Abstract: An ambient water condensing apparatus that extracts water vapor from ambient air utilizing a thermoelectric device, a superhydrophobic and/or superhydrophilic radiating condensing surface and a heat sink for providing point of source irrigation or drinking water using conventional and/or sustainable energy supplies. The thermoelectric device is thermally coupled intermediate of the condensing surface and the heat sink, and in particular a cold side of the thermoelectric device is thermally connected to the condensing surface and a hot side of the thermoelectric device is thermally connected to the heat sink. The water condensing apparatus may also include at least one fan element that cools the heat sink and introduces additional air to the condensing surface. The thermoelectric device and the fan element may be powered by any suitable electrical energy source, such as by solar energy, wind energy or grid power.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopic detection device comprising at least one microfluidic sample channel; at least one excitation waveguide for exciting a Raman signal and at least one collection waveguide for collecting a Raman signal. The output of the excitation waveguide and the input of the collection waveguide are positioned directly in the microfluidic sample channel.

Abstract: A system for dispensing oral consumables includes a mobile device and an oral consumables dispenser attached to the device. The dispenser can include a retractable holder for storing the oral consumables. As mobile electronic devices and their associated accessories are carried by most people for lengthy periods throughout the day, the system for dispensing oral consumables can facilitate timely consumption of oral consumables.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula I shown below: wherein Q is as defined herein. The compounds of formula I act as selective positive allosteric modulators of strychnine-sensitive alpha 1-glycine receptors. The present invention further relates to the use of these compounds as therapeutic agents for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases or conditions in which strychnine-sensitive alpha 1-glycine receptor activity is implicated (such as, for example, chronic pain. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to polymers, crosslinked polymers, functionalized polymers, nanoparticles, and functionalized nanoparticles and methods of making and using same. In one aspect, the invention relates to degradable polymers and degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the invention relates to methods of preparing degradable nanoparticles and, more specifically, methods of controlling particle size during the preparation of degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the degradable nanoparticles are useful for complexing, delivering, and releasing payloads, including pharmaceutically active payloads. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of forming a one-dimensional nanoarray of In2O3 nanowires on indium foil is disclosed. The nanowires of In2O3 have diameters of 30 nm-50 nm and lengths of 100 nm-200 nm, and are attached to and substantially perpendicular to the surface of the indium foil. The In2O3 nanoarray may have a nanowire density of 200-300 nanowires per ?m2 indium foil and a band gap energy of 2.63-3.63 eV. The In2O3 nanoarray may be formed by anodization of indium foil in an electrochemical cell subjected to a voltage of 15-25 V at room temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the seminal discovery that targeted immunomodulatory antibodies and fusion proteins can counter act or reverse immune tolerance of cancer cells. Cancer cells are able to escape elimination by chemotherapeutic agents or tumor-targeted antibodies via specific immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and such ability of cancer cells is recognized as immune tolerance. Such immunosuppressive mechanisms include immunosuppressive cytokines (for example, Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-?)) and regulatory T cells and/or immunosuppressive myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). By counteracting tumor-induced immune tolerance, the present invention provides effective compositions and methods for cancer treatment, optional in combination with another existing cancer treatment.

Abstract: A multi-purpose imaging and display system includes a display; a detector coupled to the display and having a field of view; and a filter communicating with the detector. The field of view is imaged by the detector through the filter, the filter configured to be sensitive to a first frequency spectrum, so the detector displays only objects within the field of view on the detector that emit one or more frequencies within the first frequency spectrum. The detector and filter can work together in different operational states or modes for acquiring image data of a target object under investigation. A computing device can be included to process acquired image data, and communication interfaces can be employed to achieve networking of multiple systems. A peripheral interface allows a plurality of peripheral devices to be selectively added to tailor the data acquisition and display capabilities of the imaging and display system.

Abstract: A device for capturing preselected cell types from a fluid sample that includes a plurality of cell types includes a substrate, a plurality of nanowires at least one of attached to or integral with a surface of the substrate such that each nanowire of the plurality of nanowires has an unattached end, and a layer of temperature-responsive material formed on at least the unattached end of each of the plurality of nanowires. The layer of temperature-responsive material has a compact configuration at a first temperature and an expanded configuration at a second temperature so as to facilitate release of cells captured at the first temperature to be released at the second temperature.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system for harvesting energy in response to application of an external force. The energy harvesting system comprises a beam member having a central member and at least one piezoelectric layer joined to the central member for deflection therewith. The beam member includes opposing first and second ends and is elastically deformable in response to application of the external force. A first mount couples the first end of the beam member and is generally stationary. A second mount couples the second end of the beam member. The second mount and the second end of the beam member are generally moveable in response to application of the external force between a first position and a second position, thereby outputting energy from the at least one piezoelectric layer in response to the movement from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: The present invention includes novel RAD52 inhibitors for preventing or treating cancers in a subject in need thereof. The present invention further includes a method of preventing or treating cancers in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of the invention. In certain embodiments, the subject is further administered at least one additional therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for treating or inhibiting the development of osteoarthritis in a subject having osteoarthritis or at risk for developing osteoarthritis and for stimulating or increasing cartilage production or formation in a subject. The methods feature administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more agent from among adenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, and an agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine, or an analog or derivative thereof. The adenosine receptor may be an A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptor. The agent that upregulates or increases the amount of or the biological activity of adenosine may be dipyridamole or ticagrelor. The composition may be administered via intraarticular injection such as injection into the synovial fluid of a joint.

