Abstract: A lubricated mechanical polishing (LMP) process is provided that uses hard nanoparticles of less than 5 nm diameter dispersed in a fluid lubricant as a polishing slurry to produce an ultra-smooth surface on a hard metallic or non-metallic substrate with a sub-nanometer surface roughness substantially less than that produced by silica chemical mechanical polishing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a DNA-targeting RNA that comprises a targeting sequence and, together with a modifying polypeptide, provides for site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA. The present disclosure further provides site-specific modifying polypeptides. The present disclosure further provides methods of site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA The present disclosure provides methods of modulating transcription of a target nucleic acid in a target cell, generally involving contacting the target nucleic acid with an enzymatically inactive Cas9 polypeptide and a DNA-targeting RNA. Kits and compositions for carrying out the methods are also provided. The present disclosure provides genetically modified cells that produce Cas9; and Cas9 transgenic non-human multicellular organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of DBH inhibitors (e.g., disulfiram and Nepicastat), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, for treating subjects with certain types of memory loss, for instance memory loss associated with a neurodegenerative disease, disorder, or condition, such as Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: A timer module including a timer and a compensation circuit coupled to the timer is provided. The timer measures time over a first monitoring period. The timer includes a floating-gate and an energy barrier. The floating-gate stores electrons and has an initial state and a measured state. The measured state includes a current time and a current floating-gate voltage. The energy barrier is positioned adjacent the floating-gate and leaks electrons from an ambient environment of the timer to the floating-gate at a predetermined leakage rate using Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling. The compensation circuit selectably adjusts the first monitoring period to facilitate improved robustness of the timer with respect to fabrication mismatch due to the self-compensating dynamics of FN tunneling.

Abstract: A wavelength routing SW is a large-scale optical switch device of a conventional technique, and it requires as many wavelength-tunable light sources as the number of input ports. For the wavelength-tunable light sources to achieve a stable oscillating operation across a wide wavelength range, a complicated control mechanism is necessary. This has been an obstacle in providing a large-scale optical switch device in terms of cost and circuit scale. A wavelength routing SW in the present disclosure includes N wavelength group generators, a splitting-selection unit, and MN tunable filters. Each wavelength group generator includes M fixed-wavelength light sources. Inexpensive general-purpose devices that require no control mechanism for wavelength tuning can be used as the fixed-wavelength light source. The channel loss in the optical switch device can also be reduced by using light sources with a limited narrow range of tunable wavelengths and the wavelength-dependent output port selecting function of an AWG.

Abstract: Disclosed are stem cells having a thin multilayer structure, a method of preparing the same, and use thereof for cytotherapy. In accordance with the present invention, stem cells with a thin multilayer structure having improved stability and controlled multifunctionality are provided. A method of preparing the stem cells having the thin multilayer structure according to the present invention is very simple, and thus, the stem cells having the thin multilayer structure can be produced at low cost and high efficiency. Therefore, the stem cells having the thin multilayer structure prepared according to the present invention are very useful as a stem cell therapy agent for treating various diseases.

Abstract: Provided is a novel photoinitiator in the form of a hybrid nanoparticle constructed of a semiconductor and metallic regions, and uses thereof.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for authenticating a call request header including identity information that is lightweight and deployable in VoIP and PSTN systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microwave reforming apparatus for gas reforming, and provides a new technology of converting carbon dioxide which is a main greenhouse gas generated during combustion, pyrolysis/gasification, and operation of fossil fuels, methane, and dispersions thereof into high-quality fuels. A microwave reforming apparatus according to the present disclosure uses a carbon receptor and thus can solve the conventional problem of price of catalyst and also enables compactification of a device, rapid startup and response time in several seconds, and application of various kinds of product gases including polymer hydrocarbon. Also, the microwave reforming apparatus according to the present disclosure uses its own internal reaction heat at the time of reforming and thus can maintain the optimum operating conditions for a wide range of flow rate and gas properties.

