Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-angiogenic composition, and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical anti-angiogenic composition including a microRNA-382 inhibitor. The inventors of the present invention have confirmed that microRNA-382, the expression of which is elevated in stomach cancer cells in a low oxygen environment, affects the promotion of angiogenesis induced in a low oxygen environment. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention inhibits microRNA-382 and thus inhibits angiogenesis and cell proliferation, and is expected ultimately to be valuably used in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The various robotic medical devices include robotic devices that are disposed within a body cavity and positioned using a support component disposed through an orifice or opening in the body cavity. Additional embodiments relate to devices having arms coupled to a device body wherein the device has a minimal profile such that the device can be easily inserted through smaller incisions in comparison to other devices without such a small profile. Further embodiments relate to methods of operating the above devices.

Abstract: A highly articulated robotic probe (HARP) is comprised of a first mechanism and a second mechanism, one or both of which can be steered in desired directions. Each mechanism can alternate between being rigid and limp. In limp mode the mechanism is highly flexible. When one mechanism is limp, the other is rigid. The limp mechanism is then pushed or pulled along the rigid mechanism. The limp mechanism is made rigid, thereby assuming the shape of the rigid mechanism. The rigid mechanism is made limp and the process repeats. These innovations allow the device to drive anywhere in three dimensions. The device can “remember” its previous configurations, and can go anywhere in a body or other structure (e.g. jet engine). When used in medical applications, once the device arrives at a desired location, the inner core mechanism can be removed and another functional device such as a scalpel, clamp or other tool slid through the rigid sleeve to perform.

Abstract: An earphone comprises: a magnetostrictive element which is composed of a magnetostrictive material and has a column-like shape, the magnetostrictive element expanding and contracting due to magnetostrictive effect; a coil wound around the magnetostrictive element, the coil converting an electrical signal into a change in magnetic field; and an elastic portion which is composed of an elastic body having magnetism, the elastic portion including: a first elastic portion to which one of ends of the magnetostrictive element is joined; a second elastic portion to which the other end of the magnetostrictive element is joined; and a beam portion having a column-like shape and being provided in parallel to the magnetostrictive element between the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion and being integrally formed with the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion.

Abstract: Delivery devices and methods related thereto may be used in humans for spinal delivery of cells, drugs or vectors. The patient population may include patients with spinal traumatic injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, spinal ischemia and any other spinal neurodegenerative disorders which will require spinal cell, vector or drug delivery. Unlike conventional methods which require multiple injection sites to make multiple, localized substrate deliveries, the delivery devices and methods of the present invention may allow for multiple substrate delivery locations with homogeneous substrate delivery with a single injection site.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis includes a collapsible stent and a one-piece multi-leaflet valve. The stent includes at least one length of wire having a series of turns forming a spring-like stent. The one-piece multi-leaflet valve is attached to the stent and includes a cylinder of polyester material secured thereto at three points. The stent is collapsible in a radial direction between a contracted state and an expanded state. The contracted state has a radial dimension smaller than a radial dimension of the expanded state. The stent is spring biased toward the expanded state such that it occupies an active state when implanted into a heart. The active state has a radial dimension that is between the radial dimension of the contracted state and the radial dimension of the expanded state such that a radial load generated by the bias of the collapsible stent is sufficient to retain the heart valve prosthesis in the heart.

Abstract: A sol to form an inorganic-organic hybrid coating having a thick highly transparent hard coating is described. The hybrid coating is formed from a combined aqueous sol with least one hydrolyzable silane and at least one hydrolyzable metal oxide precursor where the only organic solvents present are those liberated upon hydrolysis of the silanes and metal oxide precursors. In one embodiment an inorganic-organic hybrid coating is formed by combination of a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with an excess of water, and a sol, prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide and ?-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with a deficiency of water. A plastic substrate can be coated with the combined sol and the combined sol gelled to a thickness of at least 5 ?m with heating to less than 150° C.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of fluid including the step of exposing the fluid to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge will be generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device.

Abstract: A microfluidic system including a substrate in sheet form, at least one hydrophilic microfluidic channel supported on a surface of the substrate, and at least one functional component formed as part of the substrate for providing a functional component for the microfluidic channel wherein the functional component comprises at least one cut within the substrate for providing a switch or filter component for the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a bipolar transistor with an embedded epitaxial external base region, which is designed to solve the problem of the TED effect with the prior art structures. The bipolar transistor with an embedded epitaxial external base region of the present invention comprises at least a collector region, a base region and an external base region on the collector region, an emitter on the base region, and sidewalls at both sides of the emitter. The external base region is grown through an in-situ doping selective epitaxy process and is embedded in the collector region. A portion of the external base region is located beneath the sidewalls. The present invention discloses a method of forming a bipolar transistor with an embedded epitaxial external base region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of inducing platelet production that includes contacting a megakaryocyte with an electrophilic compound under conditions effective to induce platelet production by the contacting megakaryocyte. Methods of treating a patient for low platelet levels, increasing the circulating half-life of platelets, and improving the quality (activity) of platelets are also disclosed herein, which involve administering the electrophilic compound to a patient an effective amount to achieve the desired effect. Pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic systems are also disclosed for carrying out these therapeutic treatments.

