Abstract: The invention provides a method to treat cancer in an animal comprising administering a tetra-arylethylene cation to the animal.

Abstract: A method of extinguishing or retarding fire can include disposing nano-clay onto the fire to retard or extinguish the fire. The nano-clay can be in the form of a powder. The powder can include nanoparticles having a particle size of about 1 nm to about 50 nm. The nano-clay can be used alone or mixed with water.

Abstract: Several embodiments relate to methods of repairing and/or regenerating damaged or diseased tissue comprising administering to the damaged or diseased tissues compositions comprising exosomes. In several embodiments, the exosomes comprise one or more microRNA that result in alterations in gene or protein expression, which in turn result in improved cell or tissue viability and/or function.

Abstract: An earphone adapted to fit within a human ear that generates sound via the propagation of one or more diaphragms aligned to fit the structure and shape of the earphone. The earphone allows ambient sound to pass through the device in order to be heard by the user. The earphone includes a variety of sensors adapted to characterize the surrounding acoustic environment and actively negate undesired sounds by generating a cancelling signal specific to the undesired sound or sounds. The earphone allows users to select particular sounds to cancel or to negate all of the surrounding noise. The earphone itself can be used to characterize repetitive environmental sounds that are predictable by the system. Additionally, the earphone can be used in conjunction with a buffering device in communication with a source of non-repetitive, unpredictable sounds in order to characterize and negate those sounds.

Abstract: A transformer-based balun circuit s disclosed herein. The balun can be implemented using a spiral transformer, where primary and secondary transformer windings can be inductively coupled and can be implemented on the same metal layer (or different metal layers, e.g. vertically adjacent metal layers). The balun can further include a compensation capacitor and a digital frequency tuning circuit. The compensation capacitor can be introduced at one of the differential terminals to reduce or suppress the amplitude and phase imbalance. The digital frequency tuning circuit can be a switchable bank of capacitors, which allows for tuning the frequency of operation of the transformer-based balun.

Abstract: Improved systems for heating and cooling a space may include a heating and cooling unit for providing heating and cooling functions mounted inside a housing assembly and a display unit mounted to the housing assembly. A control unit may be coupled to the heating and cooling unit and the display unit. The control unit may be operative to cause an image or video associated with heat be displayed on the display unit when the heating and cooling unit is in the heating mode of operation and to cause an image or video associated with coolness be displayed on the display unit when the heating and cooling unit is in the cooling mode of operation. The control unit may be coupled to a server that enables remotes operation of the system via a client application. Other implementations also may be provided.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for generating stable exosome formulations and encompasses stable exosome formulations. The exosome formulations encompass stable liquid exosome formulations and stable lyophilized exosome formulations. In some embodiments, the exosome formulations can be generated by ultrafiltration and diafiltration. The exosome formulations can be suitable for administration to a human.

Abstract: Several embodiments relate to methods of repairing and/or regenerating damaged or diseased tissue comprising administering to the damaged or diseased tissues compositions comprising exosomes. In several embodiments, the exosomes comprise one or more microRNA that result in alterations in gene or protein expression, which in turn result in improved cell or tissue viability and/or function.

Abstract: The expansive soil resistant foundation system includes a foundation frame having footings forming a grid pattern. The grid pattern contains a plurality of spaces within the pattern. Each space defines a main swell duct. Each main swell duct may be provided with one or more sub-swell ducts. The swell ducts permit free expansion and contraction of the expansive soil. A vent extends from each swell duct to expel trapped air. A drainage system is distributed throughout the foundation frame to eliminate accumulation of underground water. The swell ducts, vents, and the drainage system alleviate potential pressures that can be exerted on the foundation from the expansion and contraction of the expansive soil, which can lead to cracks and structural failure.

Abstract: This invention describes a cloud-based architecture that orchestrates the detection and dissemination of highly-dynamic, real-time, and fine-grained TV white space information to improve spectrum information used for White Space Devices (WSDs). Wasted spectrum opportunities were first identified, both temporal and spatial, due to the current approach of white spaces detection. This invention introduces a next generation of geo-location databases capable of tracking the state of the relatively static TV transmitters and the highly dynamic TV receivers. A quantitative evaluation of the potential gain in white space availability for large scale deployments of this novel architecture demonstrated significant improvement in the availability of white spaces.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a programmable logic fabric including a dynamic parameter scaling controller that tracks an operating parameter that functions at multiple operating conditions by maintaining the operating parameter while cycling through a multiple operating conditions during a calibration mode using the calibration configuration for the programmable logic fabric. The dynamic parameter scaling controller also stores one or more functional values for the operating parameter in a calibration table. The dynamic parameter scaling controller also operates the programmable logic fabric using a design configuration using dynamic values for the operating parameter based at least in part on the one or more operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to treat cancer in an animal comprising administering a tetra-arylethylene cation to the animal.

