Abstract: The disclosure relates to a carrier for use in single molecule detection. The carrier includes a flexible substrate and a metal layer on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a base and a bulge pattern located on a surface of the base. The bulge pattern includes a number of strip-shaped bulges intersecting with each other to form a net and define a number of recesses. The metal layer is located on the bulge pattern. The carrier for use in single molecule detection has a relative higher SERS and can enhance the Raman scattering.

Abstract: There are provided, inter alia, methods for decreasing mucus elasticity or decreasing mucus viscosity in a subject in need thereof, the methods including administering to the subject an effective amount of a thiosaccharide mucolytic agent, and compounds and pharmaceutical compositions useful for the methods.

Abstract: A network system for increasing data throughput and decreasing transmission delay from a source node to a sink node via a relay node. The network system may comprise a source node configured to encode a plurality of data packets using rateless coding and transmit the plurality of data packets; at least one relay node configured to receive at least one of the plurality of data packets from the source node, and if the at least one relay node has received a sufficient quantity of the plurality of data packets, regenerate, re-encode, and relay the plurality of data packets; and a sink node configured to receive one or more of the plurality of data packets from the at least one relay node, and if the sink node has received the sufficient quantity of the plurality of data packets, regenerate and decode the plurality of data packets.

Abstract: Nanoporous selective sol-gel ceramic membranes, selective-membrane structures, and related methods are described. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.

Abstract: Non-oxidative direct methane conversion (NDMC) to value-added products, such as H2, C2 hydrocarbons, and aromatics, occurs within a reactor heated to an elevated temperature. The reactor can have a first volume, where a feed gas including methane is provided, separated from a second volume, where a sweep gas is provided, by a dense thin film membrane supported on a porous wall. The thin film membrane is a mixed ionic-electronic permeable membrane that allows H2 generated in the first volume to be transported to the second volume for removal by (or reaction with) the sweep gas. A catalyst can be provided in or adjacent to the first volume. For example, the catalyst can be a metal doped quartz material (e.g., Fe(c)SiO2) or a metal/zeolite material (e.g., Mo/ZSM5). Methane conversion and/or product selectivity in the reactor can be manipulated by control of gas flow rates, reaction temperatures, and/or feed and sweep gas compositions.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the flow of analytes, particles or other materials. As consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, an apparatus includes a membrane having one or more pores in a membrane. First and second electrodes facilitate electrophoretic flow of analytes through the pore, and a third electrode controls movement of the particles in the pore by modulating the shape of an electric double layer adjacent sidewalls of pore. This modulation controls the strength of an electroosmotic field that opposes the electrophoretic flow of the analytes via the pore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of seizures. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions and methods for treating refractory seizures in neonates. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (a) administering to the patient an amount of a KCC2 agonist and/or trkB antagonist effective to restore KCC2 expression to normal physiological levels; and (b) administering to the patient an effective amount of an anti-seizure medication.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin film composite forward osmosis membrane with a polyethylene porous support, and a thin film composite forward osmosis membrane which is low cost, has excellent durability and chemical resistance, and outstanding performance (water flux and specific salt flux) may be provided in the present invention.

Abstract: A compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having a formula I of: wherein R1 is H or optionally-substituted alkyl; R2 is optionally-substituted alkyl; R3 and R4 are each independently H or optionally-substituted alkyl; R5 is H, optionally-substituted alkyl, acyl, or alkoxycarbonyl; R6 and R7 are each independently H, deuterium, optionally-substituted alkyl, or R6 and R7 together form a carbocyclic; R8 is optionally-substituted thiazolyl, optionally-substituted thiophenyl, or substituted phenyl, provided that if R8 is 4-halophenyl, then R2 is substituted alkyl or branched alkyl or at least one of R6 or R7 is not H; and R30, R31 and R32 are each independently H, deuterium, halogen, substituted sulfanyl, or optionally-substituted alkoxy.

Abstract: A method of fabricating porous carbon foam includes mixing equal masses of SiO2 particle dispersion with a chitosan solution, dropwise adding a glutaraldehyde aqueous solution into the mixture and solidifying it in air forming a room temperature hydrogel, lyophilizing the hydrogel to form a sponge-like SiO2-embedded aerogel, carbonizing in a furnace the aerogel to form a SiO2-embedded carbon foam, soaking the embedded carbon foam in NaOH to dissolve the SiO2 particles to form a carbon foam having carbon sheets with sub-micron cavities, immersing the carbon sheets in de-ionized water to remove any NaOH residuals followed by drying, placing the carbon foam in KOH solution followed by drying, annealing in nitrogen atmosphere the dried carbon foam to synthesize a carbon foam with a multi-dimensional porous system, immersing the synthesized carbon foam in de-ionized water to prevent self-burning in air, and rinsing the carbon foam in HCl and water, then oven drying.

