X-RAY PHASE-CONTRAST IMAGING

The cross-section of an X-ray phase shift image is a thousand times greater than that of X-ray attenuation in soft tissue over the diagnostic energy range implying phase imaging can achieve a much higher signal-to-noise ratio and substantially lower radiation dose than attenuation-based X-ray imaging. Grating interferometry is a state of the art X-ray imaging approach, which can simultaneously acquire information of X-ray phase-contrast, dark-field, and linear attenuation. This imaging modality can reveal subtle texture of tissues.

Anti-microbial peptides and method for designing novel anti-microbial peptides

Antibiotic resistance is increasing at an alarming rate, especially in the case of M. tuberculosis. Alternatives to traditional antibiotics are urgently needed to combat these resistant bacteria. Disrupting bacterial, but not mammalian, outer-membrane integrity with peptides is one such strategy to destroy toxic bacteria in a highly selective manner. Design strategies to develop potent, stable antimicrobial peptides stemming from a fundamental understanding of their mechanism of cell disruption are urgently needed.

Attenuation Map Reconstruction From TOF PET Data

Time of flight PET (TOF-PET) is an advance over traditional PET that uses the time difference in detection of the two photon events. TOF information provides better localization of the annihilation event along the line formed by each detector pair, resulting in an overall improvement in signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the reconstructed image. This technology uses a direct estimation of the sinogram only from TOF PET data.

Computed Tomography Based on Linear Scanning

Computed Tomography (CT) is an important tool in diagnostic imaging. It plays a key role in diagnosis and intervention. Many advanced CT systems use wide detector arrays, multiple sources, andor very fast rotation speed, for important clinical applications (e.g., coronary artery and whole organ perfusion imaging). As a result, modern CT scanners are expensive and are typically used by major hospitals and clinics in developed countries. Over the past decades, CT systems or methods have been proposed assuming linear translation-based scanning.

INTERNALIZATION OF PROTEINS INTO HOLLOWED GOLD NANOSTRUCTURES

Hollow gold nanoparticles, also known as gold nanocages, are effective vehicles for the transport and administration of therapeutic agents, bioactive compounds, biomolecular reagents, biocatalysts, and other molecular compounds of interest. However, better control of the bioavailability of gold nanocages content is needed. The patent describes a gold nanocage with pores, charged ligand molecules covalently bound to internal surfaces of the gold nanocage, and payload molecules electrostatically adsorbed onto the charged ligand molecules.

DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL WEIGHT BEARING INDICATION WITH LOAD RANGE CAPABILITY

Many times following orthopedic surgery or injury to lower extremeties patients are advised to gradually bear weight on their limb. Since patients do not want to cause further damage or pain to the injury they put little to no weight on the area. The application is necessary, however, for proper recovery. This invention is a mechanical device that indicates to the patient when a first level of weight is applied. So, this encourages them to step firmly enough to reach this level without fear that they are going to hurt themselves or cause pain.

Aminoglycoside-Polyamine Displacers for Displacement Chromatography

Displacement chromatography has attracted signifcant attention as a powerful technique for the purification of bioherapeutic proteins and oligunucleotides. Displacement chromatography enables simultaneous concentration and purification in a single step, which is significant in the purifcation of biopharmaceuticals. However, the major obstacle in implementing this technique is the lack of a sufficient diversity of appropriate displace candidates that are applicable across a wide spectrum of bioseparation demands.

Calibration-Free Gaze Tracking Under Natural Head Movement

Gaze determines a subjects current line of sight or fixation point. The direction of the eye gaze can express the interests of the subject and is a potential porthole into the current cognitive processes. Existing techniques for eye gaze tracking can be divided into video-based techniques and non-video-based techniques. However, non-video-based techniques are intrusive and interfere with the subject, while video-based techniques have significant shortcomings such as lacking sufficient accuracy and imposing physical constraints on the subject.

IN VITRO METABOLIC ENGINEERING ON MICROSCALE DEVICES

After discovering that a natural product has a particular, useful biological activity, it is desirable to prepare analogs of the natural product. However, natural products and their analogs are typically complex molecules requiring multi-step syntheses that are usually laborious, costly, and time consuming. This invention is directed to a microfluidics device that can be used to prepare natural products and their analogs.