Abstract: The method of storing exfoliated nanoclay particles involves the freezing of exfoliated nanoclay particles in water, thus forming ice with the exfoliated nanoclay particles suspended therein. The frozen state of the suspension prevents the exfoliated nanoclay particles from agglomerating, thus allowing the nanoclay particles to be stored and transported while maintaining their exfoliated state. The exfoliated nanoclay particles are added to the water to form a suspension, and the suspension is then mixed for between 24 and 72 hours to ensure that no agglomerated nanoclay particles are in suspension and that the suspension contains only exfoliated nanoclay particles. The suspension is then frozen to store the exfoliated nanoclay particles in ice.

Abstract: The device for measuring expansive soil shrinkage includes a plurality of molds, a plate positioned beneath each mold, and a scale. The scale includes a primary plate having a center portion including an aperture and a secondary plate. The primary plate is positioned on top of the secondary plate. The scale also includes a plurality of primary supports, each primary support being positioned between the primary plate and the secondary plate, as well as a first arm movably positioned on the primary plate and a second arm movably positioned on the primary plate, the first arm and the second arm being connected to one another by a plurality of test wires. Further, the scale includes a plurality of cantilever arms movably positioned on the primary plate. The cantilever arms are configured for supporting one of the molds on the test wires.

Abstract: Virtual account based digital cash protocols employ two pairs of private and public keys. Each public key is certified separately and the protocols do not use any blind signature schemes. As a result, the virtual account based digital cash protocols provide strong protection of the user privacy by using two certified public keys instead of a blind signature. One pair of certified keys consists of one master user private key and one master user public key. A second pair of certified keys consists of one pseudonym user private key and one pseudonym user public key. The use of a master key pair and a pseudonym key pair circumvents the need for blind signatures. As a result, the proposed protocols do not require blind signatures and do not add additional overhead and security requirements necessitated by conventional blind signature schemes.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for generating stable exosome formulations and encompasses stable exosome formulations. The exosome formulations encompass stable liquid exosome formulations and stable lyophilized exosome formulations. In some embodiments, the exosome formulations can be generated by ultrafiltration and diafiltration. The exosome formulations can be suitable for administration to a human.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for generating exosomes comprising culturing cells in less than 20% oxygen for at least 2 days and harvesting exosomes from the cells. The invention further encompasses exosome preparations generated from cells cultured in less than 20% oxygen for at least 2 days.

Abstract: A bioresorbable drug-eluting biopolymer suture-free blood vessel anastomosis devices can be deployed to join two blood vessels and resorbed by the body over a predetermined time period after the blood vessel has become joined. The anastomosis device can include a hollow tube that is inserted interconnect the two vessels to be jointed. A non-piercing suture is wrapped around the vessel to secure the anastomosis. The anastomosis device can include hollow tube that extends along an axis from a first end to a second end. The ends can be fitted with elements that facilitate mechanical attachment of the vessel to the anastomosis device and provide for a secure seal.

Abstract: This invention describes a cloud-based architecture that orchestrates the detection and dissemination of highly-dynamic, real-time, and fine-grained TV white space information to improve spectrum information used for White Space Devices (WSDs). Wasted spectrum opportunities were first identified, both temporal and spatial, due to the current approach of white spaces detection. This invention introduces a next generation of geo-location databases capable of tracking the state of the relatively static TV transmitters and the highly dynamic TV receivers. A quantitative evaluation of the potential gain in white space availability for large scale deployments of this novel architecture demonstrated significant improvement in the availability of white spaces.

Abstract: The hybrid virtual account and token-based digital cash protocols provide a user with many pairs of secret and public keys. One of the pairs is the master pair, which consists of one master user private key and one master user public key. Other pairs are pseudonym pairs, wherein each consists of one pseudonym user private key and one pseudonym user public key. The use of a master key pair and pseudonym key pairs circumvents the need for blind signatures. None of the invention's protocols require blind signatures. The protocols comprise public key protocols, digital signatures and symmetric key protocols.