Abstract: A semiconductor vertical light source includes upper and lower mirrors with an active region in between, an inner mode confinement region, and an outer current blocking region that includes a common epitaxial layer including an epitaxially regrown interface between the active region and upper mirror. A conducting channel including acceptors is in the inner mode confinement region. The current blocking region includes a first impurity doped region with donors between the epitaxially regrown interface and active region, and a second impurity doped region with acceptors between the first doped region and lower mirror. The outer current blocking region provides a PNPN current blocking region that includes the upper mirror or a p-type layer, first doped region, second doped region, and lower mirror or an n-type layer. The first and second impurity doped region force current flow into the conducting channel during normal operation of the light source.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for assessing quality of images or videos. A quality assessment of an image or video to be processed is performed using a no-reference reference quality assessment algorithm. A quality measurement, such as a score, reflecting the quality of the image or video, is generated from the no-reference reference quality assessment algorithm. The image or video is then processed and a quality assessment of the processed image or video is performed using a reference quality assessment algorithm that is conditional on the quality measurement provided by the no-reference quality assessment algorithm. In this manner, a more accurate quality measurement of the image or video is provided by the reference quality assessment algorithm.

Abstract: A mesosilicalite nanocarrier having a hierarchical silicalite characterized by a molar ratio of aluminum to silica in a range of 1:3000 to 1:1000. The hierarchical silicalite includes mesopores of a hexagonal structure, and micropores of silicalite structure with a microporous volume in the range of 0.05 cc/g to 0.1 cc/g. The nanocarrier has a mesophase content in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt %, a microphase content in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt %, and a mean pore diameter in the range of 1.5 nm to 5.5 nm. A method of preparing the stable mesosilicalite nanocarrier with hierarchical micro/mesopores to load an antioxidant or drug for targeted drug delivery is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multitubular reactor for dehydrogenation of liquid phase alcohol dehydrogenation and a method of liquid phase alcohol dehydrogenation. Most of the alcohol dehydrogenation reaction is endothermic reaction, the reaction temperature is high and the equilibrium conversion rate is low.

Abstract: Derivatives of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) having the general formula A-(CH2)n—B are provided, wherein A is THIQ or a substituted derivative thereof and B is an aryl, cycloalkylaryl, or cycloalkyl group, wherein A and B are linked to each other by an alkyl or substituted alkyl chain. The compounds are useful as selective ligands (agonists or antagonists) of central nervous system receptors, and in particular of the seratonin receptors. The compounds or their salts can be formulated into pharmaceutical in need thereof by any route of administration suitable for a desired treatment protocol and especially for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Abstract: Coatings for enhancing performance of materials surfaces, methods of producing the coating and coated substrates, and coated condensers are disclosed herein. More particularly, exemplary embodiments provide chemical coating materials useful for coating condenser components.

Abstract: 2-hydroxy-benzoic anilide compounds and derivatives, compositions thereof, and methods for treating metabolic diseases and cancer through uncoupling mitochondria.

Abstract: A compact Inertial Wave Angle Gyroscope (IWAG) is operated using a phase lock loop to track resonator phase and a baseband regulator to null quadrature. The resonator velocity or its components computed from precession angle are first determined at baseband and then applied to gain matrices in order to generate the feedback control forces for self-precession, cancellation of damping and compensation of anisodamping. The inertial rotation input is determined from the measured total precession angle by removing the computed or calibrated self-precession angle. The resonator energy can be regulated to a fixed magnitude and the baseband feedback force for self-precession at a fixed rate determined from components computed from precession angle such that the total force is in phase with baseband velocity but has fixed magnitude. The IWAG inertial rotation input can be determined from the measured total precession rate by removing the computed self-precession rate.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the encapsulation or incorporation of Sunitinib into polymeric matrices have been developed. The resulting formulations provide for more sustained controlled release of sunitinib or other inhibitors of JNK signaling, which bind to DLK. Increased loading is achieved using an alkaline solvent system. The pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to treat or reduce neuronal death due to elevated intraocular pressure. Upon administration, the sunitinib or other inhibitor is released over an extended period of time at concentrations which are high enough to produce therapeutic benefit, but low enough to avoid unacceptable levels of cytotoxicity, and which provide much longer release than inhibitor without conjugate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for maintaining the pro-regenerative capacity of distal nerve segments following nerve injury.