Abstract: Disclosed is a limonene-sulfur polysulfide and methods for preparing the same. The polysulfide prepared according to these methods is flexible, moldable and otherwise capable of being formed in any manner consistent with a thermoplastic polymer. The limonene-sulfur polysulfide has been demonstrated to sequester inorganic palladium and inorganic mercury dissolved in water.

Abstract: A magnetic current dipole feeding structure for patch and dielectric resonator antennas is disclosed in which a wire coil helix is placed above the ground plane and below the patch or top of the dielectric resonator block, the coil having half wound in a right-hand orientation and another half in a left-hand orientation, meeting at a common point in the middle. One end of the double torsion coil can be excited with radio frequency (RF) signals, and the other can be grounded on the ground plane. Some embodiments have the other end fed by an equal signal. These double torsion coils can be used in pairs to provide differential feeding to the patch or dielectric resonator, and pairs placed orthogonally to a first pair can be used for another polarization.

Abstract: Provided are novel biocompatible copolymers, compositions comprising the copolymers, and methods of using the copolymers. The copolymers are non-toxic and typically have an LCST below 37° C. Compositions comprising the copolymers can be used for wound treatment, as a cellular growth matrix or niche and for injection into cardiac tissue to repair and mechanically support damaged tissue. The copolymers comprise numerous ester linkages so that the copolymers are erodeable in situ. Degradation products of the copolymers are soluble and non-toxic. The copolymers can be amine-reactive so that they can conjugate with proteins, such as collagen. Active ingredients, such as drugs, can be incorporated into compositions comprising the copolymers.

Abstract: A time synchronization slave apparatus and a method of determining a time synchronization period are disclosed. In the apparatus, a time synchronization processing unit performs a time synchronization operation and determines an offset and a rate used to correct local time error based on a calculated time error, a timer corrects the local time based on the determined offset and rate, a time error estimation unit estimates a time error in the local time during a present time synchronization period, and generates excess error information regarding an excess point at which the estimated time error exceeds a threshold allowable time error range, a time synchronization period determination unit determines a subsequent time synchronization period based on the excess error information, and a synchronization period information transmission unit transmits synchronization period information regarding the subsequent time synchronization period to a time synchronization master apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method involves detecting operational social disruptive events on a global scale, modeling data in conjunction with linguistics analysis to establish responsive actions, and generating visualization and executing models for communicating information.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides binding-triggered transcriptional switch polypeptides, nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the binding-triggered transcriptional switch polypeptides, and host cells genetically modified with the nucleic acids. The present disclosure also provides chimeric Notch receptor polypeptides, nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the chimeric Notch receptor polypeptides, and host cells transduced and/or genetically modified with the nucleic acids. The present disclosure provides transgenic organisms comprising a nucleic acid encoding a binding triggered transcriptional switch polypeptide and/or a chimeric Notch receptor polypeptide of the present disclosure. Binding triggered transcriptional switch polypeptides and chimeric Notch receptor polypeptides of the present disclosure are useful in a variety of applications, which are also provided.

Abstract: A basketball shooting aid includes a sidewall having an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The upper surface of the sidewall defines an upper orifice and the lower surface of the sidewall defines a lower orifice, wherein the upper orifice has an upper orifice diameter and the lower orifice has a lower orifice diameter. The upper orifice diameter is greater than the lower orifice diameter such that the inner surface defines an intermediate orifice having a continuously tapering diameter, and the lower orifice diameter is substantially similar to the rim diameter of the existing basketball rim. The basketball shooting aid also comprises a shock-absorbing gasket and a damping layer. The shock-absorbing gasket is sandwiched between the sidewall and the existing basketball rim when the basketball shooting aid is retrofitted onto said existing basketball rim.

Abstract: Wireless markers having predetermined relative positions with respect to each other are employed for motion tracking and/or correction in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The markers are inductively coupled to the MR receive coil(s). The correspondence between marker signals and markers can be determined by using knowledge of the marker relative positions in various ways. The marker relative positions can be known a priori, or can be obtained from a preliminary scan. This approach is applicable for imaging (both prospective and retrospective motion correction), spectroscopy, and/or intervention.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures involving multiple quantum wells provide increased efficiency of UV and visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other emitter devices, particularly at high driving current. LEDs made with the new designs have reduced efficiency droop under high current injection and increased overall external quantum efficiency. The active region of the devices includes separation layers configured between the well layers, the one or more separation regions being configured to have a first mode to act as one or more barrier regions separating a plurality of carriers in a quantum confined mode in each of the quantum wells being provided on each side of the one or more separation layers and a second mode to cause spreading of the plurality of carriers across each of the quantum wells to increase an overlap integral of all of the plurality of carriers. The devices and methods of the invention provide improved efficiency for solid state lighting, including high efficiency ultraviolet LEDs.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a three dimensional nanofiber structure includes (1) at least two spaced electrodes; (2) a spinner adapted to rotate the at least two spaced electrodes; (3) a syringe assembly adapted to eject a polymer solution from a syringe of the syringe assembly towards the at least two spaced electrodes while the at least two spaced electrodes are rotated by the spinner; and (4) a power supply assembly for providing the two spaced electrodes at a first electric potential, and for providing the syringe at a second electric potential which is different from the first electric potential. A composition of matter may include (1) a least one layer of nanofibers in which a distribution of angles of fibers is “aligned;” and (2) at least one gel layer, wherein the at least one layer of microfibers and the at least one gel layer alternate to form a laminate.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a terahertz wave modulator. The wave modulator can include one or more layers of piezoelectric/ferroelectric single crystal or polycrystalline material. The crystalline material can be configured to resonate when a low-energy external excitation is applied. An incident terahertz waveform can be dynamically controlled when the incident terahertz waveform interacts with the at least one layer of piezoelectric crystalline material while the at least one layer of piezoelectric crystalline material is resonating. The dynamic control of the incident terahertz waveform can be with respect to at least one of a phase shift and an amplitude modulation of the waveform.