Abstract: An energy harvesting device for generating electrical power from low-frequency oscillations includes a high-frequency cantilever, a plurality of low-frequency cantilevers each configured to contact the high-frequency cantilever in response to environmental vibrations having a frequency within a near-resonance frequency range associated with said low-frequency cantilever, an a generator that produces electrical power in response to contact between at least one of the plurality of low-frequency cantilevers and the high-frequency cantilever. The energy harvesting device may also include an impact mass coupled to a free end of each of the plurality of low-frequency cantilevers. Some aspects may include a common base to which the high-frequency cantilever and the plurality of low-frequency cantilevers are coupled. Other aspects may include the generator comprising one or more of an induction coil and magnet, a variable distance capacitor, or a piezo-electric material.

Abstract: Microneedle arrays and methods of forming the same can include one or more bioactive components bonded to a biocompatible material such that the one or more bioactive components are cleavable in vivo to release the bioactive component from the biocompatible material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for treating/and or preventing diabetes using a specific inhibitor of SMAD7 expression or function. Also disclosed are methods of promoting organ and/or cell, e.g., pancreatic islet cell, survival after transplantation using a specific inhibitor of SMAD7 expression or function.

Abstract: A solder alloy includes Sn, optional Ag, Cu, and Al wherein the alloy composition is controlled to provide a strong, impact-and thermal aging-resistant solder joint that has beneficial microstructural features and is substantially devoid of Ag3Sn blades.

Abstract: A heat exchanger control and diagnostic apparatus includes a heat exchanger having a primary inlet of a primary heat-transport liquid mounted with a first temperature sensor and a primary outlet of the primary heat-transport liquid mounted with a second temperature sensor, wherein the primary outlet is piped to a pump, the pump comprising a pump impeller connected to a motor, the primary heat-transport liquid being piped by plumbing from the pump impeller to a heat source and from the heat source back to the primary inlet, and a control unit connected to the heat exchanger and the pump and comprising a motor control unit bi-directionally connected to the motor.

Abstract: A network broadcast method using a MAC unicast and an MPR node allows a source node to transmit a data packet to at least one MPR node which is located within one-hop distance from the source node and allows the at least one MPR node to transmit the data packet to each next-ranked MPR nodes. At least one normal node, which is not an MPR node while being located within one-hop distance from the source node, receives the data packet of the source node, which is transferred from the source node to an MPR node or transferred between MPR nodes through overhearing. Although the source node and MPR nodes are in a hidden-node relationship, collision is prevented, thereby minimizing data packet loss to improve the transmission reliability, and enabling the data packet of the source node to be reliably broadcasted on a network.

Abstract: Provided is a latent heat transfer material that is micro-encapsulated, said material exhibiting superior mechanical strength and heat resistance. A production method for the latent heat transfer material that is micro-encapsulated in a hard shell comprises: 1) a step in which a perforate hollow silica particle is manufactured; 2) a step in which the phase change material is sealed inside the perforate hollow silica particle by inserting the perforate hollow silica particle in a molten solution of the phase change material and repeatedly subjecting the same to vibrations such as ultrasound oscillations; 3) a step in which the perforate hollow silica particle having the phase change material sealed within is washed in a saturated aqueous solution of the phase change material; and 4) a step in which perhydropolysilazane is used to coat the outer shell of the perforate hollow silica particle with silica.

Abstract: A drilling mud composition including Aloe vera particles with a largest dimension of 75-600 ?m, an aqueous base fluid, and a viscosifier, where the Aloe vera particles are present in the drilling mud composition at a concentration of less than 150 ppm, relative to the total weight of the drilling mud composition. A process for fracking a geological formation, whereby the drilling mud composition is injected into the geological formation through a well bore at a pressure of at least 5,000 psi to fracture the geological formation.

Abstract: Disclosed are new small molecules having a 4-methylpyrrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-8-carboxamide core structure and the uses thereof for modulating glucocerebrosidase activity. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the small molecules which may be administered in methods of treating diseases or disorders associated with glucocerebrosidase activity, including neurological diseases and disorders such as Gaucher's disease and Parkinson's disease. The small molecules may contain a fluorophore or may be conjugated to a fluorophore in order to prepare a fluorescent probe for use in high throughput screening methods to identify new modulators of glucocerebrosidase activity via fluorescence polarization.

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: A multifunctional camera system having a bendable arm configured to be inserted into the thoracic cavity of a patient and camera head at a distal end of the bendable arm. The camera head has a high definition video camera and a light source. The camera head has a view adjustment mechanism for changing a view angle of the camera without changing the position of the camera head. A controller controls the view adjustment mechanism under command of a surgeon.