tflow) while maintaining the excellent mechanical properties such that the resulting polyurea elatomer is rendered melt-processable.

Abstract: Microchips which are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer include a microchip body with at least one fluid channel formed into the microchip body and at least two flat monolithic closely spaced integrated ESI (electrospray ionization) emitters defined by shaped projections formed to extend from one side of the microchip body, a respective one being in fluid communication with a fluid channel. Related systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an organometallic catalyst and an organometallic catalyst when produced by the method. The method comprises the steps of combining a polycarboxylic acid or anhydride and a metal-oxide, metal-hydroxide or metal-salt with a solvent at a temperature and pressure at which the solvent exists as a supercritical or near-critical fluid. The polycarboxylic acid or anhydride is reacted with the metal-oxide, metal-hydroxide or metal-salt for sufficient time and under sufficient temperature and pressure to produce the organometallic catalyst. The present invention also relates to a process for making a poly(alkylene carbonate) in the presence of a catalytic amount of the organometallic catalyst produced by the method.

Abstract: A divalent copper salt and/or trivalent iron salt is supported on a surface of a metal ion-doped titanium oxide obtained by doping titanium oxide with metal ions to give a metal ion-doped titanium oxide with a valence band potential of 3 V or more (vs. SHE, pH=0) and a bandgap of 3 V or less between the valence band and an energy level of electrons excited from the valence band (including conduction band minimum potential and isolated potential). The metal ion-doped titanium oxide can be made to exhibit strong oxidative decomposition activity when irradiated with visible light based on the fact the divalent copper salt or trivalent iron salt functions as a catalyst for multi-electron reduction of oxygen.

Abstract: A method for computing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) in a parallel processing structure uses an interleaved computation process. In particular, the interleaved FFT computation process intertwines the output of two different shifted Fourier matrices to obtain a Fourier transform of an input vector. Next, an even-odd extension process is applied to the transformed input vector, whereupon various terms are grouped in a computational tree. As such, the resulting segmentation of the computation allows the fast Fourier transform to be computed in a parallel manner.

Abstract: An immunoassay for screening a sample to detect the presence of ?-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is disclosed. Antibodies specific for BMAA are disclosed. Antibodies that bind to BMAA on immunoblots are disclosed. Immunoassays and kits to detect the presence of BMAA in a sample by contacting the sample with an antibody that binds to BMAA, and detecting the antibody bound to the sample, are disclosed. Immunoassays and kits for screening for the presence of BMAA in a subject by analyzing a tissue sample obtained from the subject to detect the present of BMAA in the tissue sample, where the presence of BMAA in the tissue sample indicates exposure of the subject to an environmental source of BMAA, are disclosed. Immunoassays and kits for detecting an environmental source of BMAA, by screening an environmental sample to detect the presence of BMAA in the sample, wherein the presence of a detectable amount of BMAA in the sample indicates the sample is an environmental source of BMAA, are disclosed.

Abstract: Large-area, flat-panel photo-detectors with sub-nanosecond time resolution based on microchannel plates are provided. The large-area, flat-panel photo-detectors enable the economic construction of sampling calorimeters with, for example, enhanced capability to measure local energy deposition, depth-of-interaction, time-of-flight, and/or directionality of showers. In certain embodiments, sub-nanosecond timing resolution supplies correlated position and time measurements over large areas. The use of thin flat-panel viewing radiators on both sides of a radiation-creating medium allows simultaneous measurement of Cherenkov and scintillation radiation in each layer of the calorimeter. The detectors may be used in a variety of applications including, for example, medical imaging, security, and particle and nuclear physics.