Abstract: We provide ZnO nanoporcupines and a coating comprising ZnO nanoporcupines. Each nanoporcupine comprises a ZnO stem attached by one end to said surface, and a plurality of ZnO nanospikes attached to and extending away from the surface of the stem, the nanospikes being spread across the surface of the stem. The nanoporcupines and coating have antibacterial properties. We also provide a method of producing the nanoporcupine/coating comprising the steps of immersing a surface with ZnO stem precursors in a reaction mixture comprising hexamethylenetetramine, up to about 1 mM of L-ascorbic acid, and up to about 1 mM of a zinc salt in deionized water, and heating the reaction mixture at a temperature between about 90° C. and about 95° C. to produce the ZnO nanoporcupines on the surface.

Abstract: There are provided efficient and cost-effective methods for purifying biomolecules in solution phase using stimuli-responsive protein-polymer conjugates. The protein-polymer conjugates comprise a target biomolecule-binding protein conjugated to a stimuli-responsive polymer and are reusable.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to assist in programming of a neurostimulator based on a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles. The method and system access a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles derived from prior actual patients or patient models. The pre-existing therapy profiles include stimulation programs mapped to pre-existing patient profiles. The pre-existing patient profiles have at least one of i) prior lead attribute, ii) prior pain maps, and iii) prior stimulation maps for prior patients or models of patients. The method and system further compare the new patient profile with at least a portion of the collection of pre-existing patient profiles to generate profile matching scores indicating an amount of similarity between the pre-existing patient and the new therapy profile.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to assist in programming of a neurostimulator based on a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles. The method and system access a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles derived from prior actual patients or patient models. The pre-existing therapy profiles include stimulation programs mapped to pre-existing patient profiles. The pre-existing patient profiles have at least one of i) prior lead attribute, ii) prior pain maps, and iii) prior stimulation maps for prior patients or models of patients. The method and system further compare the new patient profile with at least a portion of the collection of pre-existing patient profiles to generate profile matching scores indicating an amount of similarity between the pre-existing patient and the new therapy profile.

Abstract: An service management system for an advanced intelligent network includes a plurality of gateways in communications with a plurality of network nodes and service clients which may issue service requests. The service requests are received by the gateways, which convert the service requests to orders having a predetermined format containing the service requests. An order distribution server in communication with the plurality of gateways receives and distributes the orders. A plurality of management programs receive the orders from the order distribution server and execute the service requests contained in the orders. Responses may be generated by the management programs and sent to the order distribution server for delivery to the network nodes and service clients.

Abstract: A lightweight sports neck and collarbone protector is provided for sports players, especially for lacrosse or hockey players, comprising a combined bib and upstanding collar to protect the clavicles and throat of the wearer respectively, the bib and collar being connected together along the entire length of their junction so that the collar holds the bib in position and an object such as a hockey stick or skate blade cannot pass between them. Each of the bib and collar includes protective padding and armour members to overlie the clavicles and vulnerable front and side parts of the throat. The padding may be foam padding and the armour members may be stiff plastics sheet material, the padding preferably being moulded from a soft plastics material as an integral member, while the armour members are moulded from a more rigid plastics mateiral, also as an integral unit with a thin flexible connection between the armour members.