Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), provided that this compound is not caffeine, for use in the treatment of myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising the compound of formula (I). The present invention further relates to new compounds which are dimers of compounds of formula (I).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention produce and define a relationship between local voltage and power measurements at a node of an electrical network and system conditions on a remote branch of the network. These local measurements are used to determine an optimal voltage set point at the node that, if realized by a reactive power resource, would affect the flow of reactive power or line current at one or more particular remote branches of the power system in a manner captured by the derived relationship. The change in reactive power required to obtain this voltage set point is also calculated based on local measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for grafting polymers onto a metallic material, comprising the following steps: a) oxidation of the surface of the metallic material, resulting in an oxidized metallic material; b) grafting of a polymer at the surface of said oxidized metallic material by radical polymerization of a monomer, said radical polymerization comprising an initiation step and a propagation step, said initiation step being carried out by UV irradiation with a UV source diffusing a power at the surface of the material of greater than 72 mW·cm?2, said UV irradiation being carried out for a duration greater than 15 minutes and less than 180 minutes, said process resulting in a grafted metallic material. The present invention also relates to the materials capable of being obtained by this process, and applications of the latter, in particular as articular or dental implants.

Abstract: Systems are provided for assessing the likelihood that a sample of cardiac tissue will spontaneously exhibit disordered electrical activity. These systems induce ventricular tachycardia or other disordered electrical activity in a sample of human and/or animal cardiac tissue either in vivo or in vitro. This system can be used to assess the ability of various pharmaceuticals, genetic modifications, electrical pacing, surgical ablation, or other therapeutic interventions to prevent or halt such disordered electrical activity. This system detects electrical activity from a plurality of points on the surface of the sample of cardiac tissue and generates one or more maps of monophasic action potential amplitude, monophasic action potential duration, local field amplitude, or other electrophysiological parameters of the cardiac tissue.

Abstract: The invention is based on the recognition that known antimicrobial compounds, such as nisin or other lantibiotics, can be made to form a long lasting antimicrobial surface coating by linking the peptide with a block polymer, such as PLURONIC® F108 or an end group activated polymer (EGAP) in a manner to form a flexible tether and/or entrap the peptide. The entrapped peptide provides antimicrobial action by early release from entrapment while the tethered peptide provides longer lasting antimicrobial protection. Antimicrobial gels and foams may be prepared using the antimicrobial peptide containing block copolymers.

Abstract: An object detection device of an object detection system includes an object detection determination unit including a bird candidate determination unit for determining, from an image acquired by imaging a moving object, whether or not the moving object is a specific detection subject (bird in this case), and a bird type/attitude estimation unit for estimating, based on a contour of the moving object determined to be the bird by the bird candidate determination unit and a WFM library storing contour shape information, which is a contour prepared for each of types of the specific detection subject (types of the bird in this case), a type of the moving object out of the types of the specific detection subject.

Abstract: Media, kits, and methods for cultivation of mammalian embryos from fertilized oocyte stage to blastocyst stage in the presence of N-benzyl-3,5-dicarbethoxy-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine. The use of this supplement improves the early embryonic development, in particular the quality of zygotes and the blastocyst formation. The supplemented media can be used with pigs, humans, or other mammals N-benzyl-3,5-dicarbethoxy-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine may be added to known media, and used for with vitro fertilization methods.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the production of boron phosphide BP comprising the reduction of boron phosphate BPO4 with at least one alkaline earth metal (EA) according to Equation (1): BPO4+4 EA?BP+4 EA(O)(1).

Abstract: Techniques for use in connection with performing optimization using an objective function that maps elements in a first domain to values in a range. The techniques include using at least one computer hardware processor to perform: identifying a first point at which to evaluate the objective function at least in part by using an acquisition utility function and a probabilistic model of the objective function, wherein the probabilistic model depends on a non-linear one-to-one mapping of elements in the first domain to elements in a second domain; evaluating the objective function at the identified first point to obtain a corresponding first value of the objective function; and updating the probabilistic model of the objective function using the first value to obtain an updated probabilistic model of the objective function.

