Abstract: A stylet includes a handle assembly with an indicator display and a stiff wire assembly extending distally from the handle assembly having a non-imaging ultrasonic device on a distal end. The stylet includes a circuit assembly having one or more of a pulser, a transmit/receive chip, a bandpass filter, a differential amplifier, an ADC, and an MCU, operable to control the operation of the ultrasonic device and to receive and analyze data from the ultrasonic device to facilitate implantation of a device such as a catheter.

Abstract: An adjustable cranioplasty plate assembly is provided for use following a craniectomy. The assembly includes a ring which is attached to the skull around the skull opening and a plate adjustably mounted to the ring. The plate is moveable between a raised position spaced above the ring and a lower position substantially flush with the ring. The plurality of extendable and retractable struts extends between the ring and the plate to provide the plate adjustability. The plurality of stay cables extending between the ring and the plate provide lateral stability in the raised position. The assembly replaces the native bone and eliminates the need for subsequent cranioplasty surgery. In one embodiment, the plate includes a rigid central portion, three rigid mounting tabs, and a plurality of malleable tapered perimeter petals which provide a smooth interface between the plate and the skull of the patient.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly comprising a heat sink including a plurality of parallel fins, said fins defining a plurality of channels; said heat sink divided into two stages; said first stage positioned in the upstream portion of said heat sink and arranged such that fluid entering the heat sink is under closed channel flow conditions within said plurality of channels and; the second stage positioned in the downstream portion, said second stage including a void above said channels so as to have open channel flow in said channels for fluid exiting said heat sink.

Abstract: The strengthening system for beam-column connections in steel frame buildings to resist progressive collapse helps to mitigate progressive collapse in the event of accidental column loss by using a system of rippled steel plates reinforcing the beam-column connection. Various configurations of rippled steel plates are provided to connect in-plane and transverse beams at a joint. In the event of severe damage caused to a column of a steel framed building, the upper joints of the damaged column undergo downward movement. The rippled plates at the joint straighten during the initial downward movement, and resist further downward movement after complete straightening of the ripples. This helps in the development of catenary action in steel beams. The proposed system is simple, fast to construct, demountable, and easy to repair/replace after damage caused by blast loads.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing aerogels and cross-linked aerogels in a single step and in a single pot without requiring any solvent exchange is described. Porous matrices are synthesized through a modification of hydrolysis condensation of alkoxides in which addition of water is minimized. The reaction occurs in an ethanol-water azeotrope mixture; the water in the azeotrope slowly hydrolyzes the alkoxide. Additionally, after gelation, the porous matrix is dried in supercritical ethanol rather than liquid CO2, which allows for elimination of solvent exchange steps. These modifications allow for the preparation of aerogel monoliths in any size in one step and in one pot and much faster than conventional procedures. In addition, the method provides for custom aerogel parts with large dimensions, as well as high volume fabrication of aerogels. The custom aerogel parts may be used in a variety of thermal insulation applications.

Abstract: Drainage systems for excess body fluids and associated methods are disclosed herein. A drainage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, a drainage catheter, a first reference line, a second reference line, and a pressure sensor assembly. The catheter can include a flexible interface member and an inlet can be placed in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within a patient. A first flexible region of the first reference line can be in pressure communication with the flexible interface member, and a second flexible region of the second reference line can be in pressure communication with the surrounding atmosphere. The pressure sensor assembly can be spaced apart from the flexible regions, and measure the pressures of the first and second reference lines. This information can be used to determine the pressure at the site of excess body fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a computer implemented method, device, system, or article for reconstructing a surface of an object. In particular, the invention comprises estimating a non-convex hull signed distance function parameters from a data set of an object and evaluating the non-convex hull signed distance function on vertices of a volumetric mesh. The invention further comprises approximating the zero level set of the non-convex hull signed distance function by a polygonal mesh using an isosurface algorithm to provide surface reconstruction of an object.

Abstract: Synthetic probes for detecting the activity of enzymes that catalyze reactions of post-translationally modified cysteine residues are described. The probes include “turn-on” probes that include a carbamate linkage that is cleaved via an intramolecular reaction with a free thiol produced by an enzyme catalyzed activity. The probes also include ratiometric, Michael addition-based probes that respond to enzymatic activity by a change in structure that results in a change in fluorescence properties. Methods of using the probes to detect enzymatic activity and disease are described. For example, the probes can be used to detect enzymatic activity in a variety of samples, including live cells and heterogeneous tissues. In addition, prodrugs that can be activated by enzymes that catalyze reactions of post-translationally modified cysteine residues and methods of using the prodrugs to treat disease are described.

Abstract: A new efficient framework based on a Constant-size Ciphertext Policy Comparative Attribute-Based Encryption (CCP-CABE) approach. CCP-CABE assists lightweight mobile devices and storing privacy-sensitive sensitive data into cloudbased storage by offloading major cryptography-computation overhead into the cloud without exposing data content to the cloud. CCP-CABE extends existing attribute-based data access control solutions by incorporating comparable attributes to incorporate more flexible security access control policies. CCP-CABE generates constant-size ciphertext regardless of the number of involved attributes, which is suitable for mobile devices considering their limited communication and storage capacities.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant masking proteins and recombinant ligand proteins useful in treating cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease. The recombinant masking proteins provided herein may, inter alia, be used as non-covalent masks of antagonists of, for example, cellular growth factors (e.g., TNF) or cell surface proteins (e.g., CTLA-4).

