Abstract: The claimed invention is a device and method of use for remotely actuated drumming with traditionally foot-operated drum sets. It is capable of operation with existing drum kits and sets, and adds ability to actuate a drum beater using the hand, arm, or other appendage such as an amputee residual limb to actuate the drum pedal remotely. The device comprises a traditional drum pedal mounted upon a drum pedal base, extendable tubes including extension tubes and down tubes, hinge posts and hinges, T-fittings, connector tabs, and a dais. A dais or platform for actuating the device is removeably attached to the extendable tube. The hinged attachment at the drum pedal base allows the drum pedal base to move up and down, thereby moving the foot pedal mechanism and actuating a beater that strikes the drum surface, creating sound.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant expression vector systems for expression by stem cells that allow for selective elimination of stem cell-derived tumorigenic cells, while preserving stem cell-derived therapeutic cells. The systems provided herein provide a means by which modified stem cells can be safely transplanted into subjects. In exemplary embodiments, the system comprises at least two suicide genes, one of which is specifically inactivated in cells exhibiting the desired phenotype and one of which is activated when the cell comprising the recombinant expression vector system behaves similarly to or the same as a tumor cell.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for generating islet-like cell clusters. The methods include culturing a whole non-islet pancreatic cell discard or cells sorted therefrom with an effective amount of a molecule having Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) activity (e.g., a BMP polypeptide). The effective amount of said molecule having BMP activity (e.g., BMP polypeptide) is sufficient to induce the formation of islet-like cell clusters. The methods further include treating or attenuating insulin-deficiency disorders, including type 1 diabetes. In one non-limiting embodiment, an insulin-deficiency disorder in a subject is treated or attenuated by culturing a whole non-islet pancreatic cell discard or cells sorted therefrom with an effective amount of a molecule having BMP activity (e.g., a BMP polypeptide) such that tho formation of islet-like cell clusters occurs.

Abstract: An injection for injecting at least one material into human keratinous materials that includes at least one treatment unit defining at least one cavity and at least one micro-implant made of said at least one material received in said cavity of the unit and having at least one portion having a same shape as the cavity; an injection device configured for applying a pressure to the at least one micro-implant to expel the latter out of the unit into the keratinous materials.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include electronic packages for optical to electrical switching. In an embodiment, an electronic package comprises a first package substrate and a second package substrate attached to the first package substrate. In an embodiment, a die is attached to the second package substrate. In an embodiment, a plurality of photonic engines are attached to a first surface and a second surface of the first package substrate. In an embodiment, the plurality of photonic engines are communicatively coupled to the die through the first package substrate and the second package substrate.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant expression vector systems for expression by stem cells that allow for selective elimination of stem cell-derived tumorigenic cells, while preserving stem cell-derived therapeutic cells. The systems provided herein provide a means by which modified stem cells can be safely transplanted into subjects. In exemplary embodiments, the system comprises at least two suicide genes, one of which is specifically inactivated in cells exhibiting the desired phenotype and one of which is activated when the cell comprising the recombinant expression vector system behaves similarly to or the same as a tumor cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stereoscopic reproduction system without glasses, comprising an image reproduction device using transparency acting as means for illuminating multiple viewers with polarized light, two image capture elements separated from one another, containing polarizing filters that allow each of them to capture two images, one with the reflection of the light in the corneas and the other one eliminating said reflection, processing means for obtaining the pixel-by-pixel subtraction of those two images, the location of each eye in each image being obtained as the geometric center of the reflections in each cornea and the parallax of each eye between the two capture elements.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for generating islet-like cell clusters. The methods include culturing a whole non-islet pancreatic cell discard or cells sorted therefrom with an effective amount of a molecule having Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) activity (e.g., a BMP polypeptide). The effective amount of said molecule having BMP activity (e.g., BMP polypeptide) is sufficient to induce the formation of islet-like cell clusters. The methods further include treating or attenuating insulin-deficiency disorders, including type 1 diabetes. In one non-limiting embodiment, an insulin-deficiency disorder in a subject is treated or attenuated by culturing a whole non-islet pancreatic cell discard or cells sorted therefrom with an effective amount of a molecule having BMP activity (e.g., a BMP polypeptide) such that tho formation of islet-like cell clusters occurs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for reproducing stereoscopic images comprising a projection screen, a projector, a first optical device, comprising a matrix of converging lenses having a focal distance f1, located in front of the projection screen, at a distance equal to twice the focal distance, a second optical device located in the focal plane of the first optical device and comprising a matrix of converging lenses, having a focal distance f2 equal to half the focal distance f1, located between the first optical device and the projection screen, and a third optical device located between the second optical device and the projection screen, in contact with the second optical device, the third optical device comprising a matrix of discriminating elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stereoscopic reproduction system without glasses, comprising an image reproduction device using transparency acting as means for illuminating multiple viewers with polarized light, two image capture elements separated from one another, containing polarizing filters that allow each of them to capture two images, one with the reflection of the light in the corneas and the other one eliminating said reflection, processing means for obtaining the pixel-by-pixel subtraction of those two images, the location of each eye in each image being obtained as the geometric center of the reflections in each cornea and the parallax of each eye between the two capture elements.