Abstract: A preparation of aryl carbamates can be achieved readily by carbonylation of an aromatic polyamine compound with diphenyl carbonate (DPC) using a combination of an organic acid and a tertiary amine as a catalyst. Aryl carbamate can be converted into 4,4?-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) by heating it at about 200 to about 230° C. in a non-polar solvent containing inhibitor such as benzoyl chloride. In another application, trans-ureation of biscarbamates with an amine or mixed amines is found to be extremely facile in a polar solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) in absence of any catalyst to make polyurea polymers of high molecular weights. Thus, efficient green-chemistry processes based on biscarbamates in making isocyanate products as well as urea prepolymers, urea elastomers and urea plastics have been developed in all in excellent yields without using reactive phosgene or 4,4?-diphenylmethane diisocyanate separately in the trans-ureation polymerizations.

Abstract: A graphene nanomesh includes a sheet of graphene having a plurality of periodically arranged apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures have a substantially uniform periodicity and substantially uniform neck width. The graphene nanomesh can open up a large band gap in a sheet of graphene to create a semiconducting thin film. The periodicity and neck width of the apertures formed in the graphene nanomesh may be tuned to alter the electrical properties of the graphene nanomesh. The graphene nanomesh is prepared with block copolymer lithography. Graphene nanomesh field-effect transistors (FETs) can support currents nearly 100 times greater than individual graphene nanoribbon devices and the on-off ratio, which is comparable with values achieved in nanoribbon devices, can be tuned by varying the neck width. The graphene nanomesh may also be incorporated into FET-type sensor devices.

Abstract: Methods and computer program products for generating robot grasp patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for generating robot grasp patterns includes generating a plurality of approach rays associated with a target object. Each approach ray of the plurality of approach rays extends perpendicularly from a surface of the target object. The method further includes generating at least one grasp pattern for each approach ray to generate a grasp pattern set of the target object, calculating a grasp quality score for each individual grasp pattern of the grasp pattern set, and comparing the grasp quality score of each individual grasp pattern with a grasp quality threshold. The method further includes selecting individual grasp patterns of the grasp pattern set having a grasp quality score that is greater than the grasp quality threshold, and providing the selected individual grasp patterns to the robot for on-line manipulation of the target object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising repetitive electromagnetic field shock to at least one living cell, wherein the repetitive electromagnetic field shock improves HSF1 and/or HSR function, and producing delaying and reversal of aging and age related diseases. Also disclosed herein is an apparatus adapted to deliver repetitive electromagnetic field shock to at least one living cell, wherein the repetitive electromagnetic field shock improves HSF1 and HSR function.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to functionalized nanodiamonds comprising at least one MALDI matrix covalently bonded to a nanodiamond and compositions comprising the same. The present disclosure also relates to methods of performing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), for example on small molecules, using matrices comprising at least one MALDI matrix covalently bonded to a nanodiamond.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for synthesizing nanocomposite materials including ferromagnetic nanoparticles with polymer shells formed by controlled surface polymerization. The polymer shells prevent the nanoparticles from forming agglomerates and preserve the size dispersion of the nanoparticles. The nanocomposite particles can be further networked in suitable polymer hosts to tune mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of the final composite polymer system. An exemplary method includes forming a polymer shell on a nanoparticle surface by adding molecules of at least one monomer and optionally of at least one tethering agent to the nanoparticles, and then exposing to electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength selected to induce bonding between the nanoparticle and the molecules, to form a polymer shell bonded to the particle and optionally to a polymer host matrix. The nanocomposite materials can be used in various magneto-optic applications.

Abstract: Single-mode quantum cascade lasers having shaped cavities of various geometries are provided. The shaped cavities function as monolithic coupled resonators, and permit single-mode operation of the lasers. A folded or hairpin-shaped cavity could be provided, having a plurality of straight segments interconnected with a curved segment. Additionally, a shaped cavity could be provided having a single straight segment interconnected at one end to a curved segment. The curved segment could also be tapered in shape, such that the width of the curved segment decreases toward one end of the curved segment. A laser which includes a shaped cavity having two interconnected, folded shaped cavities is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking features is provided which allows for the tracking of features that move in a series of images. A training set of images is processed to produce clustered shape subspaces corresponding to the set of images, such that non-linear shape manifolds in the images are represented as piecewise, overlapping linear surfaces that are clustered according to similarities in perspectives. A landmark-based training algorithm (e.g., ASM) is applied to the clustered shape subspaces to train a model of the clustered shape subspaces and to create training data. A subsequent image is processed using the training data to identify features in the target image by creating an initial shape, superimposing the initial shape on the target image, and then iteratively deforming the shape in accordance with the model until a final shape is produced corresponding to a feature in the target image.