Abstract: Optical changes of tissue during wound healing measured by Near Infrared and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy are shown to correlate with histologic changes. Near Infrared absorption coefficient correlated with blood vessel in-growth over time, while Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) data correlated with collagen concentration. Changes of optical properties of wound tissue at greater depths are also quantified by Diffuse Photon Density Wave (DPDW) methodology at near infrared wavelengths. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is used to calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain or time domain device. An increase in the absorption and scattering coefficients and a decrease in blood saturation of the wounds compared to the non wounded sites was observed. The changes correlated with the healing stage of the wound.

Abstract: Optical changes of tissue during wound healing measured by Near Infrared and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy are shown to correlate with histologic changes. Near Infrared absorption coefficient correlated with blood vessel in-growth over time, while Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) data correlated with collagen concentration. Changes of optical properties of wound tissue at greater depths are also quantified by Diffuse Photon Density Wave (DPDW) methodology at near infrared wavelengths. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is used to calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain or time domain device. An increase in the absorption and scattering coefficients and a decrease in blood saturation of the wounds compared to the non wounded sites was observed. The changes correlated with the healing stage of the wound.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting an a biomarker indicative of an inflammatory condition, including a capillary tube adapted for one or more biomarkers to adhere to an interior surface thereof, a light source for energizing quantum dots conjugated with the biomarkers within the capillary tube, and a detection system for detecting and quantifying fluorescent energy emitted by the quantum dots in one or more predetermined wavelength ranges, each wavelength range being correlated to one and only one of the biomarkers. A method of stabilizing the fluorescence intensity of quantum dots is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for measuring the progress of healing of a wound over time includes at least one diode laser source that provides respective input wavelengths into at least one source fiber, a first optical switch that sequentially switches wavelengths among the respective input wavelengths into the at least one source fiber, a probe that does not touch the wound dunng use, the probe including the at least one source fiber and at least two detectors spaced thereon, an optical system that provides source light from the at least one source fiber to the wound and that detects light scattered by the wound surface and provides the scattered light to the detectors, and a processing unit responsive to outputs of the detectors for providing at least four independent measurements for calculation of an absorption coefficient/Ia and a scattering coefficient/I's of the light by the wound

Abstract: Optical changes of tissue during wound healing measured by Near Infrared and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy are shown to correlate with histologic changes. Near Infrared absorption coefficient correlated with blood vessel in-growth over time, while Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) data correlated with collagen concentration. Changes of optical properties of wound tissue at greater depths are also quantified by Diffuse Photon Density Wave (DPDW) methodology at near infrared wavelengths. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is used to calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain or time domain device. An increase in the absorption and scattering coefficients and a decrease in blood saturation of the wounds compared to the non wounded sites was observed. The changes correlated with the healing stage of the wound.

Abstract: Methods for use of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles in the non-destructive, direct and dynamic determination of free volume and glass transition changes and mechanical property changes of polymers and polymer composites are provided. Also provided are methods for use of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles in tracking changes occurring in an individual component or components of a polymer composite. Methods for use of functionalized fluorescent nanoparticles in the quantitation and dynamic monitoring of crack propagation and fatigue of polymers and/or polymer composites and in the delivery of repair agents such as adhesives and/or cross-linking agents to cracks of polymers and polymer composites are provided.

Abstract: Substrates, which may be either flexible or rigid, are coated with a flame retardant composition containing an organic polymer, a filler and a zeolite. Good flame retardant properties are obtained even where the composition contains low levels of conventional flame retardant additives such as antimony compounds, brominated compounds and zinc compounds. The flame retardant composition may also be used to adhere different substrates together.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of using one or more biomarkers to identify individuals with inflammatory disease using Quantum Dots conjugated to targeting moieties that will specifically bind to biomarker proteins or nucleic acids encoding the biomarker, where detection of the biomarker is associated with the inflammatory disease.

Abstract: A flame-retarded polymeric composition is provided which contains a) a polyolefin, b) a mixture of a halogenated flame-retardant and zeolite, and optionally c) a synergist. Also provided is a flame and smoke-retarded polymeric composition containing a polyolefin and a mixture of a hydrated metal oxide and zeolite.

Abstract: Zeolite-containing polyvinyl chloride containing compositions that are useful as the insulation for plenum cables are disclosed. A zeolite, either natural or synthetic, can satisfactorily replace either part or all of the molybdenum compound, particularly ammonium octamolybdate, in low smoke polyvinyl chloride based plenum compositions. Ion-exchanged zeolites, such as the zinc ion-exchanged zeolite can also be used. Zeolites are especially useful in lead-free Low Smoke PVC compositions. Because the cost of zeolite is only a fraction of the cost of the molybdenum compounds currently used in plenum cable compositions, this will dramatically reduce the cost of these materials.

Abstract: Nanotubes loaded with materials, such as active species, and methods to load materials into nanotubes are disclosed. The method includes flowing a medium containing the material to be loaded through the interior volume of the nanotube, wherein it is retained, optionally by a crosslinking or polymerization reaction. Flowing the medium occurs under different conditions and processes, including centrifuging and size exclusion methods.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of moldable polymer blends having improved low temperature impact properties and reduced brittleness is disclosed. In one embodiment, a polyamide such as nylon-6 and an anhydride functionalized elastomer such as an EPDM rubber grafted with maleic anhydride are first melt-blended. The resulting composition is then blended with a thermoplastic copolymer of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride such as maleic anhydride and a monovinyl aromatic monomer such as styrene. The moldable polymer blends thus obtained are suitable for use as engineering resins.

Abstract: Moldable multi-phase polyblends having excellent impact properties are disclosed which comprise blends of a polyamide, a thermoplastic copolymer of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid and a monovinyl aromatic monomer, and an anhydride-functionalized elastomer. The functionalized elastomers are low in unsaturation, providing polyblends having good oxidative stability, and are .alpha.,.beta.-carboxylic acid anhydride adducts of EPDM-type rubbers, hydrogenated block or random copolymers of monovinyl aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes, or hydrogenated polymers of conjugated dienes. Optimum impact properties are achieved by combining the components of the polyblends using particular melt-blending procedures.