Abstract: The present teachings are directed towards a thermolysis method of producing iron-containing nanoparticles by providing an iron-containing component, a colloid stabilizing component, and an amount of water. The iron-containing component, the colloid stabilizing component, and the amount of water form a mixture, which is then heated to a temperature sufficient to form iron-containing nanoparticles, which are then isolated from the mixture. Another method is also provided which involves a repetitive shell growth method of producing iron-containing nanoparticles by providing a first amount of an iron-containing component and a colloid stabilizing component; the iron-containing component and the colloid stabilizing component are then mixed and heated to a temperature sufficient to form iron-containing nanoparticles.

Abstract: Steam-Over-Solvent Injection in Fractured Reservoirs (SOS-FR) is carried out by treating a fractured hydrocarbon bearing formation penetrated by a well with a first phase of injecting a formation compatible aqueous fluid into the fractured hydrocarbon bearing formation through the well, a second phase of injecting a hydrocarbon solvent into the fractured hydrocarbon bearing formation through the well and at least a third phase of repeating the first phase after the second phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell in which electricity is generated and a paraffin is converted to an olefin. Between the anode and cathode compartment of the fuel cell is a ceramic membrane of the formula BaCe0.85-eAeLfY0.05-0.25O(3-?) wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Hf and Zr and mixtures thereof, e is from 0.1 to 0.5, L is a lanthanide and f is from 0 to 0.25 and ? is the oxygen deficiency in the ceramic.

Abstract: Space-time code, and methods for constructing space-time codes are provided. The space-time coder performs a respective linear transformation on each of P sets of K modulated symbols of a modulated symbol stream to produce P sets of T linearly transformed symbols, applies a respective phase rotation to each set of T linearly transformed symbols to produce a respective set of T phase rotated symbols, and performs a threading operation on the sets of T phase rotated symbols to produce P threaded sequences that define M output sequences. During each of T symbol periods, a respective one of the P threaded sequences includes a symbol from one of the P sets of phase rotated symbols. At least one symbol from each set of phase rotated symbols appears in each output sequence, where M>=2, 2<=P<=M, and T>=M and M>=K.

Abstract: A device for ventilating the upper airway of a trauma victim, and in particular to a device for performing a cricothyrotomy, including a inner and an outer catheter along with internal restraint that can expand inside the air way of a patient to anchor the device in place. An external restraint firmly positions the device in place.

Abstract: A novel ultra-wide bandwidth receiver structure dubbed the “zonal” receiver is proposed to detect time-hopping ultra-wide bandwidth signals in multiple access interference channels. The zonal receiver outperforms the conventional matched filter ultra-wide bandwidth receiver and the recently proposed soft-limiting ultra-wide bandwidth receiver when only MAI is present, or AWGN is negligible compared to MAI. In more practical mixed MAI-plus-AWGN environments, the zonal ultra-wide bandwidth receiver achieves better performance than the conventional matched filter ultra-wide bandwidth receiver, the recently proposed soft-limiting ultra-wide bandwidth receiver, and the recently proposed adaptive threshold soft-limiting ultra-wide bandwidth receiver. In multipath fading UWB channels, a new Rake receiver based on the zonal UWB receiver design has been proposed, this new Rake receiver can achieve better BER performance than the conventional matched filter based Rake receiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leptin promoter, and to methods for the identification of animals carrying specific alleles of these SNPs that are associated with circulating leptin levels, feed intake, growth rate, body weight, carcass merit and carcass composition. The present invention provides oligonucleotides that can be used as primers and/or probes to amplify and/or detect these SNPs, and provides methods for selecting and grouping animals, in particular bovines, according to genotype.

Abstract: A method is provided for mitigating or preventing formation of pressure ulcers by transmitting an electrical stimulus sufficient to effect contraction of a loaded muscle, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing an electrical transmission for effecting contraction of the loaded muscle, transmitting sufficient electrical stimulation to the muscle to contract it for a predetermined period of time (the ON period), and ceasing transmission of the stimulus to the muscle for a predetermined period of muscle relaxation (the OFF period), whereby the predetermined period of relaxation is sufficient to cause sustained reoxygenation of the activated muscle.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a non-oligomerizing Clavularia teal fluorescent protein (TFP) variant having a tyrosine-derived chromophore, and fragments and derivatives thereof. Also provided is a method for engineering the nucleic acid sequence, a vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence, a host cell comprising the vector, and use of the vector in a method for expressing the nucleic acid sequence. The present invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid, or mimetic or complement thereof, that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid sequence. Additionally, the present invention provides a non-oligomerizing TFP variant encoded by the nucleic acid sequence, as well as derivatives, fragments, and homologues thereof. Also provided is an antibody that specifically binds to the TFP variant. The present invention further provides a tandem dimer comprising two TFP dimers, operatively linked by a peptide linker.

