Abstract: A novel electron acceptor based on bay-annulated indigo (BAI) was synthesized and used for the preparation of a series of high performance donor-acceptor small molecules and polymers. The resulting materials possess low-lying LUMO energy level and small HOMO-LUMO gaps, while their films exhibited high crystallinity upon thermal treatment, commensurate with high field effect mobilities and ambipolar transfer characteristics.

Abstract: First communication circuitry of a first device is made discoverable by a second device via a short-range wireless protocol. A device name for the first communication circuitry is set to a user identifier that is specific to a user of the first device. The second device discovers the first device and the user identifier is transmitted to the second device. A response message can also be included with the user identifier and can be appended to the user identifier. The second device stores the user identifier, and the response message if included, in a log to record a presence of the user of the first device within a range between the first and second devices of the short-range wireless protocol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a draw solute for forward osmosis comprising a carbon dioxide responsive structural unit and a thermally responsive structural unit, wherein the draw solute is capable of reversibly switching between a protonated state and a deprotonated state. The present invention also provides a forward osmosis method utilising the draw solute.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a random access method and apparatus based on analog network coding for a satellite network and, more particularly, to technology that combines analog network coding with random access, thus guaranteeing high channel usage efficiency upon utilizing the technology for a satellite positioning/communications convergence system. For this, a random access apparatus based on analog network coding for a satellite network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a received signal determination unit, a data packet transmission unit, a reserved slot decision unit, a response message reception unit, and a data packet decoding unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising therapeutic and/or diagnostic anionic agents together with cationic peptides and their use in methods for delivering the anionic agents to bladder cells.

Abstract: Grafted triglycerides prepared from an epoxidized triglyceride and an acid anhydride containing 4 to 40 carbon atoms are reacted with an epoxy resin and an anhydride curing agent to yield an epoxy thermoset. By varying the length of fatty residues on the grafted triglyceride, the number of fatty residues per triglyceride, the identity of the epoxy resin and the anhydride curing agent, it is possible to prepare epoxy thermosets that exhibit superior physical properties compared to the properties of epoxy thermosets prepared without the grafted triglyceride, or as compared to epoxy thermosets wherein the epoxidized triglyceride is used in place of the grafted triglyceride. A significant improvement in fracture toughness with a minimal reduction of glass transition temperature may be thus achieved.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing prescribed unit size azido-poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (azido-PHA) polymers and copolymers are provided. The methods and systems can employ recombinant bacteria that are not native producers of PHA or lack enzymes to degrade PHA once synthesized, metabolize short to long chain fatty acids without induction, and express an (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase and a PHA synthase, the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase and PHA synthase having wide substrate specificities. The recombinant bacteria are fed at least one ?-azidofatty acid substrate that is equal in carbon length to the prescribed or desired unit size of an azido-PHA polymer to be produced. Azido-PHA polymers or azido-PHA co-polymers can be conjugated via copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) or strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) reactions. The prescribed unit size conjugated azido-PHA polymer or orthogonally conjugated azido-PHA co-polymer that is produced is then isolated and/or purified.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a pipe line, water supplying devices, gas supplying devices, a plasma generation device, a cooling device for cooling water flowing in the pipe line, and a vessel. The plasma generation device has a high-voltage electrode and a ground electrode which are provided outside the pipe line to face each other with the pipe line interposed therebetween and applies a plasma treatment continuously to the water flowing in the pipe line by generating dielectric barrier discharge between the high-voltage electrode and the ground electrode. The cooling device cools the water to have a low temperature of 10° C. or lower. The plasma treatment is applied to generate a plasma-treated solution in which superoxide anion radicals (O2?.) or a precursor thereof is diffused in the water and a microbicidal activity is sustained.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for diagnosis, risk assessment, research, and therapy related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and ALS-related disorders. In particular, the present invention relates to mutations in the UBQLN2 gene that cause dominantly inherited chromosome X-linked ALS and ALS/dementia.

Abstract: The present invention provides diagnostics for identifying and distinguishing various types of lung cancers using serum and/or bronchioalveolar lavage fluid. Signatures of secretory proteins are used to identify and distinguish lung cancers. The biomarker signatures may also be used to separate lung cancers from other inflammatory diseases, monitor progression, or assess treatment efficacy.

Abstract: A first mobile monitoring system includes one or more mobile monitoring devices, a network, a server and a storage memory. The server is implemented to analyze the collected signals and the traffic information to identify at least one traffic flow according to travel routes of the one or more wireless devices; determine whether the identified at least one traffic flow exceeds an updating threshold based on the collected signals; derive at the server when the traffic flow exceeds the updating threshold, an updating priority indicating an order in which the traffic flows are processed based on the collected signals; and update a dynamic traffic transportation plan map based on the at least one traffic flow, the updating threshold and the updating priority.

