Abstract: The present invention is a radially symmetric imaging detector that measures an incident neutron's or gamma-ray's energy and identifies its source on an event-by-event basis.

Abstract: A 3D-IC detector for each layer of a stacked device comprises a pulse generator to receive an initial signal and generate a pulse-in signal to a next stage detector. A latch is coupled to the pulse generator to receive an output signal from the pulse generator and generate a layer identifying signal. A counter is coupled to previous stage detector and the initial signal to perform a counting operation; and an adder coupled to the counter to add a number to a counting output from the counter and input added signal to the pulse generator.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for trauma assessment and tourniquet, cricoids cartilage and tension pneumothorax training including use of modular arms, legs and torso parts, that each include self-contained simulators having realistic symptoms of bleeding, pulse rates, smells and the like so that students can be trained to both assess patient trauma and train students to control bleeding through tourniquets. Also the use of digital communication devices for presenting educational content and controlling the operations of the modular system parts for training purposes. Devices and methods of teaching cricothyrotomy techniques through reusable neck collars having segmented fluid filled chambers, adjustable trachea tools with moveable parts, as well as enhanced teaching and recording the teaching results from multiple students.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus is disclosed for harvesting anatomical structures such as tendons, fine muscles, nerves and blood vessels, where the apparatus includes an elongate member having two longitudinally extending tubes or tubular apertures extending from the member's proximal end to its distal end. The distal end includes opposing heads and an arcuate base. The anatomical structure is placed on the arcuate base and a flexible cutting member is threaded through one tube over the anatomical structure and into and through the other tube. The elongate member is then directed into an animal or human body along the structure to a position where the anatomical structure is to be cut. Then the cutting member is pulled back and forth at the distal end causing into to cut the anatomical structure at the distal head.

Abstract: A whitened exine shell having a degree of whiteness (L*) of greater than 65 measured under D 65 illumination. The shell can be used as a delivery vehicle for an active substance, or as an antioxidant. It can be used in a method of surgery, therapy or diagnosis. The invention provides a formulation containing the whitened exine shell together with an active substance; and a method for preparing the shell by isolating an exine shell from a naturally occurring spore under treatment conditions which do not include aceto lysis, and treating the isolated shell or a precursor thereof with a bleaching composition.

Abstract: Nanoparticles can include a core linked to a polymerizable moiety that can be polymerized, cross-linked or cured. The polymerizable nanoparticles can be included in a composition for a polymerization, cross-linking or curing reaction in an amount and disposition sufficient for inhibiting or preventing volume shrinkage during polymerization, cross-linking or curing reaction. Also, the nanoparticles can be included with monomers, dendrimers, oligomers or polymers in the compositions that can be reacted to form a polymerized, cross-linked or cured product.

Abstract: Diastereomeric pyrrolidine compounds and methods of preparation, as can be used en route to the preparation of a range of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the condition of a human, companion animal, or livestock animal in an extreme environment is disclosed. In particular, a system and method to process at least one environmental measurement and at least one physiological measurement to assess at least one condition of a human, companion animal, or livestock animal in an extreme environment is disclosed.

Abstract: A solid-state energy conversion device and method of making is disclosed wherein the solid-state energy conversion device is formed through the conversion of an insulating material. In one embodiment, the solid-state energy conversion device operates as a photovoltaic device to provide an output of electrical energy upon an input of electromagnetic radiation. In another embodiment, the solid-state energy conversion device operates as a light emitting device to provide an output of electromagnetic radiation upon an input of electrical energy. In one example, the photovoltaic device is combined with a solar liquid heater for heating a liquid. In another example, the photovoltaic device is combined with a solar liquid heater for treating water.

Abstract: A transverse thermoelectric device includes a superlattice body, electrically conductive first and second contacts, and first and second thermal contacts. The superlattice body extends between opposite first and second ends along a first direction and between opposite first and second sides along a different, second direction. The superlattice body includes alternating first and second layers of crystalline materials oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first direction. The electrically conductive first contact is coupled with the first end of the superlattice and the electrically conductive second contact is coupled with the second end of the superlattice. The first thermal contact is thermally coupled to the first side of the superlattice and the second thermal contact is thermally coupled to the second side of the superlattice. A Seebeck tensor of the superlattice body is ambipolar.

Abstract: A frequency mixer circuit includes a mixer, a load stage, and again stage. The load stage cooperates with the mixer to generate a differential output voltage signal with a mixed frequency according to a differential local oscillator voltage signal and a differential input voltage signal. The gain stage has a transconductance, and a magnitude of the differential current signal and the transconductance have a positive relationship therebetween, so as to result in a positive relationship between the transconductance and a conversion gain which is a ratio of magnitude of the differential output voltage signal to magnitude of the differential input voltage signal.