Abstract: There are provided a microcapsular quantum dot-polymer composite, a method for producing the composite, optical elements, and a method for producing the optical elements. In order to produce the microcapsular quantum dot-polymer composite, a polymer having a functional group in the side chain is firstly heated in a first solvent to form a polymer solution. A quantum dot suspension consisting of quantum dots capped by a capping layer dispersed in a second solvent is added to the polymer solution to form a mixed solution. The mixed solution is cooled to form the quantum dot-polymer composite consisting of the quantum dots dispersed in the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A method is provided for characterising a gait comprising steps of: receiving a signal measuring the movement of a target subject measured beforehand; comparing (204) at least one section of the measuring signal with a plurality of reference signals, the plurality of reference signals comprising at least one movement signal measured beforehand on a reference subject different from the target subject, each comparison of the measuring signal with a reference signal producing a similarity coefficient representative of a probability of similarity between the compared signals; and selecting (208) at least one local maximum of interest among the similarity coefficients produced, wherein the plurality of reference signals comprises at least one movement signal measured beforehand on a reference subject afflicted with a gait disorder, and at least one movement signal measured beforehand on a healthy reference object.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for the design and use of image guides with a retro-reflector and beam splitter are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus includes: a first image guide situated to propagate a ray bundle so that a first portion exits the image guide output at a first portion angle and a second portion exits the output at a second portion angle opposite the first portion angle, a retro-reflector situated to reflect the respective ray bundle portions along their respective propagation paths incident onto the retro-reflector; a beam splitter situated to receive the reflected ray bundle portions from the retro-reflector, and a second image guide situated to receive the first and second ray bundle portions reflected from the beam splitter plane. In some examples, the retro-reflector is a micro retro-reflector array. In some examples, the retro-reflector is a pseudo-phase conjugate or phase conjugate mirror.

Abstract: Provided is a gate driving circuit. The gate driving circuit includes an ith modulation circuit and an ith line selection circuit (where i is a natural number greater than 1). The ith modulation circuit outputs an ith modulation voltage to an ith line selection circuit based on received first to third control signals. The ith line selection circuit includes a memory transistor that is turned on or turned off according to a level of the received ith modulation voltage.

Abstract: A membrane system including an anti-fouling layer and a method of applying an anti-fouling layer to a membrane surface are provided. In an embodiment, the surface is a microfiltration (MF) or an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface. The anti-fouling layer can include a stimuli responsive layer and a dynamic protective layer applied over the stimuli responsive layer that can be a coating on a surface of the membrane. The stimuli responsive polymer layer can act as an adhesive prior to coating with the dynamic protective layer to aid in adhering the dynamic protective layer to the membrane surface. The dynamic protective layer can be formed by suitable nanoparticles that can prevent adhesion of foulants directly to the membrane surface. The stimuli responsive layer can be responsive to physio-chemical stimuli to cause a release of the stimuli responsive layer and the dynamic protective layer including foulants from the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a boron phosphide, more specifically BP and/or B12P2, comprising the mechanochemical reaction of boron phosphate (BPO4) with at least one alkaline earth metal (EA). In particular, the process of the invention allows for the selective preparation of either BP or B12P2 with more than 95% purity, through the reduction of boron phosphate (BPO4) with at least one alkaline earth metal (EA) according to reaction (1) for BP and according to reaction (2) for B12P2: BPO4+4 EA->BP+4 EA(O) (1) 2BPO4+5 (EA)B2+3 EA->B12P2+8 EA(O) (2). The present invention further relates to boron phosphide powders, in particular BP or B12P2 powders, of nanometric or micrometric size.

Abstract: Provided are a silicon oxide-carbon composite, a method of preparing the same, and an energy storage device containing the same. In the method of preparing a silicon oxide-carbon composite, a reaction solution containing an organic solvent including an aromatic compound is provided. Crystalline carbon structures are formed by generating plasma in the reaction solution. A slurry is formed by adding silicon halide and a polyol in the reaction solution in which the crystalline carbon structures are dispersed. The slurry is separated from the organic solvent and subjected to thermal treatment.

Abstract: One of the chief purposes of researchers in the field of chemistry is to perform chemical reactions at high rates; a method that can be adopted to achieve such goal is to perform reactions in magnetic solvents. Being passed through the Solvents Magnetizing Apparatus (SMA) magnetizes the solvent, and the magnetic property remains intact for a few days, while most chemical reactions are done in less than one day. It should be taken into consideration that the magnetic solvent is different from the Zeeman effect in chemistry. This technology is widely used in performing chemical processes of most chemical reactions.

Abstract: A high-sensitivity sensor containing cracks is provided. The high-sensitivity sensor is obtained by forming microcracks on a conductive thin film, which is formed on top of a support, wherein the microcracks form a micro joining structure in which the microcracks are electrically changed, short-circuited or open, thereby converting external stimuli into electric signals by generating a change in a resistance value. The high-sensitivity sensor can be useful in a displacement sensor, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, artificial skin, a voice recognition system, and the like.

Abstract: A needle access assembly and method for obtaining percutaneous needle access with little or no fluoroscopy. The method can include selecting a target for percutaneous access, directing a laser guide at a desired needle-insertion angle and in line with the selected target, aligning the needle access assembly with the laser, and inserting the needle into the target.

Abstract: An in vivo method of inhibiting tumor growth, specifically pancreatic cancer, includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound, composition, and/or a pharmaceutical formulation including crocetinic acid.