Abstract: A universal serial bus (USB) charger provides power to a client device. A USB connector interfaces with a client device and receives a request for the output voltage of the USB charger to be at a specific value. If the requested voltage level is lower than the current output voltage level, the output voltage level is set to the requested level and a bleeder circuit is enabled to discharge the output capacitor of the USB charger.

Abstract: A lighting system includes at least one lighting apparatus having a light emitting element capable of emitting a controllably variable light output in a region. A position determination subsystem is capable of determining a position in three dimensions of at least one mobile entity within the region. A control subsystem is capable of variably controlling a light output of the at least one lighting apparatus according to the position of the mobile entity. The system may determine position by radio ranging with mobile electronic elements. The system may include multiple lighting elements and may determine light levels according to positions of multiple mobile entities. The system may include a database of information about lighting elements, mobile entities, and lighting plans that may be selected from mobile electronic elements.

Abstract: A lighting system includes at least one lighting apparatus having a light emitting element capable of emitting a controllably variable light output in a region. A position determination subsystem is capable of determining a position in three dimensions of at least one mobile entity within the region. A control subsystem is capable of variably controlling a light output of the at least one lighting apparatus according to the position of the mobile entity. The system may determine position by radio ranging with mobile electronic elements. The system may include multiple lighting elements and may determine light levels according to positions of multiple mobile entities. The system may include a database of information about lighting elements, mobile entities, and lighting plans that may be selected from mobile electronic elements.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide approaches for validating synonyms in ontology driven natural language processing. Specifically, an approach is provided for receiving a user input containing a token, structuring the user input into a semantic model comprising a set of classes each containing a set of related permutations of the token, designating the token as a synonym of one of the set of related permutations, annotating the token with a class from the set of classes corresponding to the one of the set of related permutations, and validating the annotation of the token by determining an accuracy of the designation of the token as a synonym of the one of the set of related permutations. In one embodiment, the accuracy is determined by quantifying a linear distance between the token and a contextual token also within the user input, and comparing the linear distance to a pre-specified linear distance limit.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes a sound processing assembly configured to be external to a patient and first and second extension members coupled to the sound processing assembly. The sound processing assembly includes a sound processing unit configured to process an audio signal and transmit one or more control parameters based on the audio signal to an implantable cochlear stimulator and a battery module configured to be electrically coupled to the sound processing unit and provide operating power to the sound processing unit. The first extension member has a distal portion configured to be coupled to a first ear of the patient and the second extension member has a distal portion configured to be coupled to a second ear of the patient. The first and second extension members typically extend back from the ears, thus positioning the sound processing assembly behind the patient's head.

Abstract: A lighting system includes at least one lighting apparatus having a light emitting element capable of emitting a controllably variable light output in a region. A position determination subsystem is capable of determining a position in three dimensions of at least one mobile entity within the region. A control subsystem is capable of variably controlling a light output of the at least one lighting apparatus according to the position of the mobile entity. The system may determine position by radio ranging with mobile electronic elements. The system may include multiple lighting elements and may determine light levels according to positions of multiple mobile entities. The system may include a database of information about lighting elements, mobile entities, and lighting plans that may be selected from mobile electronic elements.

Abstract: Provided herein is an all-in-one saliva collection apparatus that collects saliva to allow for the filtration of saliva in order to separate saliva components, such as extracellular proteins and nucleic acids that are not present in intact cells, from the intact cells and debris remaining in the extracted sample. The filtered saliva samples can be aliquoted into two fractions for protein and/or nucleic acid analysis. The present invention further describes long term storage at ambient temperatures of filtered salivary nucleic acids, and long term storage at ambient temperatures of filtered salivary proteins added to an ethanol solution. The filtered cell-free saliva samples have diagnostic usefulness.

Abstract: The molecules harbored in exosomes play important roles in biological science. A highly desirable goal for exosome research is the rapid, simple, simultaneous tracking and quantification of exosome harbored molecules. Disclosed herein are methods and devices for inducing the release and measurement of biomolecules harbored in exosomes. The disclosed method, Electric Field Induced Release and Measurement (EFIRM) technique, uses an electrical field to simultaneously disrupt exosomes to release the contents and measure the harbored exosomal RNA/proteins. The exosome vesicle contents can be released within minutes. This provides a potential on-site method for the detection of exosome-harbored biomolecules.