Abstract: The method of friction stir spot welding uses a database of stored optimization parameters to maximize welding strength for an input type of material and an input geometrical parameter of the material, such as its thickness. Experiments are performed for a variety of different materials having different thicknesses. Each experiment performed for each material and each thickness associated with the material measures the welding strength of a friction stir spot welding process for varying values of an initial dynamic welding parameter, a final dynamic welding parameter and a type of varying function. The values of the initial dynamic welding parameter, final dynamic welding parameter and type of varying function that maximize the measured welding strength for the selected material and its selected thickness are stored in a lookup table. A rotating tool may then be controlled using these optimized values in order to maximize welding strength.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to optical systems. In one aspect, an optical system includes a plurality of optical sources, a first diffractive optical element, and a second diffractive optical element. The plurality of optical sources generates a plurality of pulsed beams that is less than about 1 picosecond in duration. The first diffractive optical element receives and diffracts the plurality of pulsed beams. The second diffractive optical element receives the diffracted plurality of pulsed beams and generates a combined pulsed beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of a class of surfactants for emulsion and droplet polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) mixtures. The class of surfactants consists of those having the chemical formula R—(OCH2CH2)n—OH, wherein R is an alkyl group consisting of 12 to 18 carbons and n is 2 to 25. The present invention also relates to methods, devices, systems, and kits incorporating the above-described class of surfactants.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an image acquisition circuit that accesses a pre-treatment and a post-treatment image of a region of tissue demonstrating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a segmentation and registration circuit that annotates the tumor represented in the images, and that registers the pre-treatment image with the post-treatment image; a feature extraction circuit that selects a set of pre-treatment and a set of post-treatment quantitative vessel tortuosity (QVT) features from the registered image; a delta-QVT circuit that generates a set of delta-QVT features by computing a difference between the set of post-treatment QVT features and the set of pre-treatment QVT features; and a classification circuit that generates a probability that the region of tissue will respond to immunotherapy based on the difference, and that classifies the region of tissue as a responder or non-responder. Embodiments may generate an immunotherapy treatment plan based on the classification.

Abstract: A system for providing neurostimulation includes an external device (“external exciter”) and an implanted device. The external exciter includes an energy source which inductively powers the implanted device. Examples of such external exciters include devices having at least one of: ultrasonic transducers, Radio Frequency (RF) transmitters, and solar cells. The implanted device includes circuitry that limits its maximum energy output to a predetermined saturation threshold such that excess stimulation from the external exciter does not raise the output of the implanted device beyond the saturation threshold. The output signal of the external exciter is then pulse-width modulated in order to produce a desired amount of output stimulation from the implanted device to stimulate the bioelectrically excitable tissue at a desired level.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for transferring data in a wireless communication system that supports device-to-device communication, and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, a method for performing, by a device, data transfer in a wireless communication system that supports device-to-device communication, comprises the steps of: broadcasting, at a first sub-carrier, a ready-to-forward (RTF) signal for advertising that the device holds data to transfer; receiving, at a second sub-carrier, a forward-request (FR) signal for requesting transfer of the data from another device; and broadcasting the data after a predetermined time, wherein the first sub-carrier and the second sub-carrier are determined on the basis of sequence numbers of the data, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a three-stage atrial cardioversion therapy that treats atrial arrhythmias within pain tolerance thresholds of a patient. An implantable therapy generator adapted to generate and selectively deliver a three-stage atrial cardioversion therapy and at least two leads, each having at least one electrode adapted to be positioned proximate the atrium of the patient. The device is programmed for delivering a three-stage atrial cardioversion therapy via both a far-field configuration and a near-field configuration of the electrodes upon detection of an atrial arrhythmia. The three-stage atrial cardioversion therapy includes a first stage for unpinning of one or more singularities associated with an atrial arrhythmia, a second stage for anti-repinning of the one or more singularities, both of which are delivered via the far-field configuration of the electrodes, and a third stage for extinguishing of the one or more singularities delivered via the near-field configuration of the electrodes.

Abstract: Photoluminescent proteins resistant to protein cleavage reagents are described herein. In being resistant to cleavage reagents, such photoluminesncent proteins can reduce the number of digestion or cleavage products, thereby simplifying quantification and purification of recombinant protein compositions. In some embodiments, a photoluminescent protein described herein comprises an amino acid sequence having an absence of internal methionine residues.