Abstract: Systems and methods configured to produce electrical discharges in compositions, such as those, for example, configured to produce electrical discharges in compositions that comprise mixtures of materials, such as a mixture of a material having a high dielectric constant and a material having a low dielectric constant (e.g., a composition of a liquid having a high dielectric constant and a liquid having a low dielectric constant, a composition of a solid having a high dielectric constant and a liquid having a low dielectric constant, and similar compositions), and further systems and methods configured to produce materials, such as through material modification and/or material synthesis, in part, resulting from producing electrical discharges in compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biomarkers of platelet function and methods for assessing platelet function in response to anti-platelet therapy and for determining a prognosis, diagnosis, or risk identification in a patient by detecting at least one biomarker of platelet function in the patient as well as determining amounts thereof. The biomarkers may be used to identify a patient as a candidate for treatment with an antiplatelet agent and to monitor and adjust antiplatelet therapy in a patient.

Abstract: A foundry sand comprises a blend that includes a silica sand and a zircon aggregate. The zircon aggregate exhibiting a sharp rise in linear thermal expansion coefficient in a temperature band above 1200° C. A method of casting an article in molten metal at a temperature above 1200° C. includes forming a single or multi-part mold for the article from the above-described foundry sand, admitting molten metal to the mold at a temperature such that at least one or more regions of the foundry sand in contact with the admitted metal are heated to a temperature within the temperature band, and cooling the mold and metal to obtain a cast article.

Abstract: Provided is an electromechanical-linkage hydraulic control gate valve actuator. The actuator includes a hand-operated speed-increasing gearbox assembly and a bidirectional throttle valve. In the present invention, a motor is driven to rotate through the hand-operated speed-increasing gearbox and thus a hydraulic system is driven to finally open and close a gate valve. An opening and closing speeds of the gate valve can be regulated and controlled through the bidirectional throttle valve. The present invention drives the motor through the hand-operated speed-increasing gearbox under emergency conditions such as repair and power failure, thereby controlling to open and close the gate valve. Meanwhile, a hydraulic system respectively regulates the speeds of two states of opening and closing through a bidirectional throttling technique, so as to effectively eliminate a water hammer phenomenon. The present invention has simple structure, light weight and modular installation, and enhances safety and reliability.

Abstract: A method for searchable symmetric encryption. The method includes: accessing a computerized database that comprises keyword lists, each of the keyword lists comprising memory addresses of electronic documents that all contain a respective keyword; binning the memory addresses by performing balanced allocation of the memory addresses into ordered bins, such that at least some of the ordered bins each contains memory addresses of electronic documents that contain different keywords; encrypting each of the memory addresses with an encryption key that is derived from the keyword of the respective memory address; and storing the ordered bins at consecutive locations in a non-transient computer-readable memory, wherein the consecutive locations preserve the order of the ordered bins.

Abstract: Surface plasmon-based nanosensor, comprising: at least one first element of metal, preferably silver or gold, or of semiconductor, the first element being excitable to surface Plasmon resonance, in particular localized surface plasmon resonance, in the presence of electromagnetic radiation from a source, and at least one second element preferably near the first element that in the presence of the electromagnetic radiation is exciton-plasmon coupled to the first element and emits electromagnetic radiation representative of the exciton-plasmon coupling, and systems and methods for sensing photons and chemical or biological agents.