Abstract: A wireless device and method for managing a multicast group within a wireless network are disclosed. The wireless device is included in a first multicast group in which data is directly sent between member devices or data is sent using hopping between the member devices. The wireless device includes a reception unit, a determination unit, and a transmission unit. The reception unit receives a join request for joining a second multicast group from a joining device that attempts to join the second multicast group. The determination unit extracts information about the second multicast group from the join request, and determines whether the second multicast group is identical with the first multicast group based on the information about the second multicast group. The transmission unit forwards the join request to another device or sends a response to the join request to the joining device based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting network congestion based on a destination node are provided. To elaborate, the apparatus may include: a physical information extraction unit that extracts physical information of an electrical signal received through an antenna of the destination node; a MAC information extraction unit that extracts a size of a MAC frame payload from a MAC frame on the basis of the extracted physical information; a TCP information extraction unit that extracts a size of service data included in the MAC frame payload; a data size comparison unit that compares the size of the MAC frame payload with the size of the service data and generates comparison result data; and a congestion detection unit that receives the comparison result data, compares the comparison result data with a predetermined threshold value, and determines presence or absence of network congestion.

Abstract: Microneedles and their use as a physical skin permeation enhancement technique facilitate drug delivery across the skin in therapeutically relevant concentrations. Micropores created in the skin by MNs reseal because of normal healing processes of the skin, thus limiting the duration of the drug delivery window. Pore lifetime enhancement strategies can increase effectiveness of MNs as a drug delivery mechanism by prolonging the delivery window. Fluvastatin (FLU) was used to enhance pore lifetime by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol, a major component of the stratum corneum lipids. The skin recovered within a 30-45-min time period following the removal of occlusion, and there was no significant irritation observed due to the treatment compared to the control sites. Thus, it can be concluded that localized skin treatment with FLU can be used to extend micropore lifetime and deliver drugs for up to 7 days across MN-treated skin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods utilizing phosphodiesterase inhibitors to treat blast-induced tinnitus and/or hearing loss. The compositions include phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as sildenafil.

Abstract: A plasma spraying apparatus includes a main torch and an auxiliary torch. The main torch includes a first electrode including a spraying material discharge hole, a first mantle, and a first insulator including a first plasma gas introducing port. The auxiliary torch includes a second electrode, a second mantle, and a second insulator including a second plasma gas introducing port. A spraying material supplied from the spraying material discharge hole is melted at the axial center of plasma that is formed on the central axis of the first electrode by the first electrode and the second electrode, and a gas introducing part that introduces gas is provided on an inlet side of an opening part and/or in a tapered part provided between the opening part and the first insulator in the first mantle.

Abstract: An interconnected corrugated carbon-based network comprising a plurality of expanded and interconnected carbon layers is disclosed. In one embodiment, each of the expanded and interconnected carbon layers is made up of at least one corrugated carbon sheet that is one atom thick. In another embodiment, each of the expanded and interconnected carbon layers is made up of a plurality of corrugated carbon sheets that are each one atom thick. The interconnected corrugated carbon-based network is characterized by a high surface area with highly tunable electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits associated with analyzing, enriching, and/or isolating a biomarker or analyte in a biological sample. In one aspect, for example, a method for determining a concentration of a biomarker in a biological sample can include binding any unbound biomarker with an antibody specific for the biomarker to form antibody-bound biomarker, enriching the antibody-bound biomarker and any endogenous autoantibody-bound biomarker to form an enriched fraction, identifying the biomarker in the enriched fraction, and determining the concentration of the biomarker in the biological sample. In one aspect, the concentration of the biomarker is derived from initially unbound biomarker and autoantibody-bound biomarker in the biological sample.

Abstract: Differential surface-charge-dependent localization of nanoceria in normal cells and cancer cells plays a critical role in the toxicity profile of a nanoceria particle. Engineered surface-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles with different surface charges that are positive, negative and neutral provide therapeutic results for normal and cancer cell lines. Results show that nanoceria with a positive or neutral charge enters most of the cell lines studied, while nanoceria with a negative charge internalizes mostly in the cancer cell lines. Moreover, upon entry into the cells, nanoceria is localized to different cell compartments (e.g. cytoplasm and lysosomes) depending on the nanoparticle surface charge. The internalization and subcellular localization of nanoceria plays a key role in the nanoparticle cytotoxicity profile, exhibiting significant toxicity when they localize in the lysosomes of the cancer cell lines.

Abstract: Radial compression may utilize a shape memory alloy. The shape-memory alloy may comprise nickel titanium. A compressive force may be applied to a body part of an animal. For example, the device may be utilized to provide a compressive force to a limb of a human. The device may be utilized to provide compressive therapy to treat patients that suffer from, for example, chronic venous insufficiency or neuromuscular disorders, for recreational massage, or the like. Wires comprising a shape-memory alloy may be wound around an object. The wires may be individually, electrically controlled to provided radial compression. Radial compression utilizing a shape memory alloy concurrently may provide compressive force and thermal energy to an object.