Abstract: A porous activated asphaltene material is described with a method of making and a method of using for the adsorption of a contaminant from a solution. The porous activated asphaltene material may be made by functionalizing solid asphaltene with nitric acid, and then treating the product with a metal hydroxide. The resulting porous activated asphaltene material exhibits a high porosity, and may be cleaned and reused for adsorbing contaminants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the 14-3-3 protein which is a non-alcoholic fatty liver regulating factor. According to the present invention, two isoform proteins of 14-3-3, i.e., 14-3-3? and 14-3-3?, are different regulating factors for regulating the transcriptional activity of PPAR?2. 14-3-3? increases the transcriptional activity of PPAR?2 by binding to PPAR?2, on the other hand, 14-3-3? plays a role in decreasing the transcriptional activity of PPAR?2. Thus, 14-3-3? and 14-3-3?, which are PPAR?2 regulating factors, are proteins that play a vital role in lipid metabolism, and may be used as a target for the prevention or treatment of fatty liver.

Abstract: Radiation therapy systems and their components, including secondary radiation shields. At least some versions of the disclosed systems combine a radiation delivery device, a primary radiation shielding device, and a secondary shielding layer into an integrated, modular unit. This is accomplished by using a small direct beam shield capable of blocking a primary beam from a radiation delivery device. In turn, a thinner shielding layer can be used to surround the radiation delivery device and primary shielding device, enabling a single modular unit to be delivered to an installation site. In some embodiments, a bed may be disposed within the secondary shielding layer. In some embodiments, the system is configured to provide up to 4-pi (4?) steradians of radiation coverage to the bed from the radiation delivery device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method designed to secure computerized security processes via an MPC based biometric comparison. Such security processes can be operated between a computerized device operated by a user and a third-party server, or a third-party application executed by a computerized device. The MPC based biometric comparison process utilized to secure the security process can be operated by at least one server and in some cases, a computerized device operated by the user. Said servers may operate a Distributed Security Module, (DSM Server), designed to participate in multi-party computation (MPC) processes. The DSM server may be configured to use the MPC based biometric comparison process to compare a biometric data sample provided by the computerized device with a biometric data reference stored in the DSM server.

Abstract: Compositions comprising peptide sequences with high cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising peptide sequences with high cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines are provided. A method for treating cancer is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced DC-NC (eDC-NC) system and method that enables ultra-reliable networking, provides near-instant latency, reduces power consumption while recovering from simultaneous multiple link/node failures and improves the throughput for a wide variety of network architectures.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy generating system having an integrated energy generator and energy storage. According to one embodiment, energy generation and storage may be performed using external kinetic energy, and output from a generator device may be improved using a voltage stored in the energy storage. A storage efficiency of the energy storage may be further increased via the improved output from the generator device. Further, the energy generator and energy storage may be integrated with each other to improve a space utilization.

Abstract: A Sagnac loop coherent phase modulated RF photonic link employing an ACP-OPLL linear phase demodulator was presented. This structure demonstrated stable signal transmission over a 1-km long coherent RF photonic link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing electrocautery on a site of a subject that includes inserting a trocar device into the location of the site of the subject and electro-cauterizing the site of the subject using a diode included with the trocar device. A method and apparatus for performing electrocautery on a site of a subject that includes inserting one or more medical tubes or medical instruments or devices that extends through an expandable sheath; and electro-cauterizing the site of the subject using a diode included with the expandable sheath device.