Abstract: A method of identifying a patient in need of therapy to treat a malignant glioma comprising measuring a panel of polar metabolite levels in a biological sample taken from the patient and implementing a therapy to treat the malignant glioma in the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having a formula: where at least one of R1-R4 is a heterocycle, at least one of R1-R4 is an aryl group coupled to the ring by a linker atom, functional group, or other moiety, or where none of R1-R4 is an amide, and any and all combinations thereof. Remaining R1-R4 substituents independently are aliphatic, substituted aliphatic, amine, substituted amine, aryl, substituted aryl, cyclic, substituted cyclic, halide, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, hydrogen or hydroxyl. A method for treating a subject also is provided comprising administering a disclosed compound or compounds, or a prodrug that is converted into the disclosed compound or compounds, or a composition comprising the compound, compounds, or prodrugs thereof, to a subject. A method for making disclosed compounds also is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a first RJ-type female receptacle having an open, plug receiving end and an internal cavity, the first RJ-type female receptacle designed to receive a corresponding first modular mating RJ-type male plug, the apparatus having: a housing having a front face, a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls defining an opening formed within the front face; and the apparatus received in the first RJ-type female receptacle, and the opening dimensioned to receive a second modular mating RJ-type male plug, wherein the second modular mating RJ-type male plug is dimensioned smaller than the first modular mating RJ-type male plug.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating infection with a pathogen. The method involves administration of (1) a substance which induces active pathogen replication in a cell latently infected with HIV and (2) an anti-pathogen drug. Also disclosed are methods for expanding CD+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from human subjects in the presence of an antiretroviral drug and for treating HIV infection by infusing the expanded CD4+ cells into HIV-infected patients.

Abstract: A TRIAC dimmer controller for an LED lamp dynamically adjusts the amount of additional current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer based on the TRIAC dimmer operating mode. A TRIAC dimmer current controller continually senses the TRIAC dimmer current loading and determines a TRIAC dimmer operating mode based on the detected current. The TRIAC dimmer controller compares the detected current with a threshold current value called a TRIAC holding current, and adjusts the amount of bleeder current based on the difference between the detected current and the threshold current value. By continually sensing the TRIAC dimmer current loading, the LED controller regulates the amount of bleeder current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer using a single sink current path to satisfy the TRIAC dimmer current demands of multiple TRIAC dimmer operating modes.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a sound processing unit 1) directing an implantable cochlear stimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes to generate an electrical stimulation current in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, 2) automatically detecting an impedance of at least one of the electrodes, and 3) directing, in accordance with the detected impedance, the implantable cochlear stimulator to adjust a pulse width of the electrical stimulation current to maintain constant a total electric charge level of the electrical stimulation current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Thiazole Derivatives, compositions comprising the Thiazole Derivatives, and methods for using the Thiazole Derivatives for treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, an anti-proliferative disorder, inflammation, arthritis, a central nervous system disorder, a cardiovascular disease, alopecia, a neuronal disease, an ischemic injury, a viral infection, a fungal infection, or a disorder related to the activity of a protein kinase.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for a generic data storage interface for local and remote networked storage is provided. It comprises providing a data storage interface accessible by an operating system, transmitting data from an application running on the operating system to the data storage interface and selectively storing the data using the same data storage interface in either a local or a remote networked storage location. Firmware for the common data storage interface assigns a unique identifier that classifies an I/O request as a local or remote networked I/O request and adds the I/O request to a common stack for local and remote networked data storage elements. When an I/O request is removed from the stack, the unique identifier is used to identify the I/O request as a local or remote networked I/O request. Local I/O requests are executed via a local bus such as PCI, or SCSI.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biomarkers related to gastric cancer. The presently identified salivary biomarkers create the basis for a gastric cancer detection bioassay with sensitivity and specificity. Means and methods for evaluating the data generated using multiple biomarkers in order to validate findings and further use of the multiplexed gastric cancer assay in clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic uses is also included.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating infection with a pathogen. The method involves administration of: (1) a substance which induces active pathogen replication in a cell latently infected with HIV and (2) an anti-pathogen drug. Also disclosed are methods for expanding CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from human subjects in the presence of an antiretroviral drug and for treating HIV infection by infusing the expanded CD4+ T cells into HIV-infected patients.

Abstract: Certain embodiments relate to and involve producing broadband phase-locked frequency combs in the near-infrared and mid-infrared spectral ranges. One such embodiment is directed to a system, with a pump laser and an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) resonator, that is configured to produce broad-bandwidth frequency combs in the near-infrared and mid-infrared frequency ranges. The pump laser is configured to produce femtosecond pulses of light having a pulse repetition rate. The optical parametric oscillator (OPO) resonator that is coupled to the pump laser for facilitating synchronous OPO pumping by matching a roundtrip time of the pulses of light within the OPO resonator with the pulse repetition rate of the pump laser.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes a sound processing assembly configured to be external to a patient and first and second extension members coupled to the sound processing assembly. The sound processing assembly includes a sound processing unit configured to process an audio signal and transmit one or more control parameters based on the audio signal to an implantable cochlear stimulator and a battery module configured to be electrically coupled to the sound processing unit and provide operating power to the sound processing unit. The first extension member has a distal portion configured to be coupled to a first ear of the patient and the second extension member has a distal portion configured to be coupled to a second ear of the patient. The first and second extension members typically extend back from the ears, thus positioning the sound processing assembly behind the patient's head.