Abstract: The physiological regulation of intake, growth and energy partitioning in animals is under the control of multiple genes, which may be important candidates for unraveling the genetic variation in economically relevant traits in beef production. The present invention relates to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the bovine gene encoding fibroblast growth factor 8 (“FGF8”) and their associations with economically relevant traits in beef production. The invention further encompasses methods and systems, including network-based processes, to manage the SNP data and other data relating to specific animals and herds of animals, veterinarian care, diagnostic and quality control data and management of livestock which, based on genotyping, have predictable meat quality traits, husbandry conditions, animal welfare, food safety information, audit of existing processes and data from field locations.

Abstract: A device and method for spreading apart adjacent vertebrae bodies for the safe insertion of an IBD into an IVD space said device designed for minimally invasive procedures and posterior or anterior approaches.

Abstract: The invention is directed to recombinant antibodies which bind to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum antigens and comprise a single chain variable fragment (scFv). The antigen may be selected from SSPG1d or a portion thereof, aspartyl protease or a portion thereof, or whole Sclerotinia sclerotiorum mycelium. The invention also provides an antibody linked to an anti-fungal polypeptide. The invention extends to nucleic acid sequences encoding the antibodies, and expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences. The invention is also directed to transgenic plants, seeds, tissues or cells transformed with the expression vectors. Methods for producing a transgenic plant that is resistant to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and for detecting Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in a biological sample utilizing an antibody which binds to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum antigen, and immunoassay kit for same are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of preparing silicon carbon nanocrystals (SiC-NCs) in a size-dependent manner by reacting a compound of the Formula I: R1Si(X1)3, with a compound of the Formula II Si(X2)4(II) under conditions for the hydrolysis and condensation of the compound of the Formula I and the compound of the Formula II to form a siloxane polymer comprising repeating units of the Formula III: —[(R1SiO1.5)x(SiO2)y]—, followed by thermal processing of the siloxane polymer under conditions to form SiC-NC's. Optionally the SiC-NC's are liberated to provide free standing SiC-NC's.

Abstract: An on-chip packed reactor bed design is disclosed that allows for an effective exchange of packing materials such as beads at a miniaturized level. Also disclosed is a method of treating a sample within a microfluidic analysis system, comprising; providing a main channel having a trapping zone; providing a slurry of a reagent treated packing material; inducing a flow of said packing material into said trapping zone through a flow channel connected to said trapping zone to load said trapping zone and form a packed bed of said packing material; and flowing a sample containing analytes through said packed bed, said reagent treating the sample. The present invention extends the function of microfluidic analysis systems to new applications including on-chip solid phase extraction (SPE) and on-chip capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The design can be further extended to include integrated packed bed immuno- or enzyme reactors.

Abstract: Two hybrid message decoders for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are proposed. One decoder uses a posteriori probability ratio (APPR) and a posteriori probability difference (APPD), and the other decoder uses a logarithm a posteriori probability ratio (LAPPR) and a logarithm a posteriori probability difference (LAPPD) as hybrid message. Since the variable node and check node processing can be readily done using APPR and APPD, respectively, the proposed decoders have lower complexity than the conventional decoder that uses LAPPR only as a message.

Abstract: There is described a pixel sensor converter for an image sensor array. In particular, a pixel sensor converter comprising: a delta-sigma converter comprising a modulator and a decimator. In some examples, the modulator is configured to be in communication with a detector, such as a photo-detector, and is configured to sample an analogue signal received from a detector at a particular sampling rate. The modulator is further configured to provide a bit stream of a particular bit rate. The provided bit stream corresponds to a sampled analogue signal. The decimator is in communication with the modulator, and is configured to receive and modify a bit stream provided from the modulator in order to provide a digital output signal. The provided digital output signal is representative of an analogue signal received at the modulator, but having a reduced bit rate than a corresponding bit stream provided by the modulator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for ameliorating the symptoms of celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy comprising egg yolk antibodies against gluten, including gliadin, high molecular glutenin, low molecular glutenin and mixtures of the three peptides. The antibodies may be produced by immunizing laying hens with immunogenic preparations of gluten and harvesting the eggs and egg yolks.

Abstract: The present invention provides new ?-phenylethylidenehydrazine derivatives, processes for preparing them and their use as pharmaceutical compostions.

Abstract: An on-chip packed reactor bed design is disclosed that allows for an effective exchange of packing materials such as beads at a miniaturized level. Also disclosed is a method of treating a sample within a microfluidic analysis system, comprising; providing a main channel having a trapping zone; providing a slurry of a reagent treated packing material; inducing a flow of said packing material into said trapping zone through a flow channel connected to said trapping zone to load said trapping zone and form a packed bed of said packing material; and flowing a sample containing analytes through said packed bed, said reagent treating the sample. The present invention extends the function of microfluidic analysis systems to new applications including on-chip solid phase extraction (SPE) and on-chip capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The design can be further extended to include integrated packed bed immuno- or enzyme reactors.

Abstract: Compositions, food products or beverages for ameliorating the symptoms of celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy comprising egg yolk antibodies against gluten, including gliadin, high molecular glutenin, low molecular glutenin and mixtures of the peptides. The antibodies may be produced by immunizing egg laying fowl with immunogenic preparations of gluten and harvesting the eggs and egg yolks.