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an implantable perfusion device that can be implanted in an injured blood vessel to control bleeding without occluding the vessel. In one specific implementation, the perfusion device can be implanted percutaneously into a patient's descending aorta to control bleeding at the site of a ruptured portion of the aorta (known as torso hemorrhage) while still allowing for the antegrade flow of blood from a location upstream of the ruptured portion of the aorta to a location downstream of the ruptured portion of the aorta. The perfusion device can be left inside the patient as the patient is transported to a medical facility where the injury can be repaired. Following repair of the vessel, the perfusion device can be withdrawn from the patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring whether organic matter is present or whether or not organisms (cells or tissue) are alive using infrared absorption spectroscopic analysis. The measurement apparatus of the invention includes an infrared light source for radiating infrared rays on a sample, an infrared detection unit for detecting the infrared rays transmitted or reflected from the sample, and a determination unit for identifying an amide infrared absorption peak of the sample using the detected infrared rays and for determining whether organic matter is present or whether organisms are alive or not in the sample using the identified amide infrared absorption peak. In this invention, a reagent is not used, simple measurement is performed, quantification is feasible, and the presence or absence of cells or tissues and changes in the life and death can be consecutively measured for the same sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user includes a computer includes a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user so the user sees the virtual reality shown by the headset and produced by the computer in the headset. The apparatus includes a foot controller in communication with the computer against which the user moves at least one of his feet to create control signals with the foot to cause movement in the virtual reality. A method for creating movement in a virtual reality for a user having the steps of the user seeing the virtual reality shown by a virtual headset and produced by a computer in the headset, a virtual reality headset in communication with the computer that is worn on the head of the user.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides compositions and kits comprising light-emitting versions of the monoclonal antibody to C3d (mAB 3d29) for imaging and methods of use thereof for detecting infectious and inflammatory cells in vivo. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides methods for detecting and/or monitoring a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection in a subject, as well as methods of treating a M. tuberculosis infection in a subject.

Abstract: Method and system (100) for characterizing lipid content in microalgae are disclosed. An input signal is transmitted to a resonator cavity (102) containing a sample microalgal suspension and a frequency response curve is obtained. Subsequently, a set of sample parameters is determined based on a Gaussian distribution modelling of the frequency response curve. An amount of lipid content in the sample microalgal suspension is determined based on correlation between the sample parameters and a set of reference parameters, wherein the reference parameters correspond to specific amounts of lipid content.

Abstract: A gating grid driver for use with radiation detectors, such as time projection chambers and other similar devices that require a gating grid that operates in a bipolar mode with different electrostatic potentials on alternating wires. To open such gating grids, the driver shorts the alternate wires to a common voltage Va. Later, this driver closes the grid by restoring the voltage differences in the adjacent wires. By connecting the driver circuit to the gating grid via low impedance transmission lines, the driver circuit opens the gating grid in 0.35 ?s, minimizing the lost drift length associated with this opening time. The circuit consists of 2 pairs of N- and P-MOSFET switches and includes two adjustable capacitors and resistors that can be used to adjust the opening time, and shift the balance of positive and negative charge for individual radiation detector.

Abstract: Various methods of performing ultrasound contrast assisted therapy are provided. One such method includes delivering a plurality of microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents to a target area and disrupting the microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents by delivering tone bursts of ultrasound to the target area. The oscillation of the microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents can be achieved by delivering ultrasound tone bursts of greater than 5 acoustic cycles with a pulse repetition frequency of between 0.01 and 20 Hz, with pressure greater than 0.3 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention provides an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide that encodes a protein that diverts a monolignol precursor from a lignin biosynthesis pathway in the plant, which is operably linked to a heterologous promoter. Also provided are methods of engineering a plant having reduced lignin content, as well as plant cells, plant parts, and plant tissues from such engineered plants.

Abstract: A method for the production of graphene oxide and/or graphite oxide nanoplatelet structures having a thickness of less than 100 nm in an electrochemical cell, the cell comprising: (a) a positive electrode that is graphitic; (b) a negative electrode that may be graphitic or another material; (c) an electrolyte including: (i) organic anions in a solvent; (ii) non-oxidant polyatomic anions in a solution; and/or (ii) polyatomic anions in a solvent wherein the electrolyte has a hydrogen ion concentration of <1×10?1 mol dm?3; wherein the method comprises the step of passing a current through the cell to intercalate the anions into the graphitic positive electrode so as to exfoliate the graphitic positive electrode.

Abstract: A family of phosphorescent emitter compounds containing a carbene ligand LA selected from the group consisting of: is disclosed. These compounds enhance the performance of OLEDs when incorporated therein.