Abstract: The present invention is directed to reagents useful for generating immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for diagnosing infection and disease in a subject that has been exposed to M. tuberculosis.

Abstract: A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage apparatus includes a canister and at least one hydrogen storage unit. The canister has at least a hollow rod. The hydrogen storage unit is disposed in the canister. The hydrogen storage unit includes a housing, a heat-dissipating channel and a plurality of heat-dissipating partitions. The periphery of the housing is configured with a plurality of grooves, and each groove has a plurality of first holes. The heat-dissipating channel is located within the housing. Each heat-dissipating partition has a plurality of second holes and connects to the housing and heat-dissipating channel. The heat-dissipating partitions divide the space inside the housing. The first holes and the second holes connect to the inner space of the housing.

Abstract: Self-expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metals such as nitinol. The devices may also be formed from biodegradable materials. Delivery systems for the devices include two hollow tubes that operate coaxially. A device is secured to the tubes prior to the implantation and delivery of the device by securing one end of the device to the outside of the inner tube and by securing the other end of the device to the outside of the outer tube. The stents may be partially or completely covered by graft materials, but may also be bare. The devices may be formed from a single wire. The devices may be formed by either hand or machine weaving.

Abstract: A system that simultaneously measures the translational temperature, bulk velocity, and density in gases by collecting, referencing, and analyzing nanosecond time-scale Rayleigh scattered light from molecules is described. A narrow-band pulsed laser source is used to probe two largely separated measurement locations, one of which is used for reference. The elastically scattered photons containing information from both measurement locations are collected at the same time and analyzed spectrally using a planar Fabry-Perot interferometer. A practical means of referencing the measurement of velocity using the laser frequency, and the density and temperature using the information from the reference measurement location maintained at constant properties is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for synthesis of organic-silica hybrid microparticles and nanoparticles. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for particle size control during synthesis of organic-silica hybrid microparticles and nanoparticles.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for single disc arthroplasty and multi-segmental spine replacement recreating the anterior and middle columns of the subaxial spine complete with adjacent motion segments are disclosed. The surgical implant assembly includes a first cage adapted to be rigidly attached to a first vertebra, a second cage adapted to be rigidly attached to a second vertebra, and a spinal disc replacement prosthesis positioned between the first and second cages. The spinal disc replacement prosthesis preferably includes a resilient plastic or elastomeric body having two or more adjustably fluid-filled compartments therein, the fluid-filled compartments each being adjustably fluid filled by a respective port defined in the prosthesis body.

Abstract: A method of forming a polymer nanofiber-metal nanoparticle composite pattern includes forming on a substrate a polymer nanofiber layer comprising polymer nanofibers made from polymers including a heteroaryl group; selectively exposing to UV-ozone a part of the polymer nanofiber layer through an aperture of a mask; selectively removing a part of the polymer nanofiber layer which was not exposed to UV-ozone from the polymer nanofiber layer to form a polymer nanofiber layer pattern; depositing a metal precursor on the polymer nanofiber layer pattern; and reducing the metal precursor into a metal.