Abstract: A flame or heat flux protective coating composition, which includes a dispersion of fiberglass, hollow glass spheres, or a combination of both in silicone. A flame or heat flux protective sheet, which includes hollow glass spheres dispersed in silicone in a sheet form or fiberglass and silicone in a sheet form, wherein the fiberglass is dispersed in the silicone or the fiberglass is a woven cloth coated with the silicone is also presented. Articles incorporating the flame or heat flux protective coating or sheet form and methods for coating an article with the flame or heat flux protective coating composition are also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cathode additive for a rechargeable sodium battery, to mixtures of the additive and a cathode active material, to cathodes containing the additive, to electrochemical cells with cathodes containing the additive, and to rechargeable batteries with cathodes containing the additive.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for generating intensity modulated proton therapy plans robust to various kinds of delivery uncertainties with the capability for treatment planners to control the balance between plan quality and robustness. The system obtains a representation of a subject and a proton beam configuration that describes a number of beamlets and their respective arrangement. The system computes an objective function, in the treatment planning system, first part of which is about dose deviations from the prescribed dose in the target volumes, second part of which is about dose deviations from the dose constraint in the non-target volumes, and computing dose volume constraints for targets using a probability to control the dose distribution in the target volumes to be between a lower threshold and an upper threshold. Based on this information, the system obtains a robust chance-constrained treatment planning model with a user-adjustable tolerance level.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to treatment of sepsis and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods for predicting a response of a sepsis patient to treatment with L-carnitine.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for tracking changes in average glycemia in diabetes is based on a conceptually new approach to the retrieval of SMBG data. Using the understanding of HbA1c fluctuation as the measurable effect of the action of an underlying dynamical system, SMBG provides occasional glimpses at the state of this system and, using these measurements, the hidden underlying system trajectory can be reconstructed for individual diabetes patients. Using compartmental modeling a new two-step algorithm is provided that includes: (i) real-time estimate of HbA1c from fasting glucose readings, updated with any new incoming fasting SMBG data point(s), and (ii) initialization and calibration of the estimated HbA1c trace with daily SMBG profiles obtained periodically. The estimation of these profiles includes a factorial model capturing daily BG variability within two latent factors.

Abstract: C1q is shown to be expressed in neurons, where it acts as a signal for synapse elimination. Methods are provided for protecting or treating an individual suffering from adverse effects of synapse loss. These findings have broad implications for a variety of clinical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the size, position, or arrangement of a UI and a user terminal using the method are disclosed. The user terminal includes a display unit for displaying a UI, and a UI control unit configured to display the UI on the display unit with at least one of a position, size, and arrangement of the UI adjusted according to an input by a user.

Abstract: The sulindac derivatives are compounds of the formula: wherein R is one of twenty-five substituted or unsubstituted phenyl substituents; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The sulindac derivatives are synthesized by refluxing sulindac hydrazide with appropriately substituted benzaldehydes in the presence of ethanol and catalytic amounts of glacial acetic acid. The sulindac derivatives may be used as active ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of inflammation or inflammatory diseases. The sulindac derivatives may also be used as analgesic and/or gastric sparing agents.

Abstract: The present invention includes the discovery of cell-surface vimentin as a novel biomarker to detect and isolate mesenchymal and epithelial-mesenchymal transformed circulating tumor cells from blood of cancer patients. In addition, an antibody specific for the detection of cell-surface vimentin on circulating tumor cells and the use the antibody to detect, enumerate, and isolate CTC are provided.

Abstract: An ultrafast electromechanical switch having a drive mechanism comprising three non-movable contacts, an actuator, two movable contacts and a first and second mounting plate forming an elliptical shell configuration about said actuator. The switch further including a switching chamber to provide a self-contained environment that may consist of a high-pressure gas or a vacuum and one or more precision adjustment screws coupled to the non-movable contacts for adjusting the contact pressure. The provided ultrafast electrical (e.g., transfer, disconnect, etc.) switch is simple, compact, clean, exhibits ultralow loss, does not require high energy to operate and is capable of being automatically reset.

Abstract: Provided herein is a composition and a method for treating nucleic acid-related eye disease.

Abstract: Vaccine vectors and methods of using the vaccine vectors to enhance the immune response to an Apicomplexan parasite and reduce the morbidity or mortality associated with subsequent infection are provided herein. The vaccine vectors include a polynucleotide encoding a Rhomboid polypeptide and optionally include an immune-stimulatory polypeptide suitably expressed on the surface of the vaccine vector.

Abstract: Methods of reducing AMPA/NMDA ratio in D1-type medium spiny neurons (MSN) and/or reducing development of behavioral sensitization or suppressing drug induced behavioral sensitization in a subject, optionally a subject that is afflicted with an addiction, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist or a composition comprising said TLR4 agonist, preferably wherein the TLR4 agonist is a monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA).

Abstract: There is disclosed squaraine compounds of formula I: wherein each of Y1 and Y2 is independently chosen from an optionally substituted amino group and an optionally substituted aryl group. Also described are organic optoelectronic devices comprising a Donor-Acceptor heterojunction that is formed from one or more of the squaraine compounds. A method of making the disclosed device, which may include one or more sublimation step for depositing said squaraine compound, is also disclosed.