Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and associated methods of forming the systems and/or apparatus may include imaging devices that may comprise multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements for use in a variety of applications. These multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be arranged to form a three-dimensional imaging device. Non-coplanar arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be coupled together. These imaging devices may be used as medical imaging devices. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are therefore provided herein for stimulating a desired physiological effect. The methods and apparatus can be used to control micturition, defecation and/or ejaculation. The methods and apparatus also can be used to control pain in the lower pelvic region, for example and without limitation, interstitial cystitis. The methods and apparatus also can be used to increase sexual sensation.

Abstract: An approximation processing method for approximating a point group using a curve or a surface defined by control points includes a step of forming an approximated curve (surface) using control points that retain features of a shape; a first calculation step of calculating a closest point closest to each of the data points on the approximated curve (surface); a second calculation step of calculating an error vector that joins the closest point, obtained in the first calculation step, to the data point; and a third calculation step of calculating a corrected control point by moving each of the control points based on the error vector obtained by the second calculation step. The step of forming an approximated curve (surface) and the first to third calculation steps are repeated to make the approximated curve (surface) respectively approximate the curve (surface) of an object configured by the data points.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a phosphonic acid functionalized mesoporous metal oxide material (e.g., silica, titania, alumina, preferably silica material) is provided. Further, a method of using the phosphonic acid functionalized mesoporous silica material as a solid acid catalyst in a pinicole-pinacolone rearrangement reaction, and a method of using a phosphonic acid functionalized mesoporous silica material as a solid acid catalyst in a transesterification reaction is provided. A method for preparing a mesoporous titania film for use in a dye sensitized solar cell is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for musculoskeletal tissue engineering. For example, a scaffold apparatus is provided which comprises microspheres of selected sizes and/or composition. The microspheres are layered to have a gradient of microsphere sizes and/or compositions. The scaffold provides a functional interface between multiple tissue types.

Abstract: A coil suitable for tissue stimulation and especially for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be used in conjunction with a pulse generator to induce electric field in the brain with less attenuation in depth compared to existing TMS coils. In an example, a coil winding is formed in a solenoid configuration around the head. Various related features, methods, and embodiments are described.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a modified silicone surface for interference to pathogen colonization comprising: an activated silicone layer; a plurality of cross-linking dendrimers adsorbed onto to the activated silicone layer; a plurality of ligand derivatives, each bound to at least one of the plurality of cross-linking dendrimers; and a benign biofilm adhered to the plurality of ligand derivatives. According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for making a modified silicone surface for interference to pathogen colonization comprising activating a silicone surface; adsorbing a plurality of cross-linking dendrimers to the silicone surface; binding a plurality of ligand derivatives to the plurality of cross-linking dendrimers; and adhering a benign biofilm to the plurality of ligand derivatives.

Abstract: The method of performing peak reduction and clipping mitigation provides a compressive sensing algorithm at the receiver of a peak-reducing sparse clipper applied to an OFDM signal at the transmitter. By exploiting the sparsity of the OFDM signal in the time domain relative to a pre-defined clipping threshold, the method depends on partially observing the frequency content of extremely simple sparse clippers to recover the locations, magnitudes, and phases of the clipped coefficients of the peak-reduced signal.

Abstract: Provided are nanoparticles comprising heparin, chitosan, and at least one immunomodulatory agent, e.g. a cytokine. The cytokine can be selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-12, IL-2, IL-23, IL-1?, IL-10, IL-18, and combinations thereof. Further provided are methods of making a nanoparticle comprising mixing a first composition comprising heparin with a second composition comprising chitosan in the presence of at least one cytokine to form a third composition. Further provided are methods of modulating an immune response comprising co-administering to a subject an antigen or vaccine with nanoparticles comprising heparin, chitosan, and at least one cytokine.

