Abstract: A towing safety device is attached to a tow or winch line to dampen the recoil of a line if connecting hardware fails during towing or pulling. The dampener comprises a reversibly closable opening and may be stored empty and folded in a vehicle when not in use. When filled with weighted matter, such as sand, soil or stones found in the field and attached to the towing hardware and tow line at two points, the towing safety device is deployed to avoid or reduce the likelihood of injury or property damage that can occur with a freely ricocheting line.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, devices, compositions and kits for diagnosing or predicting transplant status or outcome in a subject who has received a transplant.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antithrombotic nanoparticles and methods of treating necrotizing enterocolitis.

Abstract: A method of trimming the refractive index of material forming at least part of one or more structures integrated in one or more pre-fabricated devices, the method comprising: implanting one or more first regions of material of one or more pre-fabricated devices, encompassing at least partially one or more device structures, with ions to alter the crystal form of the material within the one or more first regions and change the refractive index of the material within the one or more first regions; and heat treating one or more second regions of material of the one or more devices, encompassing at least partially the one or more first regions, to alter the crystal form of the material within the one or more first regions encompassed by the one or more second regions and change the refractive index thereof, thereby trimming the refractive index of the material of at least part of the one or more device structures, such that the one or more device structures provide one or more predetermined device outputs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying and screening hydrogen bond networks are provided. A computing device can determine a search space for hydrogen bond networks related to one or more molecules, where the search space can include a plurality of energy terms related to a plurality of residues related to the hydrogen bond networks. The computing device can search the search space to identify one or more hydrogen bond networks based on the plurality of energy terms. The computing device can screen the identified hydrogen bond networks to identity one or more screened hydrogen bond networks based on scores for the identified hydrogen bond networks. An output can be generated that is related to the one or more screened hydrogen bond networks. Also provided are polypeptides that can form homo-oligomers with modular hydrogen bond network-mediated specificity.

Abstract: Systems and methods that establish a pressure differential across a tissue wall to encourage complete decellularization of the wall are described. The methods can be utilized for decellularization of blood vessel tissue including heart valves and surrounding tissues. The methods and systems can essentially completely decellularize the treated tissue segments. Systems can be utilized to decellularize one or multiple tissue segments at a single time.

Abstract: Provided is a novel peptide and a cosmetic composition for inhibiting a skin-aging or a skin-wrinkle formation including the same. The peptide has activities for facilitating the bindings between keratinocytes; and increasing the expressions of junction proteins significantly.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, cationic polymers may be produced which include one or more monomers containing cations. Such cationic polymers may be utilized as structure directing agents to for mesoporous zeolites. The mesoporous zeolites may include micropores as well as mesopores, and may have a surface area of greater than 350 m2/g and a pore volume of greater than 0.3 cm3/g. Also described are core/shell zeolites, where at least the shell portion includes a mesoporous zeolite material.

Abstract: Transmission of low energy light is one of the primary loss mechanisms of a single junction solar cell. Molecular photon upconversion via triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA-UC)—combining two or more low energy photons to generate a higher energy excited state—is an intriguing strategy to surpass this limit. The present disclosure is directed to self-assembled multilayers, e.g., bi- or trilayers, on metal oxide surfaces as a strategy to facilitate TTA-UC emission and demonstrate direct charge separation of the upconverted state. A three-fold enhancement in transient photocurrent is achieved at light intensities as low as two equivalent suns.

Abstract: A large-tonnage coal dropping buffer skip for a mine is disclosed. A loading skip box (14) is installed at the top of a large-tonnage skip (12), a coal dropping buffer device (13) is arranged on the inner sidewall of the large-tonnage skip (12), and the coal dropping buffer device (13) includes: a frame (1) fixedly connected with the inner sidewall of the large-tonnage skip (12); a lining plate guide frame (6) connected with the frame (1) through shock absorbers (2), guide sliding grooves being formed in the lining plate guide frame (6); a lining plate support (4) slidably nested in the guide sliding grooves in the lining plate guide frame (6), hoisting lugs (9) for hoisting being arranged at the top end of the lining plate support (4); and a lining plate (5) detachably connected with the lining plate support (4) through fasteners (7).

Abstract: Disclosed are novel organoborane compositions of Formula (I), (II) or (III), wherein R1, R2, R3, R?, R?, n, n?, n?, m, m?, and m? are defined hereinabove. Also disclosed is a method of using said compositions for electrolytic media in lithium rechargeable batteries, including lithium-ion or lithium-air rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed are compositions containing said Formula (I), (II) and (III) compounds with lithium salts, useful as electrolytic media or matrices.