Abstract: A method of repairing diseased or dysfunctional pancreas or liver is provided. The method involves preparation of a suspension of stem cells and/or progenitor cells such as biliary tree stem cells, hepatic stem cells, pancreatic stem cells or their descendants, committed progenitor cells, from healthy tissue of the patient or of the biliary tree of a non-autologous donor and engrafting the cells into the wall of bile ducts near to the organ to be treated. The graft consists of stem cells or progenitors that are admixed with biomaterials and, optionally, with cytokines and/or native epithelial-mesenchymal cells appropriate for the maturational lineage stage of the cells to be engrafted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for reproducing stereoscopic images comprising a projection screen, a projector, a first optical device, comprising a matrix of converging lenses having a focal distance f1, located in front of the projection screen, at a distance equal to twice the focal distance, a second optical device located in the focal plane of the first optical device and comprising a matrix of converging lenses, having a focal distance f2 equal to half the focal distance f1, located between the first optical device and the projection screen, and a third optical device located between the second optical device and the projection screen, in contact with the second optical device, the third optical device comprising a matrix of discriminating elements.

Abstract: A method of repairing diseased or dysfunctional pancreas or liver is provided. The method involves preparation of a suspension of stem cells and/or progenitor cells such as biliary tree stem cells, hepatic stem cells, pancreatic stem cells or their descendants, committed progenitor cells, from healthy tissue of the patient or of the biliary tree of a non-autologous donor and engrafting the cells into the wall of bile ducts near to the organ to be treated. The graft consists of stem cells or progenitors that are admixed with biomaterials and, optionally, with cytokines and/or native epithelial-mesenchymal cells appropriate for the maturational lineage stage of the cells to be engrafted.

Abstract: A method of repairing diseased or dysfunctional pancreas or liver is provided. The method involves preparation of a suspension of stem cells and/or progenitor cells such as biliary tree stem cells, hepatic stem cells, pancreatic stem cells or their descendants, committed progenitor cells, from healthy tissue of the patient or of the biliary tree of a non-autologous donor and engrafting the cells into the wall of bile ducts near to the organ to be treated. The graft consists of stem cells or progenitors that are admixed with biomaterials and, optionally, with cytokines and/or native epithelial-mesenchymal cells appropriate for the maturational lineage stage of the cells to be engrafted.

Abstract: Provided is a cell culture apparatus for culturing cells, that provides enhanced oxygen delivery and supply to cells without the need for stirring or sparging. Oxygen diffusion occurs on both sides of the culture vessel, top and bottom. A gas-permeable membrane that includes perfluorocarbons or fluorocarbon derivatives (e.g., fluorinated silane, partially fluorinated silane) in its composition allows for the rapid, enhanced and uniform transfer of oxygen between the environment of cells or tissues contained in the cell culture container apparatus and the atmosphere of the incubator in which the cell culture apparatus is incubated.

Abstract: A method of repairing diseased or dysfunctional pancreas or liver is provided. The method involves preparation of a suspension of stem cells and/or progenitor cells such as biliary tree stem cells, hepatic stem cells, pancreatic stem cells or their descendants, committed progenitor cells, from healthy tissue of the patient or of the biliary tree of a non-autologous donor and engrafting the cells into the wall of bile ducts near to the organ to be treated. The graft consists of stem cells or progenitors that are admixed with biomaterials and, optionally, with cytokines and/or native epithelial-mesenchymal cells appropriate for the maturational lineage stage of the cells to be engrafted.

Abstract: Provided is a cell culture apparatus for culturing cells, that provides enhanced oxygen delivery and supply to cells without the need for stirring or sparging. Oxygen diffusion occurs on both sides of the culture vessel, top and bottom. A gas-permeable membrane that includes perfluorocarbons or fluorocarbon derivatives (e.g., fluorinated silane, partially fluorinated silane) in its composition allows for the rapid, enhanced and uniform transfer of oxygen between the environment of cells or tissues contained in the cell culture container apparatus and the atmosphere of the incubator in which the cell culture apparatus is incubated.

Abstract: Provided is a cell culture apparatus for culturing cells, that provides enhanced oxygen delivery and supply to cells without the need for stirring or sparging. Oxygen diffusion occurs on both sides of the culture vessel, top and bottom. A gas-permeable membrane that includes perfluorocarbons in its composition allows for the rapid, enhanced and uniform transfer of oxygen between the environment of cells or tissues contained in the cell culture container apparatus and the atmosphere of the incubator in which the cell culture apparatus is incubated.

Abstract: The method renders unobservable cross images with low light intensity that appear in the combined reproduction of various different images. It consists of adding a percentage in negative of each of these cross images to the positive of the correct image prior to reproduction, so that as a result of this addition it is possible to obtain, instead of the cross image, a uniform, contrastless image, i.e. where all the points have the same light intensity, which is generally so small as to be unobservable.

Abstract: Organometallic precursors and methods for deposition on a substrate in seed/barrier applications are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, the organometallic precursor is a ruthenium-containing, tantalum-containing precursor or combination thereof and may be deposited by atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition and/or physical vapor deposition.