Abstract: Treatment planning methods are provided that determine the variability of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) along a beam line and calculate, among other things, what intensity of hadron beam such as a proton or a carbon ion beam should be applied to achieve a desired biological dose at treatment site of a patient afflicted with a medical condition. Typically, three or four RBE values at three or four corresponding spacially-dispersed intervals along the beam line are calculated. In one embodiment, two RBE values for the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) region of the treatment site; one for the proximal section and one for the declining distal section is calculated. A third and different RBE value may be determined for the distal edge region of the SOBP. A fourth value may also be calculated for a pre-SOBP region.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic device includes a substrate, at least two sound wave generators and at least two signal input devices. The substrate has at least two surfaces. Each of the at least two sound wave generators is located on each of the at least two surfaces. At least one of the at least two sound wave generator includes a carbon film. The carbon film includes at least one carbon nanotube layer and at least one graphene layer stacked with each other. The at least two signal input devices are configured to input signals to the at least two sound wave generator in a one by one manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems for denoising embedded digital video decoding. Prediction and residue block of a current frame are obtained from motion vector. Variance of residue block is calculated using prior reference blocks, and a causal temporal linear minimum square error estimator is used to calculate a filter coefficient. The residue block is modified using the filter coefficient, and an output digital bitstream of blocks of pixels of the current frame is produced using the modified residue block and prior denoised prediction value of prior frames.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device (VAD) system includes one or more external subsystems including an amplifier energizing a drive loop with alternating current, and a Tx resonator inductively coupled to the drive loop. An implanted subsystem includes a VAD, an Rx resonator that forms a magnetically coupled resonator with the Tx resonator, and a load loop for providing power to the VAD that is inductively coupled to the Rx resonator. A sensor monitors the drive loop and a controller uses the sensor data to adjust a system parameter to optimize energy transfer performance. Distributing a plurality of the external subsystems throughout a defined space provides a patient with freedom of movement within the defined space.

Abstract: Transparent optical ceramic coating materials have been fabricated from europium-doped lutetium oxide (Lu2O3:Eu) using physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition techniques. The non-pixilated film coatings have columnar microcrystalline structure and excellent properties for use as radiological scintillators, namely very high density, high effective atomic number, and light output and emission wavelength suitable for use with silicon-based detectors having a very high quantum efficiency. The materials can be used in a multitude of high speed and high resolution imaging applications, including x-ray imaging in medicine.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions and prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines for use in protecting and treating against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) are disclosed. Subunit vaccines comprising a human CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, and nucleic acid vaccines comprising at least one nucleic acid encoding a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130 are described. Also disclosed are therapeutic antibodies reactive against a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, as well as methods for screening compounds that inhibit CMV infection of epithelial and endothelial cells, methods for immunizing a subject against CMV infection, methods for determining the capability of neutralizing antibodies to inhibit CMV infection of cell types other than fibroblasts, and methods of diminishing an CMV infection.

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing a textured surface on a thermoplastic material that include treating the material with a plasma and subsequently shrinking the substrate to induce formation of textures.

Abstract: A surgical drape includes a base sheet of thin, flexible material. The base sheet includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side edge, a second lateral side edge, a top edge and a bottom edge. A first support member extends between the first lateral side edge and the top edge, and a second support member extends between the second lateral side edge and the top edge, the first and second support members being shaped and dimensioned to support the sheet in a tented configuration. The base sheet includes a first aperture formed therein and a second aperture formed therein. The first aperture and the second aperture are symmetrically positioned along opposite sides of the sheet relative to a central axis extending between the top edge and the bottom edge.

Abstract: A fire sprinkler including a generally tubular body having inlet and outlet ends is disclosed. The body defines a fluid flow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet such that the outlet is in fluid flow communication with the inlet. A magnetized member is disposed within the fluid flow passage and is movable between a first position wherein fluid flow communication between the outlet and the inlet is blocked and a second position wherein fluid flow communication between the outlet and the inlet is open. A temperature sensitive magnetic member is coupled to the body and has sufficient magnetic properties to attract the magnetized member below a predetermined temperature, thereby maintaining the magnetized member in the first position. The temperature sensitive magnetic member loses a sufficient percentage of its magnetic properties at and above the predetermined temperature, thereby allowing the magnetized member to move to the second position.