Abstract: An artificial knee joint that includes a femoral component with a specially shaped bearing surface and a tibial component, whose surface interacts with the femoral surfaces. The interaction provides for the required motion and stability characteristics. The interaction between the femoral and tibial surfaces is such that as the knee is flexed to maximum, the femoral component moves posteriorly on the tibial surface, by an amount similar to that in the anatomic knee. This is accomplished primarily by the depth and width of the femoral trochlea diminishing as the femoral component is flexed from zero to maximum, together with a ramp on the center of the tibial surface. The opposite motion, roll forward of the femur from a fully flexed to a more extended position, is accomplished by varying the outward radii of the lateral and medial femoral bearing surfaces, together with a ramp on the postero-lateral and postero-medial regions of the tibial surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-absorbing substance that contains at least Li and a solid material having a hardness of 5 or more, and absorbs at least nitrogen or oxygen at 25° C. under normal pressure, and a gas-absorbing alloy that contains at least two kinds of metals that are not allowed to mutually form an intermetallic compound, with a mixing enthalpy of the two kinds of metals being greater than 0 and at least one portion of the two kinds of metals being atomically mixed, and also concerns a gas-absorbing material that contains the gas-absorbing substance and the gas-absorbing alloy.

Abstract: A method for making metal sulfide nanocrystals is provided. First, some metal salt powders are provided in a container. Second, superfluous mercaptan is added into the container. Then the superfluous mercaptan and the metal salt are stirred uniformly to get a precursor mixture and the precursor mixture is heated to get the metal sulfide nanocrystals. Lastly, the metal sulfide nanocrystals are separated and washed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises new materials, material structures, and processes of fabrication of such that may be used in technologies involving the conversion of light to electricity and/or heat to electricity, and in optoelectronics technologies. The present invention provide for the fabrication of a clathrate compound comprising a type II clathrate lattice with atoms of silicon and germanium as a main framework forming lattice spacings within the framework, wherein the clathrate lattice follows the general formula Si136?yGey, where y indicates the number of Ge atoms present in the main framework and 136?y indicates the number of Si atoms present in the main framework, and wherein y>0.

Abstract: Methods of screening for modulators of TRIM24 (also known as TIF1-ALPHA) expression and/or biological activity are described. In particular, methods of screening of screening for modulators of TRIM24 E3 ligase activity, and specifically an E3 ligase activity directed at p53 as the target polypeptide are also described. Modulators of TRIM24 expression and activity are provided and their use in treatment of cancer, particularly in breast, colon, prostate, renal cancers and in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Suitable modulators of TRIM24 expression include siRNA and shRNA and can be used in the treatment of cancer and for targeting cancer stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a planar lipid bilayer on a solid support. With this method, a solution of lipid vesicles is first deposited on the solid support. Next, the lipid vesicles are destabilized by adding an amphipathic peptide solution to the lipid vesicle solution. This destabilization leads to production of a planar lipid bilayer on the solid support. The present invention also provides a supported planar lipid bilayer, where the planar lipid bilayer is made of naturally occurring lipids and the solid support is made of unmodified gold or titanium oxide. Preferably, the supported planar lipid bilayer is continuous. The planar lipid bilayer may be made of any naturally occurring lipid or mixture of lipids, including, but not limited to phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinsitol, cardiolipin, cholesterol, and sphingomyelin.

Abstract: Methods for producing peripheral nerve injury in sheep are provided. The sheep model provides a model of persistent neuropathic pain in humans. Methods for drug delivery are provided. Also provided is a method for screening potentially therapeutic agent for the treatment of persistent neuropathic pain. Also provided are the methods for measuring the changes produced by neuropathic pain.

Abstract: A stent and a magnetoelastic resonant sensor are provided for sensor a physical characteristic in a bodily vessel or cavity. External coils interact with the sensor to induce a resonance that is responsive to the physical characteristic, such that the device may wirelessly measure physical characteristics such as mass loading effects and viscosity changes due to progression of pathology in implanted stents and stent grafts. The sensor may be fashioned from a magnetoelastic material and may be integrated near the inner sidewall of the stent. The sensor may take on a complex patterned shape to enhance the sensitivity and flexibility of the sensor structure. When the sensor is interrogated with a time-varying magnetic field, the sensor will mechanically vibrate and generate a magnetic flux which is maximum at a resonant characteristic determined by the mass load on the sensor and the viscosity of the fluid surrounding the sensor.