Abstract: An active separation control system, comprising a fluidic oscillatory actuator having an ejector member, an oscillator member, and a joining channel between said oscillator member and said ejector member, all mounted on at least one flexible member, said fluidic oscillatory actuator being mountable on a rotatable door of a vehicle such that said flexible member assumes a different shape when said door is closed than when said door is open, wherein said joining channel is also flexible to assume a shape of said flexible member.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating colorectal cancer that involve administering a composition comprising an effective amount of miR-451a to cells in the colorectal cancer and further treating the colorectal cancer cells with ionizing radiation. Also disclosed are methods of predicting whether a colorectal cancer in a subject will respond to ionizing radiation. These methods involve measuring the RNA expression of miR-451a, miR-1322, miR-133-3p, miR-1, miR-205-5p, miR-4521, CAB39, EMSY, or MEX3C in the sample and measuring the RNA expression of the same marker in a control.

Abstract: Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide a window, an energy and light producing device including at least one transparent photovoltaic device and at least one non-transparent Organic Light Emitting Device (OLED) in an optical path of the window. A controller may control the operation of the non-transparent OLED of the energy and light producing device. An energy storage device may be electrically coupled to the controller and the energy and light producing device to store energy generated by the transparent photovoltaic device and to power the non-transparent OLED. In some implementations, a LED or OLED may be mounted in the frame of the window and may be powered by the energy storage device.

Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for amplifying and detecting ?S proteins from samples, for example, from patients having Parkinson's Disease. For example, a method for determining a presence of a soluble, misfolded ?S protein may include: contacting the sample with a monomeric, folded ?S protein to form an incubation mixture; conducting an incubation cycle two or more times on the incubation mixture effective to form an amplified portion of misfolded ?S protein; incubating the incubation mixture effective to cause misfolding and/or aggregation of at least a portion of the monomeric, folded ?S protein in the presence of the soluble, misfolded ?S protein; physically disrupting the incubation mixture effective to at least partly de-aggregate at least a portion of a misfolded ?S aggregate present; and determining the presence of the soluble, misfolded ?S protein in the sample by detecting at least a portion of the soluble, misfolded ?S protein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring uterus contraction activity and progress of labor. The system of the subject invention can comprises (1) a plurality of sensors; (2) an amplifying/filtering means; (3) a computing means; and (4) a graphical user interface. Accurate clinical data, which can be extracted and provided to the user in real-time using the system of the invention, include without limitation, progress of labor, prediction and monitoring of preterm labor, and intrauterine pressure prediction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention includes an intelligence means, such as a neural network system, to analyze and interpret clinical data for use in clinical diagnosis as well as delivery strategy.

Abstract: This invention disclosure describes how the security of existing quantum key distribution protocols can be enhanced with the use of a ternary/binary arithmetic conversion along with shared keys between communicating parties. With these schemes, Bob can detect eavesdropping attacks without exchanging the content of the transmitted data stream with the Alice. Addressable physical unclonable function (PUF) technology can be exploited to design protocols that securely exchange the shared keys.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to systems and methods for generating spectral computed tomography data for spectral X-ray image reconstruction using of pixelated k-edge apertures. A method is provided for generating a spectral computed tomography. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of X-ray beams; encoding the plurality of X-ray beams by transmitting the plurality of beams through a pixelated K-edge coded aperture structure; detecting the encoded plurality of X-ray beams; and reconstructing a spectral CT image from the encoded plurality of X-ray beams.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ground-based sky imaging and irradiance measurement and prediction computing device: obtains, from an omnidirectional ultra-panoramic camera located at a ground-based mounting location, an image having a view of an entire sky located above the camera and a horizon-to-horizon view of ground and ground-based objects surrounding the camera; calibrates a relationship between locations of pixels of the image and real-world three-dimensional coordinates based on intrinsic/extrinsic properties of the camera; identifies image pixels that contain clouds; georegisters, the clouds to real-world three-dimensional coordinates; and estimates, cloud attenuation levels. A solar irradiance map can then be generated based on the georegistration of the clouds, sun position, and estimated attenuation level of the clouds, where the solar irradiance map indicates an estimation of solar irradiance to reach an area of ground surrounding the camera.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thin film composite hollow fiber that includes an outer support layer having a thickness of 10 to 1000 ?m and a polyamide thin film layer having a thickness of 1 to 10000 nm; and has a transmembrane pressure resistance rate of higher than 15 bar and a pure water permeability rate of higher than 0.8 Lm?2h?1bar?1. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the above-described support and composite hollow fiber.