Abstract: Provided are methods of enhancing an immune response and methods for reducing the recruitment of monocytes to a lymph node by administering to an individual an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an antigen. The invention also provides relate methods for amplifying vaccine immunity by administering to an individual an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an vaccine. The invention also provides related methods of inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis by administering to an individual with cancer an angiotensin II receptor blocker or a compound of Formula (I) in conjunction with an anti-tumor preparation. In addition, related compositions comprising an ARB or a compound of Formula (I) and an antigen, vaccine, or anti-tumor preparation are provided.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing fuels and solvents from fatty acid resources. In general, the pyrolysis products of fatty acids are extracted in order to remove residual fatty acids and produce very pure hydrocarbon compositions composed of alkanes and alkenes. The fatty acids removed from the extraction step can be further pyrolyzed to produce additional hydrocarbons or, in the alternative, the fatty acids can be isolated and used in other applications. Also disclosed herein are fuels and solvents produced by the methods described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformer using a symmetrical printing pattern which includes: a substrate; a plurality of first printing lines printed at predetermined distances on the substrate; a plurality of second printing lines printed at predetermined distances on the substrate; first bonding wires connecting the first printing lines; and second bonding wires connecting the second printing lines, in which the first printing lines and the second printing lines are printed in a symmetrical printing pattern, respectively, on the substrate, and the first bonding wires and the second bonding wires are formed symmetrically, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for using hieroglyphs for communication in a rapid fabrication environment. The method includes receiving, by a control system for an articulated robotic arm, one or more images of a fabrication machine build space. The method includes identifying, by the control system, a hieroglyph present in the one or more images and translating the identified hieroglyph into one or more instructions for manipulation of the articulated robotic arm. The method includes causing the articulated robotic arm to carry out the instructions translated from the identified hieroglyph. Accordingly foreign objects are inserted into fabricated objects during an automated rapid fabrication process without extensive redesign of the rapid fabrication machine. In some implementations, an unmodified third-party stereolithographic rapid fabrication machine can be used.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel milk-fermented product comprising a group of peptides. The peptides are composed from no. 1 to no. 7 of the figure that is selected from the group consisting of FIG. 11 to FIG. 18. And the novel milk-fermented product is used for suppressing the reduction of bone mineral density. Therefore, the novel milk-fermented product could be a component of foods, nutrient supplement or medicine for treating or preventing osteoporosis.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems that can be used to induce immunologic tolerance to non-self antigens. The methods and systems comprise introducing a tolerogen comprising at least one immunogenic non-self antigen coupled to a carrier, wherein the immunogenic antigen can be a foreign or endogenous antigen or fragments thereof. The non-self antigen can be selected from the group consisting of carbohydrate antigens, full-length antigenic proteins, and fragments and combinations thereof, while the carrier can be selected from nanoparticles and stents. Tolerogen compositions are also provided and can be used to induce immunologic tolerance to non-self antigens. These methods, systems and compositions are particularly advantageous since they can be used to allow for the extension of the window of safety for immunologically-incompatible transplantations to patients who are growing past the age of infancy.

Abstract: A system with a nonstatistical translation component integrated with a statistical translation component engine. The same corpus may be used for training the statistical engine and also for determining when to use the statistical engine and when to use the translation component. This training may use probabilistic techniques. Both the statistical engine and the translation components may be capable of translating the same information, however the system determines which component to use based on the training. Retraining can be carried out to add additional components, or when after additional translator training.

Abstract: A recombination layer with a gradient work function is provided which increases the power-conversion efficiency of multijunction photovoltaic devices by reducing the energy barrier to charge carriers migrating between pairs of photovoltaic junctions thereby facilitating the optimal recombination of opposing electron and hole currents generated when the photovoltaic is illuminated.

Abstract: A method for minimizing handoff latencies when a handoff is performed in a wireless network. An access point (AP) or base station associated to a current wireless station (STA) allows information required for a reassociation to the STA to be propagated to handoff-capable neighboring APs or base stations. When the STA moves, a neighboring AP or base station performs the reassociation to the STA on the basis of context. When a handoff procedure is performed, the time taken to receive context of a corresponding STA is reduced, such that a fast handoff can be implemented.

Abstract: A conductive paste may include a conductive powder, a metallic glass including a first element having a heat of mixing value with the conductive powder of less than 0, and an organic vehicle, and an electronic device and a solar cell may include an electrode formed using the conductive paste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waterborne polyurethane containing biodegradable segments and the process for synthesizing the same. The waterborne polyurethane according to the present invention has excellent biodegradable, biocompatible and mechanical characteristics and thus is a useful biomedical material, in particular for making films for medical applications.

Abstract: A polymer and a method of forming a polymer are provided. The polymer has the general structure (I): wherein M is a main group element, a transition metal element, or an organic moiety; X is a main group element selected from S, P, As, Se, Te, and Sb; R1 is a direct bond between M and the ethylene group depicted between M and X or a hydrocarbyl linking moiety having between 1 and about 9 carbon atoms; R2 is a hydrocarbyl moiety; R3 is an organic linking group; Y has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; Z has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; YY has a value of 0, 1 or 2; and Y, YY, and Z are such that the total number of moieties bonded to M is 3, 4, 5, or 6.