Abstract: The present invention provides implants comprising a therapeutic drug and a polymer containing polylactic acid (PLA) and optionally polyglycolic acid (PGA). The present invention also provides methods of maintaining a therapeutic level of a drug in a subject, releasing a therapeutic drug at a substantially linear rate, and treating schizophrenia and other diseases and disorders, utilizing implants of the present invention.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure an electrocatalyst support for a fuel cell is provided which includes a doped titania metal oxide. The dopant includes a valve metal. The doped titania metal oxide has a BET surface area of greater than 20 m2/g.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors having mutations in one or more capsid proteins. Exemplary vectors are provided that have altered affinity for heparin or heparin sulfate, as well as vectors, expression systems, and rAAV virions that lack functional VP2 protein expression, but are nevertheless, fully virulent. Also provided by the invention are rAAV vector-based compositions, virus particles, host cells, and pharmaceutical formulations that comprise them useful in the expression of selected therapeutic proteins, polypeptides, peptides, antisense oligonucleotides and/or ribozymes in selected mammals, including organs, tissues, and human host cells.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to the nucleic and amino acid sequences encoding vaginolysin (VLY) toxin from Gardnerella vaginalis, and biologically active fragments and variants thereof. The invention is also directed to anti-VLY antibodies and to their use therapeutically and in a new ELISA assay of VLY toxin. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to VLY toxoids and to vaccines that use the new VLY toxoids as immunogens.

Abstract: A coating method is disclosed. The coating method comprises placing a substrate and a biomolecule in a chamber and applying a vapor deposition process within the chamber so as to form a solid deposition of the biomolecule on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electrode structure capable of separately delivering gas and fluid which is applied to a passive fuel cell. The electrode structure includes an electrode portion and a water removal plate, and the electrode portion is adjacent to the water removal plate. The water removal plate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a plurality of gas passages passing from the first surface to the second surface, and a plurality of liquid passages disposed on the first surface. The surfaces of the gas passages are treated with hydrophobic treatment, and the surfaces of the liquid passages are treated with hydrophilic treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds for and a method of detecting beta-lactamase activity in a sample. The sample is contacted with a nanoparticulate tag. The nanoparticulate tag comprises a metal or a combination of metals, or it comprises a nanotube of a metal, boron nitride and/or carbon. The respective metal is capable of forming one of a covalent bond, a coordinative bond and a non-covalent interaction with a thio or a seleno group. The sample is contacted with a compound of one of general formulas (I)-(III) and (VII)-(IX). At least one beta-lactam moiety of the compound is cleaved by the beta-lactamase activity in the sample. As a result a cleavage moiety Z-A-Z, Z-A-Z—R15, Z-A-Z—R16, Z-A-Z—R17, Z-A-Z—R18 or Z-G-N(R8)R9 is released that is immobilised on the surface of the nanoparticulate tag by a covalent bond via a Z atom. The presence of beta-lactamase activity is determined based on the presence of the cleavage moiety immobilized onto the surface of the nanoparticulate tag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions that control, i.e., antagonize/inhibit or agonize/stimulate, de novo glucocorticoid production in the skin. Such methods and compositions can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of a variety of skin conditions, including inflammation, acute wounds, chronic non-healing wounds, keloid, fibrotic or hypertrophic scars, and epithelial-derived cancer.

Abstract: A low-profile antenna is provided. A laminated substrate is formed into a structure in which a plurality of substrates having different permittivities are stacked, and a radiator consists of a plurality of unit patches disposed on an upper surface of the laminated substrate and generates an electric field perpendicular to the upper surface of the laminated substrate. Ground vias are formed from the respective unit patches to a ground plane disposed on a lower surface of the laminated substrate through the substrates constituting the laminated substrate. In the low-profile antenna, the radiator consisting of the plurality of patches is disposed on the upper surface of the laminated substrate having a structure in which the plurality of substrates are stacked to generate a magnetic loop around the patches, so that vertical polarized signals can be received due to a magnetic field perpendicular to the upper surface of the laminated substrate.

Abstract: In a machine-implemented method for use with a handheld device, a user is able to virtually try on a selected garment using augmented reality. The machine-implemented method includes: (A) establishing a garment database containing information corresponding to at least one garment, the information corresponding to each garment including a backside image of the garment; (B) establishing a marker database containing feature information of a backside marker; and (C) upon determining from a captured image of the user who is tagged with at least one physical maker that the physical marker corresponds to the backside marker, retrieving from the garment database the backside image of a selected garment, and superimposing the retrieved backside image onto the captured image of the user to form a composite image for display on a screen of the handheld device.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate includes a carbon nanotube film structure and a plurality of metallic particles disposed on the carbon nanotube film structure. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a number of carbon nanotubes joined by van der Waals attractive force therebetween. The carbon nanotube film structure is a free-standing structure.