Abstract: Described herein is an algorithm to remove decorrelation noise due to bulk motion in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). OCTA B-frames are divided into segments within which the bulk motion velocity could be assumed constant. This velocity is recovered using linear regression of decorrelation versus the logarithm of reflectance in axial lines (A-lines) identified as bulk tissue by percentile analysis. The fitting parameters are used to calculate a reflectance-adjusted threshold for bulk motion decorrelation. Below this threshold, voxels are identified as non-flow tissue, and their flow values are set to zeros. Above this threshold, the voxels are identified as flow voxels and bulk motion velocity is subtracted from each using a nonlinear decorrelation-velocity relationship.

Abstract: Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vitro, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. One example involves a vector for delivering a light-activated NpHR-based molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that codes for light-activated NpHR-based molecule and a promoter. Either a high expression of the molecule manifests a toxicity level that is less than about 75%, or the light-activated NpHR-based proteins are expressed using at least two NpHR-based molecular variants. Each of the variants characterized in being useful for expressing a light-activated NpHR-based molecule that responds to light by producing an inhibitory current to dissuade depolarization of the neuron. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems, methods, kits, compositions of matter and molecules for ion pumps or for controlling inhibitory currents in a cell (e.g., in in vivo and in vitro environments).

Abstract: Disclosed is a angiogenesis inhibition determining method using MALDI mass spectrometry, and more particularly, relate to a method for detecting whether small molecules are bound with a target protein and for measuring a binding distribution between the small molecules and the target protein by comparing a result of MALDI mass spectrometry with a result of immunofluorescence of the small molecules, which are used as drugs, for the target protein, and for determining as angiogenesis is inhibited in a portion overlapping with a portion where the drug small molecules are present after the MALDI mass spectrometry in the cell or in the biosample including organelles and a portion where the target protein is present after immunofluorescence, as well as for detecting presence or absence and a distribution state of small molecules used as drugs in a sample by using MALDI mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided are a fusion protein of a pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) and a pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), and preparation method and use thereof. Also provide are a nucleic acid for encoding the protein, carrier and cell for expressing the protein, and vaccine composition comprising the protein.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system and method are provided for improved phase-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging of tissues affected by cardiovascular pulsatile motion. A magnetically-prepared image dataset and corresponding reference image dataset (for phase sensitivity) are obtained within the duration of a single cardiac cycle. The paired datasets can be single-shot or segmented datasets and a navigator sequence can optionally be provided with each paired dataset. The system and method take advantage of the shape symmetry of the cardiac cycle to acquire the paired dataset in a shorter time interval, thereby reducing misregistration artifacts. The magnetic preparation can include inversion recovery pulses, FIDDLE sequences, other magnetic preparation sequences, or combinations thereof. The reference dataset can be acquired at a lower resolution than the corresponding magnetically-prepared dataset without compromising image quality.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for identifying non-penetrating brain injury in a subject, as well as methods for classifying a subject that received a hit to the body that transmitted an impulsive force to the brain as either having a non-penetrating brain injury or not, by analyzing one or more components of frequency-following response (FFR) following administration of an acoustic stimulus to the subject. In addition, the present disclosure provides methods for assessing a subject's recovery from a non-penetrating brain injury. Also disclosed herein are processes and systems for automatically generating acoustic stimuli and processing brain response data to identify non-penetrating brain injuries in subjects.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment of proliferative diseases and commercial packages are provided according to aspects of the present invention which relate to a first therapeutic agent coupled to a nanoparticle, wherein the first therapeutic agent is SMI #8 or SMI #9 a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, stereoisomer, hydrate, or derivative of either thereof. According to particular aspects, the SMI #8 or SMI #9 is conjugated to gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: Mitochondria-targeting potassium sensors and method(s) for making such sensors. The sensor shows a response to potassium and displays a 130-fold dynamic range of fluorescence intensity and high brightness. The sensors response to potassium concentrations was demonstrated to be unaffected by cellular pH value and/or concentrations of other ions. The sensors can be used for monitoring the mitochondrial potassium efflux/influx.

Abstract: A manual wheelchair including a collapsible frame having a first lateral member that is connected to first and second braces at their respective first ends. A drive wheel axel extends along a first axis of rotation and engages a drive wheel, the first brace, and a portion of a transmission. A push rim axel extends along a second axis of rotation and engages a push rim wheel, the second brace, and a portion of the transmission, which transmits rotation of the push rim to rotation of the drive wheel. The collapsible frame additionally includes a second lateral member that is connected to the first and second braces as their respective second ends. The first and second braces are configured to release the second lateral member to collapse the manual wheelchair.