Abstract: A prosthetic device is provided including (a) an ankle component, (b) a foot component coupled to the ankle component, wherein the foot component has a longitudinal length extending at least partially along a sagittal plane of a user when the prosthetic device is in use, wherein the foot component has a thickness extending at least partially along a transverse plane of a user when the prosthetic device is in use, and (c) a coupling mechanism positioned between the foot component and the ankle component, wherein the coupling mechanism couples a rotation of the foot component with respect to the sagittal plane to a rotation of the foot component with respect to the transverse plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions for inhibiting or agonizing quorum sensing (QS) pathways to repress biofilm formation, biofilm streamer formation, virulence factor production, and/or infections (including bacterial infections and bacterial infections with resistance to antibiotics) by: (a) a monotherapy using novel compounds, such as small molecule inhibitors or agonists, to inhibit or activate QS activation pathways and/or (b) a combination therapy including novel compounds to inhibit or activate QS and/or to sensitize bacteria to phage along with phage therapy. These compositions can be used to treat patients having infections. Additionally, these compositions can be used to treat surfaces/areas known to contain human pathogens notorious for causing hospital-acquired infections (such as intravenous catheters, implants, medical devices) as well as fatal infections that occur outside of health care settings.

Abstract: A lipidated secondary antibody is disclosed. Particles comprising same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and methods for Terahertz (THz) sensing/detection, imaging, spectroscopy, and communication are provided. A graphene-based field effect transistor (FET) can have a quality factor of greater than 400 and a responsivity of at least 400 Volts per Watt. A FET sensor can include a substrate, a gate disposed on the substrate, an insulation layer disposed on the gate and the substrate, a source terminal and a drain terminal disposed on the substrate, and a graphene layer disposed on the insulation layer.

Abstract: An agent comprising: an algin crosslinked with acetal linkages; and at least one cation coupled to the crosslinked algin.

Abstract: A vehicle has a trailer backup steering input apparatus, a trailer backup assist control module coupled to the a trailer backup steering input apparatus, and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the trailer backup assist control module and. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is configured for outputting a trailer path curvature signal approximating a desired curvature for a path of travel of a trailer towably coupled to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist control module is configured for determining vehicle steering information as a function of the trailer path curvature signal. The electric power assist steering system is configured for controlling steering of steered wheels of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle steering information.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro method of improving the efficiency of establishment of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The method comprises contacting an isolated somatic cell being reprogrammed into an iPS cell with an inhibitor of p53 function. The invention also provides an in vitro method of producing iPS cells. The method comprises bringing (a) nuclear reprogramming substances or nucleic acids encoding the nuclear reprogramming substances and (b) an inhibitor of p53 function into contact with a somatic cell.

Abstract: Thin film coatings and methods of manufacture thereof are presented. Ultra-thin coatings of cross-linked high-methoxyl pectin polysaccharides were fabricated by spin-casting solutions of citrus pectin followed by cross-linking upon exposure to solutions of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in ethanol. By adjusting temperature, degree of cross-linking, and pH of the surroundings, the pectin coatings can be carefully tuned for a desired response.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are implemented for in vivo use in a living animal. One such method involves stimulating target cells having light-responsive proteins and includes providing an elongated light-delivery structure in a narrow passageway in the animal, the elongated light-delivery structure having separately-activatable light sources located along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure. The method also includes activating less than all the light sources to deliver light to light-responsive proteins adjacent to the activated light sources along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure, thereby stimulating target cells in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention mainly discloses a high-efficiency OLED device, comprising: an anode substrate, a hole transport layer (HTL), at least one emission layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ELT), and a cathode layer. In this high-efficiency OLED, LUMO level of the HTL, LUMO level of the EML and LUMO level of the ETL together form a step-like LUMO level, and HOMO level of the HTL, HOMO level of the EML and HOMO level of the ETL also constitute one step-like HOMO level. On the other hand, the electron mobility of the ETL is greater than the EML's electron mobility by at least 2 orders in this high-efficiency OLED. Moreover, a variety of experimental data have proved that, a specific OLED would certainly exhibits outstanding luminance performance as long as the specific OLED is made based on the above-mentioned physical characteristics limitations for the ETL, the EML and the HTL.

Abstract: Provided is a method for forming noble metal nanoparticles on a support. In particular, the method includes heating precursors of the noble metal nanoparticles in a spiral glass tube reactor to reduce the precursors to form the noble metal nanoparticles on the support.