Abstract: A nursing system of the present invention can position where a person to be nursed through a sensor network widely deployed in an environment, instantaneously detect if the person to be nursed has an accident, and forward a message to inform a relative or medical staff. An autonomous robot will actively move beside the person to be nursed and transmit real-time images to a remote computer or PDA so that the relative or medical staff can swiftly ascertain the situation of the person to be nursed and the person to be nursed in case of emergency can be rescued as soon as possible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), and a method for manufacturing the same. In the present invention, the DSSC comprises: a dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode, a counter electrode opposite to the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode and the counter electrode. Herein, the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode comprises: an anode; a TiO2 layer disposed on the anode; and a dye absorbed to the TiO2 layer. In addition, the counter electrode comprises: a first transparent substrate with a first transparent electrode formed thereon; and a Pt film disposed on the first transparent electrode, wherein the Pt film is formed with plural Pt nanoparticles, the diameters of the Pt nanoparticles are 1-8 nm, and the thickness of the Pt film is 0.5-3 nm.

Abstract: A system for multimodal laser speckle imaging may include a first light source positioned to emit laser light toward a target, a second light source positioned to emit light toward the target, a camera positioned to receive light scattered from the target, and a processor.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a new treatment method and treatment device that together with being able to improve a drop in cardiac contractility when treating cardiovascular disease such as acute myocardial infarction and suppress the occurrence of arrhythmia, is able to reduce the infarct size. Provided is an electrical stimulation device for treating cardiovascular disease having at least one electrode that is placed on a nerve site in the body of an animal, and an electrical stimulation application unit that applies electrical stimulation by the electrode to the vagus nerve in the neck region of the animal; and a method for treating cardiovascular disease in an animal having a step of placing an electrode in contact with the vagus nerve in the neck region of an animal, and a step of applying electrical stimulation to the animal.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes compounds of Formula I: wherein R1-R3, Ar, and n are as defined herein, and methods for the quantification of carboxylic acids in samples, specifically biological samples, using the compounds of Formula I. The compounds of Formula I are novel stable isotopic reagents that are useful in differential isotopic labeling methods.

Abstract: Light extraction blocks, and OLED lighting panels using light extraction blocks, are described, in which the light extraction blocks include various curved shapes that provide improved light extraction properties compared to parallel emissive surface, and a thinner form factor and better light extraction than a hemisphere. Lighting systems described herein may include a light source with an OLED panel. A light extraction block with a three-dimensional light emitting surface may be optically coupled to the light source. The three-dimensional light emitting surface of the block may includes a substantially curved surface, with further characteristics related to the curvature of the surface at given points. A first radius of curvature corresponding to a maximum principal curvature k1 at a point p on the substantially curved surface may be greater than a maximum height of the light extraction block.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an identification characteristic for a subject includes acquiring an image of an eye of the subject, segmenting the eye image into different regions, extracting features in a sclera region segmented from the eye image, and generating data identifying at least one feature extracted from the sclera region of the eye image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for OLED lighting panels are provided in which a light extraction block is optically coupled to a light source. The light extraction block includes a plurality of non-parallel light emitting surface normals. At least one light diffusing layer covers a surface of the light extraction block. The light diffusing layer may be positioned, for example, on a light emitting surface of the light extraction block and/or on a mating surface of the light extraction block. The plurality of light emitting surface normals may be located on different non-parallel light emitting surfaces of the light extraction block, or on different points of a curved emitting surface. All of the light emitting surfaces and/or the mating surface, of the light extraction block may be covered by a light diffusing layer. The optical emission intensity and/or the optical emission color from the plurality of light emitting surface normals may be substantially equal.

Abstract: A reluctance motor according to an aspect of an embodiment includes a stator and a mover. One of the stator and the mover includes a plurality of magnetic poles on which coils are wound. The other of the stator and the mover includes a magnetic segment that includes a directivity member of which the magnetization direction is regulated in a predetermined direction and that is embedded into a non-magnetic holder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tumor cell-killing peptide and a pharmaceutical composition for treating a cancer. The tumor cell-killing peptide of the present invention selectively homes into tumor cells so that it can induce the death of tumor cells effectively while minimizing the harming of normal cell.

Abstract: One or more systems, methods, or computer program products can include receiving an echo data set including information representative of an echo sensed by a transducer, provided at least in part by one or more actual targets included in a region of interest. The region of interest can be modeled, including selecting or generating an array manifold matrix including information corresponding to any one or more candidate targets. The weights of the candidate targets can be determined using the array manifold matrix and the echo data set, including minimizing an argument of a function modeling the weights of the candidate targets. In an example, the echo data set can be dithered, such as by adding a specified dithering signal.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides stilbenoid derivatives and methods for using stilbenoid derivatives to modulate the activity of cannabinoid receptors or scavenge reactive nitrogen species.